[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4512 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4512
To amend the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 11, 2024
Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mr. Reed) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Job Corps for the Next Generation
Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
Section 141 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3191) is amended by striking ``centers'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campuses''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 142 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3192) is amended--
(1) in paragraphs (1), (7), (8), and (10), by striking
``center'' each place the term appears and inserting
``campus''; and
(2) in the paragraph heading of paragraph (7), by striking
``center'' and inserting ``campus''.
SEC. 4. INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR THE JOB CORPS.
Section 144 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3194) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``21'' and inserting ``24'';
(ii) by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) an individual who is age 16 or 17 shall be
eligible only upon an individual determination by the
director of a Job Corps campus that such individual
meets the criteria described in subparagraph (A) or (B)
of section 145(b)(1); and''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``either''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2)(A) a low-income individual, as defined in subsection
(h) of section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1070a-11), as determined using procedures similar to the
procedures described in subsection (e) of such section; or
``(B) a resident of a qualified opportunity zone, as
defined in section 1400Z-1(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986; and'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Certain Other Members of the Armed Forces'' after
``Veterans''; and
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``or a member of the Armed Forces eligible
for preseparation counseling through the Transition
Assistance Program under section 1142 of title 10,
United States Code,'' after ``a veteran''; and
(3) by inserting at the end the following:
``(c) Special Rule for Homeless and Foster Youth.--
``(1) Homeless children and youth.--In determining whether
an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this
subtitle on the basis of being a homeless child or youth, as
described in subsection (a)(3)(C), the individual making the
determination shall use a process that complies with the
process requirements that apply to financial aid administrators
under section 479D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(2) Individuals in foster care.--In determining whether
an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this
subtitle on the basis of being an individual in foster care or
who was in foster care, as described in subsection (a)(3)(C),
the individual making the determination shall use a process
that complies with the process requirements that apply to
financial aid administrators under section 479D(b) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965.''.
SEC. 5. RECRUITMENT, SCREENING, SELECTION, AND ASSIGNMENT OF ENROLLEES.
Section 145 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3195) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``and the
results received within 45 days after the enrollees
enroll in the Job Corps'' and inserting ``after
enrollees first arrive at a Job Corps campus for the
purpose of assessing the need for substance abuse
intervention or behavioral counseling'';
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the last
sentence; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) No wrong door.--The Secretary shall establish
standards and procedures under this subsection to assist
applicable one-stop centers and other entities with which the
Secretary has entered into agreements under paragraph (3) in
streamlining application processes, in order to allow an
applicant to express interest in and begin the application
processes for the Job Corps program and for the YouthBuild
program under section 171 and youth workforce investment
activities under chapter 2 of subtitle B.''; and
(2) in subsections (b), (c), and (d)--
(A) by striking ``center'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campus''; and
(B) by striking ``centers'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campuses''.
SEC. 6. ENROLLMENT.
Section 146(b)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3196(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``Center'' and inserting
``Campus''.
SEC. 7. JOB CORPS CAMPUSES.
Section 147 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3197) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``centers'' and
inserting ``campuses'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``center'' each
place the term appears and inserting ``campus'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``center'' each place the term appears and
inserting ``campus''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) Considerations.--
``(i) Student outcomes.--In selecting an
entity to operate a Job Corps campus, the
Secretary shall--
``(I) with respect to entities with
previous experience in Job Corps campus
operations or the provision of youth
workforce activities under chapter 2 of
subtitle B, consider a numeric metric
of past achievement on the primary
indicators of performance for eligible
youth described in section
116(b)(2)(A)(ii); and
``(II) with respect to entities
without such previous experience in Job
Corps campus operations or youth
workforce activities, consider a
comparable alternative metric,
developed and published by the
Secretary, that allows such entities to
demonstrate their past effectiveness
based on such primary indicators of
performance for eligible youth.
``(ii) Providers.--In selecting a service
provider for a Job Corps campus, the Secretary
shall--
``(I) consider--
``(aa) with respect to
entities with previous
experience in providing
services to a Job Corps campus,
the metric described in clause
(i)(I); and
``(bb) with respect to
entities without such previous
experience, the metric
described in clause (i)(II);
and
``(II) in determining the type of
contract, give a preference to cost-
type contracts with performance
incentives.''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``center'' each place the
term appears and inserting ``campus'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting
``high-skill, high-wage, or'' before ``in-
demand'';
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting
``including agreements to provide off-campus
work-based learning opportunities aligned with
the career and technical education provided to
enrollees,'' after ``is located,'';
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (E),
(F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) as
subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), and
(L), respectively; and
(v) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
``(E) A description of the demonstrated record of
effectiveness the entity and its partners have in
providing a safe learning and residential environment
for individuals eligible to enroll in the Job Corps.'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
(B) by striking ``center'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campus'';
(C) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) High performance.--An entity shall be considered to
be an operator of a high-performing campus if the Job Corps
campus operated by the entity was ranked among the top 25
percent of Job Corps campuses, excluding Civilian Conservation
Campuses described in subsection (d), for the 2 most recent
preceding program years.''; and
(D) by striking paragraph (3);
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``centers'' and inserting
``campuses''; and
(B) by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``30
percent'';
(5) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
(B) by striking ``centers'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campuses''; and
(C) by striking ``Centers'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``Campuses'';
(6) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``centers'' and
inserting ``campuses'';
(7) in subsection (f), by striking ``2-year period'' and
inserting ``4-year period''; and
(8) in subsection (g)--
(A) by striking ``center'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campus''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or if a second
program year is not available'' and all that follows
through the end and inserting ``such campus has been
ranked in the lowest 10 percent of Job Corps
campuses.''.
SEC. 8. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
Section 148 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3198) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Centers'' and inserting ``Campuses'';
(B) by striking ``center'' each place the term
appears and inserting ``campus''; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, on completion
of their enrollment'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``the eligible providers''
and inserting ``any eligible provider''; and
(ii) by inserting ``if the training
services are aligned with the career and
technical education an enrollee has completed''
after ``under section 122''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``centers'' and
inserting ``campuses'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Job Corps Career Pathways and Apprenticeships.--
``(1) Career pathways for strategic national importance
positions.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall work with
the heads of Federal agencies including, at a minimum,
the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to create career
pathways for Job Corps enrollees into positions of
strategic national importance for which the relevant
Federal agencies or their suppliers are struggling with
hiring.
``(B) Appointment.--The head of a Federal agency
establishing a career pathway described in subparagraph
(A) may appoint, without regard to the provisions of
subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States
Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title),
a Job Corps enrollee enrolled in a relevant career
pathway program directly to any such position for which
the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management
qualification standards.
``(2) Apprenticeships.--A Job Corps campus may serve as a
pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship education and training
provider, intermediary, partner, or sponsor.''; and
(5) in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``centers'' and inserting
``campuses''; and
(B) by striking ``provide'' and inserting
``encourage Job Corps operators to provide''.
SEC. 9. TRANSITION SUPPORT.
Section 150 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3200) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``centers'' and
inserting ``campuses'';
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``3 months'' and
inserting ``12 months''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Period of Transition.--Notwithstanding the requirements of
section 146(b), a Job Corps graduate may remain an enrollee and a
resident of a Job Corps campus for not more than 1 month after
graduation as such graduate transitions into independent living and
employment, if such graduate received written approval from the
director of the Job Corps campus to remain such a resident.''.
SEC. 10. OPERATIONS.
Section 151 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3201) is amended--
(1) by striking ``center'' each place the term appears and
inserting ``campus''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Local Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to the limitations of the budget
approved by the Secretary for a Job Corps campus and
notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the operator of a Job
Corps campus shall have the authority, without prior approval
from the Secretary, to--
``(A) determine how and when learning is delivered
and what tools, such as a learning management system,
are employed for that purpose;
``(B) determine the appropriate policy and
protocols with respect to enrollees leaving the campus
and employers and other guests visiting the campus, and
the need for fencing or other security measures around
the campus;
``(C) hire staff and provide staff professional
development;
``(D) set terms and enter into agreements with
Federal, State, or local educational partners, such as
secondary schools, institutions of higher education,
child development centers, units of Junior Reserves'
Officer Training Corps programs established under
section 2031 of title 10, United States Code, or
employers; and
``(E) engage with and educate stakeholders about
Job Corps operations and activities.
``(2) Limitation of liability.--In the case of an agreement
described in paragraph (1)(D) that does not involve the Job
Corps operator providing monetary compensation to the entity
involved in such agreement from the funds made available under
this subtitle, such agreement shall not be considered a
subcontract (as defined in section 8701 of title 41, United
States Code).
``(e) Prior Notice.--Prior to making a change to the agreement
described in section 147(a) or an operating plan described in this
section, the Secretary shall solicit from the operators of the Job
Corps campuses information on any operational costs the operators
expect to result from such change.''.
SEC. 11. STANDARDS OF