[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2281 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2281
To reauthorize the Job Corps program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 2025
Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Job Corps program, 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 ``Strengthening Job Corps Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO JOB CORPS.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--Section 142 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3192) is amended--
(A) by amending paragraph (7) to read as follows:
``(7) Job corps campus.--The term `Job Corps campus' means
a campus run by an operator selected by the Secretary pursuant
to section 147, carrying out Job Corps activities.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(11) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given the
term in section 3, except that such term also includes outlying
areas (as defined in section 3).''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Subtitle C of title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et
seq.) is amended--
(A) by striking ``Job Corps center'' each place
such term appears and inserting ``Job Corps campus'';
and
(B) by striking ``Job Corps centers'' each place
such term appears and inserting ``Job Corps campuses''.
(b) 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) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) not less than age 16 and not more than age 24 on the
date of enrollment, except that such maximum age limitation may
be waived by the Secretary, in accordance with regulations of
the Secretary, up to age 28 in the case of an individual with a
disability or a justice-involved individual; and'';
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2)
and by amending such paragraph--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``Basic skills deficient'' and inserting ``An
individual with foundational skill needs'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``A
school dropout'' and inserting ``An opportunity
youth'';
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting
``or an individual who is pregnant'' before the
period;
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(G)(i) A low-income individual as defined in
subsection (h)(4) of section 402A of the Higher
Education Amendments of 1992 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11) as
determined using procedures similar to those in
subsection 402a(e) of such section; or
``(ii) a resident of a qualified opportunity zone
as defined in section 1400Z-1(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.''; and
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
``(b) Special Rule for Veterans.--A veteran shall be eligible to
become an enrollee if the veteran meets the requirements of subsection
(a)(1).''.
(c) Recruitment, Screening, Selection, and Assignment of
Enrollees.--Section 145(a) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3195(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) assist one-stop centers and other entities
identified in paragraph (3) in developing joint
applications for Job Corps, YouthBuild, and youth
workforce investment activities under which an
applicant may submit a single application for all such
programs.''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the last sentence.
(d) Job Corps Campuses.--Section 147 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting at
the end the following: ``Such award shall be
based upon best value and fair and reasonable
pricing.''; and
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read
as follows:
``(B) Considerations.--
``(i) Student outcomes.--In selecting an
entity to operate a Job Corps campus, the
Secretary shall consider a numeric metric of
recent past effectiveness of the entity in
assisting opportunity youth to connect to the
workforce, to be calculated based on data
regarding--
``(I) the percentage of students
served by the entity who were in
education or training activities, or in
unsubsidized employment, during the
second quarter after exit from the
relevant program;
``(II) the percentage of students
served by the entity who were in
education or training activities, or in
unsubsidized employment, during the
fourth quarter after exit from the
relevant program;
``(III) the median earnings of
students served by the entity who were
in unsubsidized employment during the
second quarter after exit from the
relevant program;
``(IV) the percentage of students
served by the entity who obtained a
recognized postsecondary credential, or
a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent, during
participation in or within 1 year after
exit from the relevant program;
``(V) expected levels of
performance established under section
159(c)(2) or similar metrics for
recruitment of eligible youth for
relevant contracts or grants.
``(ii) Market development.--
``(I) Mentor-protege program.--The
Secretary shall carry out a mentor-
protege program in accordance with
section 45 of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 657r) with respect to Job
Corps campus operations.
``(II) Past-performance.--The
Secretary shall publish comparable
alternative metrics for entities
without previous experience in Job
Corps campus operations to demonstrate
their past effectiveness in accordance
with the requirements of clause (i).'';
and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting
``high-skill, high-wage, or'' before ``in-
demand'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``Workforce Investment Act of 1998'' and
inserting ``Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act'';
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (K) as
subparagraph (L); and
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (J)
the following:
``(K) A description of the entity's ability to
demonstrate a record of successfully operating a safe
learning and residential environment for opportunity
youth.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (2) and (3)
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
Centers described in subsection (d), for the two most recent
preceding program years.'';
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Direct hire authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture
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 graduate of a Civilian
Conservation Center who successfully completed a training
program focused on forestry, wildland firefighting, or another
topic relating to the mission of the Forest Service directly to
a position with the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management
qualification standards.'';
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ``2-year'' and inserting
``4-year''; and
(5) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``the preceding year
for which information is available'' and all that follows
through the end and inserting ``the preceding year for which
information is available, such campus has been ranked in the
lowest 10 percent of Job Corps campuses.''.
(e) Program Activities.--Section 148(a) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3198(a)) is amended, in the subsection
heading, by inserting ``Academic'' before ``Activities''.
(f) Support.--Section 150 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3200) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``3 months'' and
inserting ``12 months''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Period of Transition.--Notwithstanding the requirements of
section 146(b), Job Corps graduates may remain enrolled and a resident
of a Job Corps campus for not more than 1 month after graduation,
subject to approval by the director of the Job Corps Campus, in order
to facilitate their transition into independent living and
employment.''.
(g) Operations.--Section 151 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3201) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 151. OPERATIONS.
``(a) Operating Plan.--
``(1) In general.--The provisions of the contract between
the Secretary and an entity selected to operate a Job Corps
campus shall, including any subsequent modifications to such
contract, serve as an operating plan for the Job Corps campus.
``(2) Federal changes to operating plan.--The Secretary may
require the operator to submit additional information, as the
Secretary deems necessary for compliance with any relevant
regulations, which shall be considered part of the operating
plan.
``(3) Availability.--The Secretary shall make the operating
plan described in paragraphs (1) and (2), excluding any
proprietary information, available on a publicly accessible
website.
``(b) Local Authorities.--Subject to the limitations of their
approved budgets, the operators of Job Corps campuses shall have the
authority, without prior approval from the Secretary, to--
``(1) hire staff and invest in staff professional
development;
``(2) enter into agreements with local partners, such as
secondary and postsecondary schools or employers; and
``(3) engage with and educate stakeholders about Job Corps
operations and activities.''.
(h) Standards of Conduct.--Section 152 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking the second sentence;
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
``(b) Behavioral Management Plan.--
``(1) In general.--As part of the operating plan defined in
section 151(a), the director of each Job Corps campus shall
develop and implement a behavioral management plan, subject to
the approval of the Secretary. Such plan shall include student
standards of conduct, positive behavioral interventions and
supports, and multi-tier systems of supports.
``(2) Disciplinary measures and drug testing.--
``(A) Disciplinary measures.--To promote the proper
behavioral standards in the Job Corps, the director of
each Job Corps campus shall, consistent with the
applicable behavioral management plan described in
paragraph (1), have the authority to take appropriate
disciplinary measures against enrollees if such
director determines that an enrollee has committed a
violation of the standards of conduct. The director
shall adopt a policy of dismissing enrollees for an act
of violence that seriously endangers the safety of
students, staff, or the local community, and for
illegal activity on the campus.
``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Controlled substance.--The term
`controlled substance' has the meaning given
the term in section 102 of the Controlled
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).
``(ii) Zero tolerance policy.--The term
`zero tolerance policy' means a policy under
which an enrollee shall be automatically
dismissed from the Job Corps after a
determination by the director that the enrollee
has carried out an act of violence that
seriously endangers the safety of students,
staff, or the local community or engaged in an
illegal activity on the campus.
``(3) Advisory group.--The Secretary shall periodically
convene an advisory group of Job Corps operators and service
providers and subject matter experts to review the reporting
data collected under paragraph (5) and provide recommendations
for Job Corps behavioral management plans based on evidence-
based research regarding effective and equitable behavioral
policies.
``(4) Law enforcement agreements.--The directors of each
Job Corps campus shall enter into an agreement with the
relevant local law enforcement agency of jurisdiction regarding
the procedures for reporting and investigating potentially
illegal activity on Job Corps campuses.
``(5) Incident reporting.--The Secretary shall establish
procedures for--
``(A) reporting significant health incidents,
including substance abuse, self-harm, and accidents
resulting in bodily harm; and
``(B) reporting significant behavioral incidents,
defined as acts of violence or illegal activity.
``(6) Accountability.--The Secretary shall establish
standards under which a Job Corps campus shall be required to
take performance improvement actions described in section
159(f), based on an evaluation of such Job Corps campus, which
shall take into account reporting data collected under
paragraph (5) and recommendations of the advisory group
pursuant to paragraph (3).''.
(i) Experimental Projects and Technical Assistance.--Section 156(a)
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3206(a)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(a) Projects.--The Secretary may carry out experimental,
research, or demonstration projects relating to evidence-based
strategies for improving the operations of a Job Corps campus that was
ranked among the bottom 10 percent of Job Corps campuses. The Secretary
may waive any provisions of this subtitle that the Secretary finds
would prevent the Secretary from carrying out the projects (other than
sections 145, 147, and 159(c)) provided that--
``(1) the project will not result in a reduction in the
number of students served; and
``(2) if the Secretary informs the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, in
writing, not less than 90 days in advance of issuing such
waiver.''.
(j) Application of Provisions of Federal Law.--
(1) In general.--Section 157 of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3207) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(d) Service Contract Act.--
``(1) In general.--Operators and service providers,
including subcontractors thereto, are subject to and shall be
required to abide by chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code
(commonly known as the `McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of
1965').
``(2) Academic and career technical instructional
employees.--Notwithstanding section 6701(3)(C) of such chapter,
an academic or career technical instructional employee at a J