“To reauthorize the Job Corps program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises Job Corps provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.), which provides residential education, vocational training, and support services to at-risk youth, as follows: (1) Definitions (sec. 142): defines “Job Corps campus” (replacing “Job Corps center”) as a campus operated by an entity selected under sec. 147; expands “State” to include outlying areas; makes conforming changes replacing “center” or “centers” with “campus” or “campuses” throughout subtitle C. (2) Eligibility (sec. 144): limits enrollees to ages 16-24 (waivable by the Secretary to age 28 for individuals with disabilities or who are justice-involved); replaces “basic skills deficient” with “foundational skill needs,” “school dropout” with “opportunity youth,” and adds pregnant individuals and low-income individuals (as defined under Higher Education Act procedures) or qualified opportunity zone residents; strikes prior paragraph (2) (residency requirement) and provides a special rule giving veterans eligibility if meeting the age requirement. (3) Recruitment, screening, selection, and assignment (sec. 145(a)): requires the Secretary to assist one-stop centers and others in developing joint applications for Job Corps, YouthBuild, and youth workforce investment activities; strikes the last sentence of paragraph (5). (4) Job Corps campuses (sec. 147): requires operator awards based on best value and fair and reasonable pricing; directs consideration of numeric past-effectiveness metrics for opportunity youth, including percentages in education/training or unsubsidized employment at 6 and 12 months post-exit, median earnings, credential attainment, and recruitment performance; requires a mentor-protégé program for campus operations in accordance with the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657r) and alternative metrics for entities lacking Job Corps experience; adds to campus requirements instruction in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors and a record of operating safe learning/residential environments for opportunity youth; revises high-performing campus definition to the top 25% of campuses (excluding specified campuses).