H.R. 2506 — AID Youth Employment Act

This section redesignates subtitle E of Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) as subtitle F and inserts a new subtitle E establishing the Youth Employment Opportunities program. The new subtitle defines key terms—including "eligible youth" as individuals ages 14-24 who are in-school youth, out-of-school youth, or unemployed; "subsidized employment"; "marginalized" individuals (i.e., those who are homeless, in foster care, involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system, out of school or at risk of dropping out, and living in underserved communities); and certain tribal terms—and authorizes allocations from funds appropriated under new section 176E as follows: (1) up to $1.8 billion for subsidized summer employment grants under new section 176B; and (2) up to $2.4 billion for subsidized year-round employment grants under new section 176C. (The Secretary of Labor may reserve up to 10% of appropriated funds for technical assistance and oversight.) New section 176B directs the Secretary to award competitive planning grants (1-year period, not more than $250,000) and implementation grants (3-year period, not more than $6 million) to eligible entities—including States, local governments, Indian tribes or tribal organizations (partnered with specified educational, workforce, justice, child welfare, and counseling entities), or community-based organizations—to plan or implement subsidized summer employment programs for eligible youth.

This section makes conforming amendments to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by (1) revising a cross-reference in section 121(b)(1)(C)(ii)(II) from "subtitles C through E" to "subtitles C through F"; and (2) inserting in section 503(b) a parenthetical phrase referencing such subtitles as in effect on the day before enactment. The section also amends the table of contents in section 1(b) of WIOA by striking the item for subtitle E of title I and inserting a new item designating it as "Subtitle E—Youth Employment Opportunities" with sections 176 (definitions), 176A (allocation of funds), 176B (summer employment competitive grant program), 176C (year-round employment competitive grant program), 176D (evaluation and administration), and 176E (authorization of appropriations).