Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Workforce Investments through Local Libraries Act” or the “WILL Act”.
Workforce Investments through Local Libraries Act
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to integrate public libraries into State and local workforce investment boards, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
Section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(54) Digital literacy skills—The term digital literacy skills has the meaning given the term in section 202 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101).”
Sec. 3 State workforce investment boards
Section 111(b)(1)(C)(v) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2821(b)(1)(C)(v)) is amended by inserting “, and heads of public libraries,” after “organizations”.
Sec. 4 State plan
Section 112(b)(8)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2822(b)(8)(A)) is amended—
in clause (ix), by striking “and” at the end; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(xi) employment and training activities, and adult education and literacy activities (as defined in section 203), provided by public libraries; and”
Sec. 5 Local workforce investment board
Section 117(b)(2)(A)(iv) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832(b)(2)(A)(iv)) is amended by striking “individuals with disabilities and” and inserting “public libraries, individuals with disabilities, and”.
Sec. 6 Local plan
Section 118(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2833(b)) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (10) as paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
“(6) a description of how the local board will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out in the local area with employment and training activities, and adult education and literacy activities (as defined in section 203), provided by public libraries;”
Sec. 7 Workforce investment activities providers
Section 121 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2841) is amended—
in subsection (b)(2)(B)—
in clause (iv), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and
by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
“(v) programs of employment and training activities, and adult education and literacy activities (as defined in section 203), provided by public libraries; and”
in subsection (d)(2)(B)—
in clause (v), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and
by inserting after clause (v) the following:
“(vi) a public library; and”
Sec. 8 Use of funds for employment and training activities
Section 134(d)(3) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(d)(3)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking “public, private for-profit, ” and inserting “public service providers, which may include public libraries, private for-profit service providers,”; and
in subparagraph (C)(vi), by inserting “digital literacy skills,” after “learning skills,”.
Sec. 9 Demonstration, pilot, multiservice, research, and multistate projects
Section 171(b)(1) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916(b)(1)) is amended—
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (H) as subparagraphs (C) through (I), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
“(B) the establishment of employment resource centers in public libraries to provide unemployed and underemployed individuals access to workforce investment activities and information related to training services (as defined in section 134(d)(4)) and employment opportunities, which activities may include—
“(i) resume development activities, job bank internet searches, and workshops on career information;
“(ii) adult education and literacy activities (as defined in section 203); and
“(iii) acquisition of database licenses to improve access to career certification activities and licensing practice tests, and to improve workforce skills;”
Sec. 10 Evaluations
Section 172(a) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2917(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (6), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
“(7) the effectiveness of interagency collaborations and agreements as described in section 196 in expanding access to and improving the quality of such programs and activities; and”
Sec. 11 Interagency collaboration and agreements
Subtitle E of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2931 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“196. Interagency collaboration and agreements
“(a) Interagency collaboration—The Secretary shall collaborate with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or the designees of such heads, on initiatives, materials, or technology to support workforce development activities.
“(b) Interagency agreements—The Secretary may—
“(1) enter into interagency agreements to promote or assist with carrying out the workforce investment activities of Federal agencies other than the Department of Labor, on either a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis; and
“(2) use funds appropriated under this title for the costs of such promotion and assistance.”
Sec. 12 Adult Education
Section 231(b) of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9241(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Programs to promote digital literacy skills, as defined in section 101.”