1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Connecting Youth to Jobs Act”.
Connecting Youth to Jobs Act
A BILL
To award funds to States and local areas for public, subsidized employment programs for youth.
2. Purpose
During periods which the national rate of youth unemployment is above the full youth employment rate and in excess of the overall national rate, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or during a qualifying emergency or economic recession (as determined by the Chairman of the Federal Reserve), it is the purpose of this Act to provide—
youth public subsidized employment to assist in State and local improvement activities, including public works, the arts, and community development; and
additional and continual funding that is targeted to high poverty areas with historically high youth unemployment rates, particularly high minority youth unemployment rates, for the purpose of creating such employment opportunities.
3. Definitions
In this Act:
Qualifying emergency— The term qualifying emergency means—
a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d);
an event for which the President declared a major disaster or an emergency under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 5191); or
a national emergency declared by the President under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
ESEA terms— The terms local educational agency and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
High-poverty area— The term high-poverty area means a census tract with a youth poverty rate of at least 20 percent during the most recent 5 consecutive years.
Historically high youth unemployment levels— The term historically high youth unemployment levels means any local area with a youth unemployment rate of at least 10 percent, as measured over the most recent decennial censuses, or by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent 5-year period for which data are available.
Institution of higher education— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Public education entity— The term public education entities includes—
a local educational agency;
a State educational agency; or
a public institution of higher education.
Registered apprenticeship program— The term registered apprenticeship programs means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30, 2019.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
Work-based learning— The term work-based learning as the meaning given in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
WIOA terms— The terms in-demand industry sector or occupation, individual with a barrier to employment, in-school youth, local area, local board, out-of-school youth, outlying area, recognized postsecondary credential, supportive services, State, State board, and unit of general local government have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).