Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Job Corps for the Next Generation Act”.
Job Corps for the Next Generation Act
A BILL
To amend the Job Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Purposes
Section 141 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191) is amended by striking “centers” each place the term appears and inserting “campuses”.
Sec. 3 Definitions
Section 142 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3192) is amended—
in paragraphs (1), (7), (8), and (10), by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in the paragraph heading of paragraph (7), by striking “center” and inserting “campus”.
Sec. 4 Individuals eligible for the Job Corps
Section 144 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3194) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “21” and inserting “24”;
by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
“(A) an individual who is age 16 or 17 shall be eligible only upon an individual determination by the director of a Job Corps campus that such individual meets the criteria described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 145(b)(1); and”
in subparagraph (B), by striking “either”; and
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(2)
“(A) a low-income individual, as defined in subsection (h) of section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11), as determined using procedures similar to the procedures described in subsection (e) of such section; or
“(B) a resident of a qualified opportunity zone, as defined in section 1400Z–1(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and”
in subsection (b)—
in the subsection heading, by inserting “and certain other members of the Armed Forces” after “Veterans”; and
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “or a member of the Armed Forces eligible for preseparation counseling through the Transition Assistance Program under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code,” after “a veteran”; and
by inserting at the end the following:
“(c) Special rule for homeless and foster youth
“(1) Homeless children and youth—In determining whether an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this subtitle on the basis of being a homeless child or youth, as described in subsection (a)(3)(C), the individual making the determination shall use a process that complies with the process requirements that apply to financial aid administrators under section 479D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
“(2) Individuals in foster care—In determining whether an individual is eligible to enroll for services under this subtitle on the basis of being an individual in foster care or who was in foster care, as described in subsection (a)(3)(C), the individual making the determination shall use a process that complies with the process requirements that apply to financial aid administrators under section 479D(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.”
Sec. 5 Recruitment, screening, selection, and assignment of enrollees
Section 145 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3195) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “and the results received within 45 days after the enrollees enroll in the Job Corps” and inserting “after enrollees first arrive at a Job Corps campus for the purpose of assessing the need for substance abuse intervention or behavioral counseling”;
in paragraph (5), by striking the last sentence; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(6) No wrong door—The Secretary shall establish standards and procedures under this subsection to assist applicable one-stop centers and other entities with which the Secretary has entered into agreements under paragraph (3) in streamlining application processes, in order to allow an applicant to express interest in and begin the application processes for the Job Corps program and for the YouthBuild program under section 171 and youth workforce investment activities under chapter 2 of subtitle B.”
in subsections (b), (c), and (d)—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
by striking “centers” each place the term appears and inserting “campuses”.
Sec. 6 Enrollment
Section 146(b)(3) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3196(b)(3)) is amended by striking “Center” and inserting “Campus”.
Sec. 7 Job Corps campuses
Section 147 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1), by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”;
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
“(B) Considerations
“(i) Student outcomes—In selecting an entity to operate a Job Corps campus, the Secretary shall—
“(I) with respect to entities with previous experience in Job Corps campus operations or the provision of youth workforce activities under chapter 2 of subtitle B, consider a numeric metric of past achievement on the primary indicators of performance for eligible youth described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(ii); and
“(II) with respect to entities without such previous experience in Job Corps campus operations or youth workforce activities, consider a comparable alternative metric, developed and published by the Secretary, that allows such entities to demonstrate their past effectiveness based on such primary indicators of performance for eligible youth.
“(ii) Providers—In selecting a service provider for a Job Corps campus, the Secretary shall—
“(I) consider—
“(aa) with respect to entities with previous experience in providing services to a Job Corps campus, the metric described in clause (i)(I); and
“(bb) with respect to entities without such previous experience, the metric described in clause (i)(II); and
“(II) in determining the type of contract, give a preference to cost-type contracts with performance incentives.”
in paragraph (3)—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”;
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “high-skill, high-wage, or” before “in-demand”;
in subparagraph (D), by inserting “including agreements to provide off-campus work-based learning opportunities aligned with the career and technical education provided to enrollees,” after “is located,”;
by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) as subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), and (L), respectively; and
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E) A description of the demonstrated record of effectiveness the entity and its partners have in providing a safe learning and residential environment for individuals eligible to enroll in the Job Corps.”
in subsection (b)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”;
by striking paragraph (2) 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 Campuses described in subsection (d), for the 2 most recent preceding program years.”
by striking paragraph (3);
in subsection (c)—
by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”; and
by striking “20 percent” and inserting “30 percent”;
in subsection (d)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
by striking “centers” each place the term appears and inserting “campuses”; and
by striking “Centers” each place the term appears and inserting “Campuses”;
in subsection (e)(1), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
in subsection (f), by striking “2-year period” and inserting “4-year period”; and
in subsection (g)—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in paragraph (1), by striking “or if a second program year is not available” and all that follows through the end and inserting “such campus has been ranked in the lowest 10 percent of Job Corps campuses.”.
Sec. 8 Program activities
Section 148 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3198) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “, on completion of their enrollment”;
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking “the eligible providers” and inserting “any eligible provider”; and
by inserting “if the training services are aligned with the career and technical education an enrollee has completed” after “under section 122”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively;
by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
“(d) Job Corps career pathways and apprenticeships
“(1) Career pathways for strategic national importance positions
“(A) In general—The Secretary shall work with the heads of Federal agencies including, at a minimum, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to create career pathways for Job Corps enrollees into positions of strategic national importance for which the relevant Federal agencies or their suppliers are struggling with hiring.
“(B) Appointment—The head of a Federal agency establishing a career pathway described in subparagraph (A) 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 Job Corps enrollee enrolled in a relevant career pathway program directly to any such position for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.
“(2) Apprenticeships—A Job Corps campus may serve as a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship education and training provider, intermediary, partner, or sponsor.”
in subsection (f), as redesignated by paragraph (3)—
by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”; and
by striking “provide” and inserting “encourage Job Corps operators to provide”.
Sec. 9 Transition support
Section 150 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3200) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
in subsection (c), by striking “3 months” and inserting “12 months”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Period of transition—Notwithstanding the requirements of section 146(b), a Job Corps graduate may remain an enrollee and a resident of a Job Corps campus for not more than 1 month after graduation as such graduate transitions into independent living and employment, if such graduate received written approval from the director of the Job Corps campus to remain such a resident.”
Sec. 10 Operations
Section 151 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3201) is amended—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Local authority
“(1) In general—Subject to the limitations of the budget approved by the Secretary for a Job Corps campus and notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the operator of a Job Corps campus shall have the authority, without prior approval from the Secretary, to—
“(A) determine how and when learning is delivered and what tools, such as a learning management system, are employed for that purpose;
“(B) determine the appropriate policy and protocols with respect to enrollees leaving the campus and employers and other guests visiting the campus, and the need for fencing or other security measures around the campus;
“(C) hire staff and provide staff professional development;
“(D) set terms and enter into agreements with Federal, State, or local educational partners, such as secondary schools, institutions of higher education, child development centers, units of Junior Reserves' Officer Training Corps programs established under section 2031 of title 10, United States Code, or employers; and
“(E) engage with and educate stakeholders about Job Corps operations and activities.
“(2) Limitation of liability—In the case of an agreement described in paragraph (1)(D) that does not involve the Job Corps operator providing monetary compensation to the entity involved in such agreement from the funds made available under this subtitle, such agreement shall not be considered a subcontract (as defined in section 8701 of title 41, United States Code).
“(e) Prior notice—Prior to making a change to the agreement described in section 147(a) or an operating plan described in this section, the Secretary shall solicit from the operators of the Job Corps campuses information on any operational costs the operators expect to result from such change.”
Sec. 11 Standards of conduct
Section 152 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3202) is amended—
by striking “centers” each place the term appears and inserting “campuses”;
in subsection (a), by striking the last sentence and inserting “As part of the operating plan required under section 151(a), the director of each Job Corps campus shall develop and implement a behavior management plan consistent with the standards of conduct and subject to the approval of the Secretary.”;
by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (b) and inserting the following:
“(2) Disciplinary policy—The standards of conduct required under subsection (a) shall include a disciplinary policy that requires the automatic dismissal of an enrollee that has committed an act of violence or illegal activity.”
by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
“(c) Appeal process; law enforcement agreements
“(1) Enrollee appeals—A disciplinary measure taken by a director under this section shall be subject to expeditious appeal in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary.
“(2) Director appeals
“(A) In general—The Secretary shall establish an appeals process under which the director of a Job Corps campus may submit a request that an enrollee who has engaged in an activity that is a violation of the guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b)(2) remain enrolled in the program, but be subject to other disciplinary actions.
“(B) Contents—A request under subparagraph (A) shall include—
“(i) a signed certification from the director attesting that, in the belief of the director, the continued enrollment of such enrollee would not impact the safety or learning environment of the campus; and
“(ii) the behavioral records of such enrollee.
“(C) Timeline—The Secretary shall review such appeal and either approve or deny the appeal by not later than 30 days after receiving such appeal.
“(3) Law enforcement agreements—The director of each Job Corps campus shall, to the extent practicable, enter into an agreement with the relevant local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction regarding procedures for the reporting and investigation of potentially illegal activity on the Job Corps campus.”
Sec. 12 Community participation
Section 153 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3203) is amended—
in the subsection heading of subsection (c), by striking “New centers” and inserting “New campuses”;
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in subsection (a), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”.
Sec. 13 Workforce councils
Section 154 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3204) is amended—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in the subsection heading of subsection (d), by striking “New centers” and inserting “New campuses”.
Sec. 14 Advisory committees
Section 155 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3205) is amended—
by striking “center” and inserting “campus”; and
by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”.
Sec. 15 Experimental projects and technical assistance
Section 156(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3206(b)) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “section 162” and inserting “section 161”;
in paragraph (1), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “center” and inserting “campus”.
Sec. 16 Special provisions
Section 158 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3208) is amended—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”; and
in subsection (f)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “Donations” and inserting “Leveraging external resources”;
by striking “may accept on behalf of the Job Corps or individual Job Corps centers charitable donations of cash” and inserting “, on behalf of the Job Corps, the Secretary of Agriculture, on behalf of the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Campuses, or a Job Corps campus operator may accept grants, charitable donations of cash,”;
by striking “such donations” and inserting “such grants, donations, or other assistance”; and
by adding at the end the following: “Notwithstanding sections 501(b) and 522 of title 40, United States Code, any property acquired by a Job Corps campus shall be directly transferred, on a nonreimbursable basis, to the Secretary.”.
Sec. 17 Management information
Section 159 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3209) is amended—
by striking “center” each place the term appears and inserting “campus”;
in subsection (a)(3), by striking “centers” and inserting “campuses”;
in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
“(5) Wage records—The Secretary shall make arrangements with a State or other appropriate entity to facilitate the use of State wage records to evaluate the performance of Job Corps campuses on the employment and earnings indicators described in clause (i)(III), and subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii), of section 116(b)(2)(A) for the purposes of the report required under paragraph (4).”
in subsection (d)(1)(I), by striking “zero-tolerance policy” and inserting “disciplinary policy”;
in subsection (f), by striking paragraph (4);
in subsection (g)—
in the paragraph heading of paragraph (1), by striking “Center” and inserting “Campus”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “comply” and inserting ‘‘attest to compliance”;
in subsection (i), by striking “Centers” and inserting “Campuses”; and
in the subsection heading of subsection (j), by striking “center” and inserting “campus”.
Sec. 18 Job Corps oversight and reporting
Subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by striking section 161.
Sec. 19 Authorization of appropriations
In general— Subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended—
by redesignating section 162 as section 161; and
by striking paragraphs (1) through (6) of section 161, as so redesignated, and inserting the following:
“(1) $1,809,857,925 for fiscal year 2025;
“(2) $1,873,202,952 for fiscal year 2026;
“(3) $1,938,765,056 for fiscal year 2027;
“(4) $2,006,621,833 for fiscal year 2028;
“(5) $2,076,853,597 for fiscal year 2029; and
“(6) $2,149,543,473 for fiscal year 2030.”
Sec. 20 Conforming amendments
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended—
by striking the item relating to section 147 and inserting the following:
by striking the item relating to section 161; and
by redesignating the item relating to section 162 as the item relating to section 161.