,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gcba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bd1 #bjbj,ms4 ,stefanik 7for herself and ,mr4 ,moulton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to establish grants to support the establishment of personal reemployment accounts to assist ,americans in gaining skills and returning to work following the economic disruption caused by ,,covid-#ai4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,elevating ,america's ,workforce ,act4 #b4 ,grants to support personal reemployment accounts ,subtitle ,b of title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #e ,personal ,reemployment ,accounts #acg;,a4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this chapter are to provide for the establishment of personal reemployment accounts for certain individuals identified as likely to need additional job training to make a successful transition to new employment following the economic disruption caused by ,,covid-#ai1 in order to-- 7#a7 accelerate the reemployment of such individuals2 7#b7 promote the retention in employment of such individuals2 and 7#c7 provide such individuals with enhanced flexibility1 choice1 and control in obtaining job training services4 #acg;,b4 ,definition ,in this chapter1 the term ,state means each of the several ,states of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands4 #acg;,c4 ,grants to ,states 7a7 ,grants ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 reserve #a_/aj of #a percent of the amount appropriated under section #acf7;d77 for use under section #acg;,i2 and 7#b7 use the remainder of the amount appropriated under section #acf7;d7 to make allotments in accordance with subsection 7b74 7b7 ,allotment among ,states 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ae days after an amount is first appropriated under section #acf7;d7 and from the amount made available under subsection 7a77#b71 the ,secretary shall allot to each ,state an amount that is proportionate to the relative number of unemployed individuals in the ,state as compared to the total number of unemployed individuals in all ,states in order to provide assistance for eligible individuals in accordance with this chapter4 7#b7 ,small state minimum allotment ,the ,secretary shall ensure that-- 7,a7 each ,state 7other than the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands7 shall receive an allotment under paragraph 7#a7 that is not less than #c_/aj of #a percent of the amount made available under subsection 7a77#b7 for the fiscal year2 and 7,b7 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands shall receive an allotment under paragraph 7#a7 that is not less than #a_/aj of #a percent of the amount made available under subsection 7a77#b7 for the fiscal year4 7c7 ,availability ,notwithstanding section #ahi7;g77#a71 amounts made available under subsection 7a7 to carry out this chapter shall be available for obligation and expenditure beginning on the date of the enactment of the ,elevating ,america's ,workforce ,act4 #acg;,d4 ,within ,state allocation 7a7 ,allocation ,of the amount allotted to a ,state under section #acg;,c-- 7#a7 not more than #aj percent of the amount may be reserved by the ,governor of the ,state to-- 7,a7 of which #b percent may be used to-- 7i7 enhance labor market information tools and the availability of regional labor market information2 and 7ii7 carry out other appropriate activities to implement this chapter2 and 7,b7 of which any remaining amounts may be used to distribute funds to local areas for the establishment of personal reemployment accounts described in section #acg;,e for eligible individuals in such local areas1 based on a determination of need by the ,state for such funds2 and 7#b7 not later than #ae days after receiving such allotment1 the remaining amount shall be allocated by the ,state to local areas in accordance with the formula described in subsection 7b7 for the establishment of personal reemployment accounts described in section #acg;,e for eligible individuals in such local areas1 of which not more than #e percent of the amount allocated to a local area may be reserved by the local board involved for start-up costs and other operating costs related to the provision of assistance under this chapter4 7b7 ,formula ,a ,state shall allocate funds to local areas in the ,state under subsection 7a77#b7 in an amount that is proportionate to the relative number of unemployed individuals in the local area as compared to the total number of unemployed individuals in the ,state4 #acg;,e4 ,personal reemployment accounts 7a7 ,accounts 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,establishment of accounts ,not later than #f months after funds are allocated to a local area under section #acg;,d1 such funds shall be used to establish personal reemployment accounts for eligible individuals to be used in accordance with section #acg;,f4 7,b7 ,use of unobligated funds 7i7 ,in general ,any unobligated funds that remain in a deactivated account shall-- 7,i7 not later than #c months of such deactivation1 be used 7,,ii7 to establish a new personal reemployment account described in subparagraph 7,a72 or 7,,iii7 returned to the ,state to be used in accordance with section #acg;,d7a77#a77;,b74 7ii7 ,deactivated account defined ,in this subparagraph1 the term deactivated account means a personal reemployment account-- 7,i7 that has been established for #a year2 or 7,,ii7 that has been established for #c months in a case in which the individual has not begun the training purchased using such account under section #acg7;a74 7,c7 ,other limitations ,an eligible individual may receive only one personal reemployment account1 and such an account shall not be transferable4 7#b7 ,composition ,each account shall be comprised of a training fund and a reemployment bonus1 which shall function independently for the purposes designated in section #acg;,f4 7#c7 ,amount ,the ,state shall establish the amount of the training fund and the reemployment bonus1 which shall be uniform throughout the ,state1 pursuant to the following criteria3 7,a7 ,with respect to the training fund1 the ,state may establish-- 7i7 a maximum amount of #f1jjj2 and 7ii7 a minimum amount is #c1jjj4 7,b7 ,with respect to the reemployment bonus1 the ,state may establish-- 7i7 a maximum amount of #b1jjj2 and 7ii7 a minimum amount of #a1jjj4 7#d7 ,limitation on additional services ,during the #a-year period following the establishment of an account for an eligible individual1 the eligible individual may not receive training services funded under this title 7other than the services or training funded under section #acg;,f7a774 7b7 ,eligible individuals 7#a7 ,minimum eligibility criteria requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 an individual shall be eligible to receive assistance under this chapter if1 beginning after the date of enactment of the ,elevating ,america's ,workforce ,act1 the individual-- 7i7 is identified by a local area as likely in need of job training to make a successful transition to new employment2 and 7ii7 is receiving cash benefits payable with respect to the individual's unemployment1 including any benefits payable under subtitle ,a of title ,,ii of division ,a of the ,,cares ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf74 7,b7 ,additional eligibility and priority criteria ,a ,state may establish criteria that is in addition to the criteria described in subparagraph 7,a7 for the eligibility of individuals to receive assistance under this chapter4 ,a ,state may also establish criteria for priority in the provision of assistance to such eligible individuals under this chapter4 7#b7 ,transition rule ,at the option of the ,state1 an individual may be eligible to receive assistance under this chapter if the individual-- 7,a7 during the #a-year period following the date of the enactment of the ,elevating ,america's ,workforce ,act1 exhausted all rights to the cash benefits described in paragraph 7#b77;,a77ii72 and 7,b7 is separated from employment in an industry or occupation that has experienced declining employment1 or no longer provides any employment1 in the local labor market on the date of the determination of eligibility of the individual under this paragraph4 7#c7 ,no individual entitlement ,nothing in this chapter shall be construed to entitle any individual to receive a personal reemployment account4 7c7 ,local administration 7#a7 ,in general ,a local board shall administer personal reemployment accounts established under this chapter through the one-stop delivery system4 7#b7 ,information and attestation ,prior to the establishment of a personal reemployment account for an eligible individual under this chapter1 the one-stop delivery system shall ensure that the individual-- 7,a7 is informed of the requirements applicable to the personal reemployment account1 including the allowable uses of funds from the account1 the limitations on access to services described under section #acg;,e7a77#d7 and a description of such services1 and the conditions for receiving a reemployment bonus2 7,b7 has completed an orientation session1 either in person or virtual1 that includes an overview of the personal reemployment account and the basic career services that are available through the one-stop2 7,c7 is provided access to information on-- 7i7 potential training providers1 included the training providers specified in section #acd7;c77#c77;,f72 7ii7 the most up-to-date regional labor market data and analysis of skills needed by employers in the region2 and 7iii7 in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area2 7,d7 has the option to develop a personal reemployment plan which will identify the employment goals and appropriate combination of services selected by the individual to achieve the employment goals2 and 7,e7 signs an attestation that the individual will-- 7i7 comply with the requirements relating to the personal reemployment accounts under this chapter2 and 7ii7 be responsible for any expenditures that are not allowable to be reimbursed by the account4 7#c7 ,periodic contact ,the one-stop delivery system shall conduct periodic1 not less than once every three months1 interviews with the eligible individual to discuss the usage of their personal reemployment account and assist the recipient in meeting such individual's employment goals4 #acg;,f4 ,use of funds 7a7 ,allowable activities 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to subsection 7c7 and paragraph 7#c7 of this subsection1 an eligible individual may use amounts in the training fund to-- 7,a7 purchase training services 7including the services specified in section #acd7;c77#c77;,d77 from a provider of such training services1 which-- 7i7 shall be a provider that-- 7,i7 offers training that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential2 and 7,,ii7 as of the date of enactment of the ,elevating ,america's ,workforce ,act1 has been in operation for at least a #f-month period2 and 7ii7 may be a provider that is not on the list of eligible providers of training services described in section #abb7;d72 7,b7 provide to the employer with whom the individual enters into a work-based training agreement described in paragraph 7#b7 for the provision of on-the-job training1 reimbursement of-- 7i7 7,i7 in the case of an employer with not more than #ajj employees1 #ge percent of the wages earned by the eligible individual while engaged in the training1 except that such reimbursement shall not exceed the amounts in the training fund as of the date of such reimbursement2 and 7,,ii7 in the case of an employer with more than #ajj employees1 #ej percent the wages earned by the eligible individual while engaged in the training1 except that such reimbursement shall not exceed the amounts in the training fund as of the date of such reimbursement2 and 7ii7 upon completion of such training and meeting the requirements to receive an unemployment bonus under subsection 7b77#a71 #be percent of the wages earned by the eligible individual while engaged in the training1 except that such reimbursement shall not exceed the amounts in the training fund as of the date of such reimbursement2 or 7,c7 purchase the training services described in subparagraph 7,a7 and provide the employer reimbursement described in subparagraph 7,b74 7#b7 ,work-based training agreement ,to receive on-the-job training from an employer as described in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 an eligible individual shall enter into a work-based training agreement with the employer to establish-- 7,a7 the length of the training1 the hourly wage rate of the individual1 the amount in the individual's training fund1 the skills necessary for the job and the individual's current attainment level of such skills1 the skills to be learned during the training2 and 7,b7 a requirement that1 prior to beginning such training1 the eligible individual provide to the one-stop delivery system for purposes of receiving a payment or reimbursement in accordance with paragraph 7#c71 a copy of such agreement and1 during such training1 any documentation of the wages earned by the individual while engaged in such training4 7#c7 ,delivery of services ,the one-stop delivery system may pay costs for the services and training described in paragraph 7#a71 through a voucher system1 or by reimbursement to the eligible individual or employer upon-- 7,a7 receipt of appropriate cost documentation for training services under paragraph 7#a77;,a71 consistent with safeguards described in the ,state application under section #acg;,g2 or 7,b7 receipt of documentation of wages earned by the individual while engaged in on-the-job training under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 for which the one-stop delivery system has received a copy of the work-based training agreement established under paragraph 7#b74 7b7 ,reemployment bonus 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible individual shall be provided1 directly and in cash1 a reemployment bonus1 in a case in which1 not later than #f weeks after the completion of any training purchased under subsection 7a7 and not later than #a year after the establishment of the individual's account-- 7,a7 the individual obtains full-time1 unsubsidized employment 7which is not the on-the job training described in subsection 7a77#a77;,b772 and 7,b7 meets one of the following3 7i7 ,receives a recognized postsecondary credential necessary for such employment upon completion of the training purchased under subsection 7a74 7ii7 ,completes the on-the-job training purchased under subsection 7a7 and gains the skills necessary for such employment4 7#b7 ,payments ,the following shall apply with respect to an eligible individual described in paragraph 7#a73 7,a7 #fj percent of the remaining reemployment bonus shall be paid to the individual upon the employment described in paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 #dj percent of the remaining reemployment bonus shall be paid to the individual after #bf weeks of employment retention4 7#c7 ,training fund ,except as provided in 7c77#b71 upon receipt of a reemployment bonus under paragraph 7#a71 an individual may not use any funds remaining in the individual's training fund4 7c7 ,limitations ,the following shall apply with respect to personal reemployment accounts under this chapter3 7#a7 ,amounts in a personal reemployment account established for an individual may be used during the #a-year period after the date of the establishment of the account for an individual1 except that such individual shall begin any training the individual purchased under subsection 7a7 not later than #c months after such establishment4 7#b7 ,during the #a-year period after the date on which an individual's account is established1 if such individual receives a reemployment bonus under subsection 7b7 and becomes unemployed1 the individual-- 7,a7 may use the amount remaining in the training fund portion of the individual's for the purposes described in subsection 7a72 and 7,b7 may not be eligible for additional cash payments under subsection 7b74 #acg;,g4 ,state application 7a7 ,in general ,in order for a ,state to receive an allotment under section #acg;,c1 the ,governor of the ,state shall submit to the ,secretary an application that includes a description of how the ,state intends to carry out the personal reemployment accounts authorized under this chapter1 including-- 7#a7 the criteria and methods to be used for determining eligibility for the personal reemployment accounts and the additional criteria and priority for service that the ,state intends to apply1 if any1 pursuant to section #acg;,e7b77#a77;,b72 7#b7 the methods or procedures1 developed in consultation with local boards and chief elected officials1 to be used to provide eligible individuals information relating to services1 providers and employers1 and safeguards1 to ensure that funds from the personal reemployment accounts are used for purposes authorized under this chapter2 and 7#c7 how the ,state will coordinate the activities carried out under this chapter with the employment and training activities carried out under section #acd and other activities carried out through the one-stop delivery system in the ,state4 7b7 ,application submission and approval ,a ,state application submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7a7 by a ,governor shall be considered to be approved by the ,secretary at the end of the #cj-;day period beginning on the date the ,secretary receives the application1 unless the ,secretary makes a written determination during such period that the application is incomplete or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter4 #acg;,h4 ,program information 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may require from ,states the collection and reporting on such financial1 performance1 and other program-related information as the ,secretary determines is appropriate to carry out this chapter1 including the evaluation described in section #acg;,i4 7b7 ,training ,provider ,performance ,data ,each ,state shall submit annually to the ,secretary and make available 7including by electronic means71 in an easily understandable format1 performance data with respect to each provider of training under this chapter containing the following information3 7#a7 ,the total number of program participants who received training services4 7#b7 ,the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program4 7#c7 ,the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program4 7#d7 ,the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program4 7#e7 ,in the case of a training provider described in section #acg;,f7a77#a77;,a71 the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential during participation in or within #a year after exit from the program4 7#f7 ,in the case of an employer providing on-the-job training described in section #acg;,f7a77#a77;,b71 the percentage of program participants who completed on-the-job training supported under this chapter and achieved measurable skills gains necessary for employment4 #acg;,i4 ,evaluation1 technical assistance1 and data collection activities 7a7 ,evaluation ,from the amount made available under section #acg;,c7a77#a71 the ,secretary1 pursuant to the authority provided under section #afi1 shall1 directly or through grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements with appropriate entities1 conduct an evaluation of the activities carried out under this chapter4 7b7 ,conduct of evaluation ,the evaluation shall examine the effectiveness of such activities in achieving the purposes described in section #acg;,a1 including the effectiveness with respect to individuals with barriers to employment1 disaggregated by each subpopulation of such individuals1 and by race1 ethnicity1 sex1 and age1 and such other purposes as the ,secretary determines are appropriate4 7c7 ,report ,the report to ,congress under section #afi7;e7 relating to the results of the evaluations required under section #afi shall include the recommendation of the ,secretary with respect to the use of personal reemployment accounts as a mechanism to assist individuals in obtaining and retaining employment4 4 #c4 ,administration ,section #ajg7;d7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cabb7;d77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#h77;,a77i71 by inserting 1 activities authorized under section #acg;,f after section #acd2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ab77;,b77i77,i71 by striking sections #abh and #acc and inserting sections #abh1 #acc1 and #acg;,d4 #d4 ,authorization of appropriations ,section #acf of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caha7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,personal reemployment accounts 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated #h1fab1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj to carry out chapter #e4 7#b7 ,availability ,amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph 7#a7 to carry out section #acg;,i are authorized to remain available until expended4 4 #e4 ,conforming amendment ,the table of contents for the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act is amended by inserting after the items relating to chapter #d of subtitle ,b of title ,i the following new items3 ,chapter #e--,personal ,reemployment ,accounts ,sec4 #acg;,a4 ,purposes4 ,sec4 #acg;,b4 ,definition4 ,sec4 #acg;,c4 ,grants to ,states4 ,sec4 #acg;,d4 ,within ,state allocation4 ,sec4 #acg;,e4 ,personal reemployment accounts4 ,sec4 #acg;,f4 ,use of funds4 ,sec4 #acg;,g4 ,state application4 ,sec4 #aceg4 ,program information4 ,sec4 #acg;,i4 ,evaluation1 technical assistance1 and data collection activities4 4