,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dchg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,portman7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to authorize the ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,reo ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program ,subtitle ,d of title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbba et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating section #agb 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbbg7 as section #agc2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #aga 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbbf7 the following3 #agb4 ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,correctional institution ,the term correctional institution has the meaning given the term in section #bbe7;e74 7#b7 ,eligible adult ,the term eligible adult means an individual who-- 7,a7 on the date of the individual's enrollment-- 7i7 is not younger than age #be2 and 7ii7 is residing in or returning to the geographic area served2 and 7,b7 7i7 before that date of enrollment-- 7,i7 was released from incarceration in a correctional institution 7including being enrolled in a work release center at the institution72 or 7,,ii7 served an alternative sentence1 or a sentence to a diversion program1 ordered through the adult criminal justice system2 or 7ii7 on that date1 is subject to the adult criminal justice system1 including an individual who-- 7,i7 is incarcerated in a correctional institution 7including being enrolled in a work release center at the institution71 but is scheduled to be released within #f months2 7,,ii7 is residing in a residential reentry center2 7,,iii7 is subject to electronic or home-based monitoring2 7,,iv7 is in the community on probation or parole2 or 7,v7 is serving an alternative sentence1 or a sentence to a diversion program1 ordered through that system4 7#c7 ,eligible young adult ,the term eligible young adult means an individual who1 on the date of the individual's enrollment-- 7,a7 is not younger than age #ah and not older than age #bd2 7,b7 is residing in or returning to the geographic area served2 and 7,c7 7i7 is a school dropout 7within the meaning of section #abi7;a77#a77;,b77iii77,i77 from a high school1 except that not more than #aj percent of the individuals accepted to participate in a program under subsection 7b7 may be found eligible under this subparagraph solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this clause2 or 7ii7 is an individual who is1 or has been1 subject to the juvenile or adult criminal justice system1 including an individual who-- 7,i7 is or has been incarcerated in a correctional institution 7including being enrolled in a work release center at the institution or in a detention facility for juveniles72 7,,ii7 is or has been subject to that system due to having an out-of-home placement1 or being on probation or parole2 or 7,,iii7 is serving or has served an alternative sentence1 or a sentence to a diversion program1 ordered through that system4 7#d7 ,eligible youth ,the term eligible youth means an individual who1 on the date of the individual's enrollment-- 7,a7 is not younger than age #af and not older than age #ag2 7,b7 is residing in or returning to the geographic area served2 and 7,c7 7i7 is a school dropout 7within the meaning of section #abi7;a77#a77;,b77iii77,i77 from a high school1 except that not more than #aj percent of the individuals accepted to participate in a program under subsection 7c7 may be found eligible under this subparagraph solely on the basis of meeting the requirements of this clause2 or 7ii7 is an individual who is1 or has been1 subject to the juvenile justice system1 including an individual who-- 7,i7 is or has been incarcerated in a correctional institution 7including being enrolled in a work release center at the institution or in a detention facility for juveniles72 7,,ii7 is or has been subject to that system due to having an out-of-home placement1 or being on probation or parole2 or 7,,iii7 is serving or has served an alternative sentence1 or a sentence to a diversion program1 ordered through that system4 7#e7 ,enroll ,the term enroll means receive confirmation that an individual1 having applied to participate in a program under this section1 has been accepted to the program4 7#f7 ,registered apprenticeship ,the term registered apprenticeship means an apprenticeship registered under the ,act of ,august #af1 #aicg 7commonly known as the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act2 #ej ,stat4 #ffd1 chapter #ffc2 #bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et seq474 7b7 ,adult ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish and carry out an adult ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program4 7#b7 ,grants 7,a7 ,direct grants ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary may make direct grants to eligible entities to carry out projects described in paragraph 7#f71 in geographic areas1 for eligible adults and eligible young adults4 7,b7 ,grants through intermediaries ,in any year for which the ,secretary makes grants under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall make intermediary grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities who are national or regional intermediaries1 who shall use the grant funds to make direct grants to eligible entities or to carry out projects described in subparagraph 7,a7 in accordance with the provisions of this subsection4 ,for purposes of this subsection1 a reference to the ,secretary shall include a reference to an intermediary who receives funds under this subparagraph to the extent that the intermediary uses the funds to make direct grants to eligible entities4 7#c7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a direct or intermediary grant under this subsection1 an entity-- 7,a7 shall be an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf that is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code2 7,b7 may be-- 7i7 an organization that serves women or a minority population2 7ii7 a ,state or local government2 or 7iii7 an entity 7including an ,indian tribe or an ,alaska ,native-controlled or ,native ,hawaiian-controlled organization7 that is eligible for a grant under section #aff 7including the regulations issued under that section72 and 7,c7 may be an organization that serves-- 7i7 an urban county1 meaning a county that is a ,metropolitan ,area1 as designated by the ,office of ,management and ,budget2 or 7ii7 a rural county1 meaning a county that is a ,micropolitan ,area1 or neither a ,metropolitan ,area nor a ,micropolitan ,area1 as so designated4 7#d7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a direct grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection1 an entity shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including1 for a program that includes an industry-recognized credential1 a description of the program leading to the credential4 7#e7 ,use of funds ,an entity that receives1 under this subsection1 a direct grant to carry out a project described in paragraph 7#b7 shall use the grant funds to carry out a project that provides opportunities in a pre-apprenticeship program1 a registered apprenticeship program1 an industry-recognized apprenticeship program1 occupational skills education1 on-the-job training1 work experience1 job referrals1 basic skills remediation1 educational services1 or work readiness activities1 to eligible adults or eligible young adults4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal year #bjba and each subsequent fiscal year4 7c7 ,youth ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish and carry out a youth ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program4 7#b7 ,grants 7,a7 ,direct grants ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary may make direct grants to eligible entities to carry out projects described in subsection 7b77#f71 in geographic areas1 for eligible youth4 7,b7 ,grants through intermediaries ,in any year for which the ,secretary makes grants under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall make intermediary grants as described in subsection 7b77#b77;,a71 except that references in that subsection to eligible entities shall be treated as references to entities described in paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a direct or intermediary grant under this subsection1 an entity may be an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf that is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code or a ,state juvenile justice agency4 7#d7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a direct grant or an intermediary grant under this subsection1 an entity shall submit an application as described in subsection 7b77#d74 7#e7 ,use of funds ,an entity that receives1 under this subsection1 a direct grant to carry out a project described in paragraph 7#b7 shall use the grant funds as described in subsection 7b77#f71 for eligible youth4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal year #bjba and each subsequent fiscal year4 7d7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall reserve and use not more than-- 7#a7 #b percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 7b77#g7 for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 #b percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 7c77#g7 for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under subsection 7c74 4 #c4 ,evaluation of the reentry projects 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer shall evaluate the effectiveness of direct grants and intermediary grants used by the ,department of ,labor to support offender reentry and recidivism reduction through reentry projects at the ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and tribal levels4 ,the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer shall evaluate each of the following3 7#a7 ,the effectiveness of such projects in relation to their cost1 including the extent to which the projects improve reentry outcomes1 including employment1 education1 housing1 and reductions in recidivism1 of participants in comparison to comparably situated individuals who did not participate in such projects4 7#b7 ,the effectiveness of project structures and mechanisms for delivery of services4 7#c7 ,the impact of such projects on the communities and participants involved4 7#d7 ,the impact of such projects on related programs and activities4 7#e7 ,the extent to which such projects meet the needs of various demographic groups4 7#f7 ,the quality and effectiveness of technical assistance provided by the ,department of ,labor to grantees for implementing such projects4 7#g7 ,such other factors as may be appropriate4 7b7 ,availability of funds for evaluation ,not more than #b4e percent of any amounts appropriated for a fiscal year to carry out the reentry projects shall be reserved and made available to the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer for such evaluation1 including evaluating the processes1 implementation1 outcomes1 costs1 and effectiveness of the reentry projects in improving reentry and reducing recidivism4 ,such reserved funding may be used to provide support to recipients of direct grants and intermediary grants for reentry projects for supplemental data collection1 analysis1 and coordination associated with evaluation activities4 7c7 ,techniques ,evaluations conducted under this section shall use appropriate methodology and research designs4 ,impact evaluations conducted under this section shall include the use of intervention and control groups chosen by random assignment methods1 to the extent possible4 7d7 ,metrics and ,outcomes for ,evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer shall consult with relevant stakeholders and identify outcome measures1 including measures for employment1 housing1 education1 and public safety1 that are to be achieved by reentry projects and the metrics by which the achievement of such outcomes shall be determined4 7#b7 ,publication ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer identifies metrics and outcomes under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,labor shall publish such metrics and outcomes identified4 7e7 ,data collection ,as a condition of receiving a direct grant or intermediary grant for a reentry project1 grantees shall be required to collect and report to the ,department of ,labor data based upon the metrics identified under subsection 7d74 ,in accordance with applicable law1 collection of individual-level data under a pledge of confidentiality shall be protected by the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer in accordance with such pledge4 7f7 ,data accessibility ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer shall-- 7#a7 make data collected during the course of evaluation under this section available in de-identified form in such a manner that reasonably protects a pledge of confidentiality to participants under subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 make identifiable data collected during the course of evaluation under this section available to qualified researchers for future research and evaluation1 in accordance with applicable law4 7g7 ,publication and reporting of evaluation findings ,the ,chief ,evaluation ,officer shall-- 7#a7 not later than #cfe days after the date on which the enrollment of participants in an impact evaluation is completed under this section1 publish an interim report on such evaluation2 7#b7 not later than #ij days after the date on which any evaluation is completed under this section1 publish and make publicly available such evaluation2 and 7#c7 not later than #fj days after the completion date described in paragraph 7#b71 submit a report to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate on such evaluation4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,chief ,evaluation ,officer ,the term ,chief ,evaluation ,officer means the head of the independent evaluation office located organizationally in the ,office of the ,assistant ,secretary for ,policy of the ,department of ,labor4 7#b7 ,reentry project ,the term reentry project means a project funded under the reentry employment opportunities program carried out under section #agb of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunities ,act4 #d4 ,conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the item relating to section #agb as the item relating to section #agc2 and 7#b7 by inserting after the item relating to section #aga the following3 ,sec4 #agb4 ,reentry ,employment ,opportunities ,program44