,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddgj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #e1 #bjbd,mr4 ,kaine 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 provide training services linked to employment demand through skills training grants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the #bast ,century ,skills are ,key to ,individuals' ,life-,long ,success ,act or the #bast ,century ,,skills ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #aifb1 ,congress authorized the first substantial ,federal job training programs in the postwar period1 to retrain workers displaced because of technological change4 7#b7 ,for nearly #fj years1 ,federal workforce development programs have emphasized targeted education and job training and reemployment activities1 service coordination and delivery1 and a demand-driven approach that is responsive to consumer choice for participants and to the labor needs of local employers4 7#c7 ,now the #bast century economy demands systems that equip workers to be able to think critically and creatively1 solve complex problems1 make evidence-based decisions1 adapt to evolving technologies1 and work collaboratively4 7#d7 ,increasing #bast century skills development is linked to improving employment prospects and work success4 ,removal of structural barriers to employment prospects and work success1 such as implicit bias1 hiring discrimination1 transportation gaps1 and housing insecurity1 requires raising employer responsibility and job standards and improving connections for individuals with barriers to employment4 7#e7 ,building on the functions of entities in the workforce development system1 including aggregating data and acting as catalysts to promote careers with good pay1 will contribute to fostering inclusive economic growth4 7#f7 ,this ,act1 and the amendments made by this ,act1 will remove barriers to inclusive economic growth by allowing workers to access training opportunities through eligible providers of training services1 including community colleges and registered apprenticeship programs1 and by providing supportive services1 including child care and transportation4 #c4 ,skills training grants 7a7 ,discretionary funding for activities other than training services 7#a7 ,allotments ,section #acb of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagb7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,discretionary and mandatory funding 7#a7 ,mandatory funding 7,a7 ,activities ,notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter1 none of the funds appropriated under subsection 7a71 7b71 or 7c7 of section #acf1 and allotted or otherwise provided under this section1 may be used to provide training services1 except under the provisions described in paragraph 7#b74 7,b7 ,training and supportive services ,funds appropriated under section #acf7;d7 shall be used to provide training services and supportive services under section #acd7;c77#c71 and additional sums described in section #acd7;c77#c77;,c77ii7 for career services under section #acd7;c77#b74 7#b7 ,exceptions ,the provisions described in this paragraph are section #abi7;b71 paragraph 7#b7 or 7#c7 of section #acd7;a71 or section #acd7;d71 #afi7;c7 or #agj4 4 7#b7 ,allocations ,section #acc7;b77#a7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagc7;b77#a77 is amended by striking ,the and inserting ,subject to section #acb7;d71 the4 7b7 ,mandatory funding for training services ,section #acd of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagd7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7b7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,local employment and training activities 7#a7 ,training services ,funds appropriated under section #acf7;d7 shall be used to pay or reimburse local boards for the cost of providing training services1 supportive services1 and career services as described in section #acf7;d74 7#b7 ,other employment and training activities ,funds allocated to a local area for adults under paragraph 7#b77;,a7 or 7#c71 as appropriate1 of section #acc7;b71 and funds allocated to a local area for dislocated workers under section #acc7;b77#b77;,b7-- 7,a7 shall be used to carry out employment and training activities described in subsection 7c7 7other than paragraph 7#c7 of such subsection7 for adults or dislocated workers1 respectively2 and 7,b7 may be used to carry out employment and training activities described in subsection 7d7 for adults or dislocated workers1 respectively4 4 7c7 ,skills training grants ,section #acd7;c7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagd7;c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 by striking clause 7iii72 and 7ii7 by redesignating clauses 7iv7 and 7v7 as clauses 7iii7 and 7iv71 respectively2 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,b7 as subparagraph 7,c72 and 7,c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,a7 the following3 7,b7 ,training services1 supportive services1 and career services funds ,funds appropriated under section #acf7;d7 shall be used to provide training services1 supportive services1 and career services as described in section #acf7;d7 to adults and dislocated workers who are eligible for the services involved4 2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,funds described in paragraph 7#a7 and inserting ,subject to subparagraph 7,d71 funds described in paragraph 7#a7 or made available under paragraph 7#c77;,c77ii72 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,priority ,with respect to funds allocated to a local area for adult employment and training activities under paragraph 7#b77;,a7 or 7#c7 of section #acc7;b71 priority shall be given to recipients of public assistance1 other low-income individuals1 and individuals who are basic skills deficient for receipt of career services described in subparagraph 7,a77xii74 ,the appropriate local board and the ,governor shall direct the one-stop operators in the local area with regard to making determinations related to such priority4 2 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a77i7-- 7i7 in the matter preceding subclause 7,i7-- 7,i7 by striking funds allocated to a local area for adults under paragraph 7#b77;,a7 or 7#c71 as appropriate1 of section #acc7;b71 and funds allocated to the local area for dislocated workers under section #acc7;b77#b77;,b71 and inserting funds appropriated under section #acf7;d7 and made available under subparagraph 7,c77i72 and 7,,ii7 by striking 1 respectively2 and 7ii7 in subclause 7,,iv71 by striking who are and all that follows and inserting who meet the requirements of subparagraph 7,e742 7,b7 by amending subparagraph 7,c7 to read as follows3 7,c7 ,arrangements for obtaining ,federal funding 7i7 ,training services and supportive services ,the ,secretary shall establish arrangements by which a local board shall obtain payment in advance for the cost of providing training services and supportive services through skills training grants or contracts to individuals who have been determined to meet the requirements of subparagraph 7,a7 and are therefore eligible for the services involved4 7ii7 ,career services and coordination activities ,when the ,secretary provides payment under clause 7i7 to a local board for an amount under such clause1 the ,secretary shall also provide an additional sum equal to #aj percent of the amount to the local board4 ,the local board shall use the additional sum to pay for-- 7,i7 career services described in paragraph 7#b71 including-- 7aa7 making the services described in clauses 7v71 7vii71 7ix71 7x71 7xi71 and 7xii7 of paragraph 7#b77;,a7 available to any skills training grant recipient outside of traditional working hours1 as defined by the ,secretary2 and 7bb7 the provision of information1 in formats that are usable by and understandable to individuals eligible to receive services through the one-stop delivery system1 about-- 7,,aa7 the local availability of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs1 and the costs of these programs to the skills training grant recipient as compared to the costs of training programs provided by other eligible providers of training services2 and 7,,bb7 apprenticeship programs in industries in which apprenticeship programs have not been traditionally used1 including information for populations traditionally underrepresented in apprenticeship programs2 and 7,,ii7 activities to build relationships between local boards and local eligible providers of training services1 such as-- 7aa7 working with such local eligible providers to improve data reporting to local boards on the primary indicators of performance described in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iv7 of section #aaf7;b77#b77;,a77i7 and1 if the local boards and local eligible providers agree1 any primary indicator of performance described in subclause 7,v7 or 7,,vi7 of such section2 7bb7 negotiating with such local eligible providers of training services regarding any adjusted levels of performance required by the local board under section #abb7;b77#c72 and 7cc7 coordinating with local providers of training services and the ,state to update the list of eligible providers of training services described in section #abb7;d74 2 7,c7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by adding at the end the following3 ,notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph and solely for purposes of this paragraph1 training services shall not include instruction1 at an institution of higher education that provides a #d-year program of instruction1 towards a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree4 2 7,d7 by striking subparagraph 7,e7 and inserting the following3 7,e7 ,employment and income ,to be eligible to receive training services and supportive services under this paragraph1 an individual shall-- 7i7 7,i7 be a dislocated worker2 7,,ii7 be eligible for and receiving unemployment compensation under any ,federal unemployment compensation law2 7,,iii7 be unemployed and have exhausted all unemployment compensation benefits available to the individual2 or 7,,iv7 be employed for at least #f of the preceding #ab months and have an income that is not more than #ajj percent of the ,state median income in the ,state in which the individual resides2 and 7ii7 be a member of a household with an adjusted gross income of not more than #aej1jjj4 2 7,e7 in subparagraph 7,f7-- 7i7 in clause 7ii71 by inserting before ,each the following3 ,training services shall be provided through providers identified in accordance with section #abb42 7ii7 by striking clause 7iii7 and inserting the following3 7iii7 ,skills training grants 7,i7 ,in general ,an individual who seeks training services and who is eligible pursuant to this paragraph1 may1 in consultation with a career counselor1 select an eligible provider of training services from the list of providers described in clause 7ii74 ,if the individual is seeking a high school equivalency program that is not aligned with a career pathway1 the provider shall demonstrate that the program meets relevant requirements of the ,state educational agency involved for a high school education4 ,upon such selection1 the local board involved shall establish a skills training grant for the individual1 which shall allow the individual to pay for such services and any supportive services 7including provision of payments for child care1 transportation1 required books1 equipment1 or examination fees7 that are necessary to enable the individual to participate in the training services provided by the selected provider4 7,,ii7 ,administration ,the local board shall hold and administer the skills training grant funds for the participating individuals served by the local board1 and shall use such funds to reimburse all providers of training services and supportive service providers for the individual4 ,the ,secretary shall determine the appropriate costs for which such skills training grant may be used1 and shall develop methods of verifying whether such grant was used for those costs4 7,,iii7 ,ability to contract ,a local board may enter into a contract or other agreement with a local entity1 including an institution of higher education1 labor organization1 or community-based organization1 to enable the entity to provide skills training grant enrollment assistance or career services 7as described in subparagraph 7,c77ii77,i77 at a location1 or in a manner1 that is convenient for eligible individuals4 2 and 7iii7 in clause 7iv71 by striking individual training accounts and inserting skills training grants2 7,f7 in subparagraph 7,g7-- 7i7 in the subparagraph heading1 by striking individual training accounts and inserting skills training grants2 7ii7 by redesignating clauses 7ii7 through 7iv7 as clauses 7vii7 through 7ix71 respectively2 7iii7 by striking clause 7i7 and inserting the following3 7i7 ,grants ,except as provided in clause 7iv71 training services and supportive services provided under this paragraph shall be provided through the use of skills training grants in accordance with this paragraph1 and shall be provided to eligible individuals through the one-stop delivery system4 7ii7 ,amount ,each individual who seeks training services 7except services provided under clause 7vii77 and who is eligible for training services pursuant to this paragraph shall receive a skills training grant that-- 7,i7 if the individual is a dislocated worker or is a low-income individual1 is in an amount of #aj1jjj1 increased in accordance with clause 7iii72 7,,ii7 if the individual has a household income that is more than #ajj percent of the poverty line but not more than #aej percent of the poverty line1 is in an amount of #h1jjj1 increased in accordance with clause 7iii72 and 7,,iii7 if the individual has a household income that is more than #aej percent but not more than #bjj percent of the poverty line1 is in an amount of #f1jjj1 increased in accordance with clause 7iii74 7iii7 ,adjustment for inflation ,beginning in fiscal year #bjbe1 the ,secretary shall annually adjust each amount described in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iii7 of clause 7ii7 by the estimated percentage increase1 if any1 in the ,consumer ,price ,index for the most recent full calendar year4 7iv7 ,limit on program costs 7,i7 ,in general ,subject to subclause 7,,ii71 the tuition and fees of a program of training services provided through the use of a skills training grant shall not exceed #aaj percent of the amount equal to average tuition and fees 7calculated for the most recent #c-year period preceding the participant's enrollment in the program for which the tuition and fees are being determined under this clause7 of a comparable program at a community college in the local area in which the participant resides4 7,,ii7 ,exception ,subclause 7,i7 shall not apply to a program of training services if a local board determines that an employer will pay any costs of such program that exceed #aaj percent of the average tuition and fees described in subclause 7,i74 7v7 ,timing ,an individual who receives a skills training grant under this paragraph shall enroll in a program of training services not later than #c months after receiving the grants4 ,any remaining funds in the skills training grant not used upon the exit of the program by the participant will no longer be available for such participant4 ,no individual may receive more than one skills training grant in any #e-year period4 7vi7 ,awareness campaign ,during the first year for which skills training grants are available to eligible individuals1 the ,secretary shall carry out a national information campaign to raise awareness about skills training grants and their availability and use1 which may include running public awareness campaigns at the ,state or local level informing eligible individuals and employers about the skills training grants4 2 7iv7 in clause 7vii71 as redesignated by clause 7ii7 of this subparagraph-- 7,i7 in the matter preceding subclause 7,i71 by striking individual training account and inserting skills training grant2 and 7,,ii7 in subclause 7,,iii71 by striking individual training accounts and inserting skills training grants2 and 7v7 in clause 7ix71 as redesignated by clause 7ii7 of this subparagraph-- 7,i7 by striking individual training accounts each place it appears and inserting skills training grants2 and 7,,ii7 by striking clause 7ii7 and inserting clause 7vii72 and 7,g7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 ,provider qualification ,the on-the-job training under this paragraph shall be provided through providers identified in accordance with section #abb7;h74 4 7d7 ,performance requirements for training services providers ,section #abb7;c77#b7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caeb7;c77#b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,the ,governor shall establish levels of performance on the indicators of performance described in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iv7 of section #aaf7;b77#b77;,a77i7 that a provider of training services shall be required to meet or exceed1 based on the performance of all individuals receiving the training services1 in order to renew eligibility under this paragraph and remain on the list of providers under subsection 7d744 7e7 ,mandatory appropriations ,section #acf of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caha7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,training services ,there are authorized to be appropriated and there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to provide training services and supportive services under section #acd7;c77#c71 and the additional sums described in section #acd7;c77#c77;,c77ii7 for career services under section #acd7;c77#b74 4 7f7 ,conforming ,amendments 7#a7 ,section #ajh7;b77#ai7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cabc7;b77#ai77 is amended by striking individual training accounts and inserting skills training grants4 7#b7 ,section #abb7;g7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caeb7;g77 is amended by striking individual training accounts and inserting skills training grants4 #d4 ,training services clearinghouse 7a7 ,amendment ,subtitle ,e of title ,i of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbda et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #aif4 ,career,one,stop website 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall maintain a website that includes the information and features described in this section 7referred to in this section as the ,career,one,stop website74 7b7 ,skills training grant portal ,the ,career,one,stop website shall contain a portal1 for the use of individuals who are eligible for skills training grants under section #acd7;c77#c71 to request such grants4 ,skills training grants shall be distributed by local boards1 in accordance with that section4 7c7 ,list of approved training providers ,the ,career,one,stop website shall contain the lists of eligible providers of training services prepared by ,governors under section #abb7;d77#a7 and information identifying eligible providers as determined by one-stop operators under section #abb7;h77#a74 7d7 ,information on programs of training services ,the ,career,one,stop website shall contain1 for each program of training services provided under section #acd7;c77#c71 information on-- 7#a7 the demographics1 such as the sex1 race1 ethnicity1 median age1 and education level1 of participants in the program2 7#b7 performance1 as measured on the indicators described in subclauses 7,i7 through 7,,iv7 of section #aaf7;b77#b77;,a77i72 and 7#c7 the cost of attendance1 including costs of tuition and fees1 for participants in the program4 7e7 ,tools for eligible individuals ,the ,career,one,stop website shall contain tools to enable individuals who are eligible to receive such training services to compare performance data across programs of training services1 providers of such services1 and ,states4 7f7 ,resources for providers of training services ,the ,career,one,stop website shall contain resources for providers of training services1 including guidance on each ,state that specifies-- 7#a7 the criteria1 requirements1 and procedures that a provider shall meet to be listed as an eligible provider under section #abb7;d77#a7 or identified as an eligible provider under section #abb7;h77#a7 in the ,state2 and 7#b7 the minimum levels for the ,state described in section #abb7;b77#a77;,a77i74 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary4 4 7b7 ,table of ,contents ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of such ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja note7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aie the following3 ,sec4 #aif4 ,career,one,stop website4 4