HB 26-17: The Youth Preparedness Act of 2020 (Passed)

[Joseph Cao]

AN ACT

To establish after-school youth development programs across the nation by strengthening employment preparation skills, career exploration, career development, and workforce opportunities

Be it ordained by the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Section 1. Title
a. The title of this legislation shall be the Youth Preparedness Act of 2020

Section 2. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish or expand activities to—

a. Increase access and opportunities for youth to obtain the education and training that youth need to succeed in the labor market;
b. Support engagement in and the integration of programs and activities offered during out-of-school-time hours through the workforce investment, education, and economic development systems;
c. Improve the quality of the workforce and meet the skill requirements of employers;
d. Engage employers in addressing the training, skill, and employment needs of youth and youth jobseekers, and fostering opportunities for connection and economic mobility; and
e. Include younger youth in the education and workforce investment activities in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.

Section 3. Definitions
As defined in this Act:

a. Community-based organization
    i. The term community-based organization means a youth-serving private nonprofit organization (which may include a faith-based organization) that—
    ii. is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community;
    iii. has demonstrated expertise and effectiveness in workforce development; and
    iv. has demonstrated expertise—
    v. in the planning and delivery of education, training, and related activities that are included in a career pathway;
    vi. in forging coordination and cooperation between educators and other members of the community; and
    vii. in development and implementation of data systems that measure the progress of students and outcomes of career pathways.

Section 4. Establishment
a. This act shall hereby establish a Workforce readiness program.
The term workforce readiness program means an out-of-school-time program that—
    i. Meets the requirements of section 7;
    ii. is offered by a community-based organization of an eligible entity or a related covered partnership; and
    iii. is intended to help prepare eligible youth for the workforce.

Section 5. Grant program establishment

a. Grants
Using the amounts made available under section 9, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities.
b. General use of funds
Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis, to assist eligible entities in planning, developing, and implementing nationwide, comprehensive workforce readiness programs, that are—
    i. in out-of-school-time programs;
    ii. carried out by community-based organizations of the eligible entity or related covered partnerships; and
    iii. for eligible youth.
c. Periods of grants
Grants will be awarded for periods of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.

Sponsor:
House Designation: HB 26-17

72 hours to debate.

[Spark]

Mr. Speaker,

I defer to have this bill sponsored by another Representative.

I yield.

[Joseph Cao]

Very well. A sponsor is needed for this bill.

[Left Wing]

The bill needs some work but I can sponsor.

[Joseph Cao]

Representatives have 24 hours to object to FalterinArc assuming sponsorship.

[Joseph Cao]

FalterinArc is recognized as sponsor.

[Left Wing]

Mr Speaker

I rise to support the bill. It's provisions will create much-needed opportunities for our youth. Too many of them are being left behind by being inadequately prepared for the job market. I believe this bill will better prepare our next generation for the real world. I do have some concerns about the vagueness of the definition of Community-based organization and I will be offering an amendment on that matter.

I yield.

[Rep Jessica]

Mr.Speaker

More socialism and state control over our kids. How about leaving this to the parents and letting them rise them? You know the mothers and father? Based on studies the two parent household is by far the best way to promote success in our youth. The state can't solve everything and we don't have the money as we're broke as a nation as seveneleven said. 

I yield.

[Left Wing]

Mr Speaker.

It's said often, but socialism is not when the government does stuff. The nuclear family model is certainly not a perfect system, but even if it were, this bill has nothing to do with that. We offer public school for a reason. Most parents are not adequate mentors to their children. Too many kids are falling behind, especially in the inner cities where they get stuck in minimum wage jobs. To compare building a nationwide high speed rail grid to an after-school program is honestly ridiculous.

I yield.

[Joseph Cao]

There is a bit of an open-endedness to the age and eligibility parameters in the bill, particularly for the definition of "youth." I will offer an amendment to try and clarify these if it comes to that, but I'd also like to see how FalterinArc plans to proceed with his amendment first.

[OBD]

Bumping this.

Not sure if the honorable gentleman from Washington is offering an amendment, but I do have some concerns with this bill - I'm not sure if funding private organizations is the equitable way to encourage kids to learn the skills they need to enter the workforce.

[Joseph Cao]

Bumping this.

Not sure if the honorable gentleman from Washington is offering an amendment, but I do have some concerns with this bill - I'm not sure if funding private organizations is the equitable way to encourage kids to learn the skills they need to enter the workforce.

Opinions may differ on that, I suppose, but the bill as written would specifically give an assist to organizations that know what they're doing and have proper roots in the community they serve. The skill set required to enter the workforce does vary from area to area, and if we want to add a requirement that eligible organizations prioritize these I wouldn't be opposed to that (though I do think it shouldn't be a dealbreaker if they don't prepare our youth for specifically mandated parts of the workforce).

[OBD]

Bumping this.

Not sure if the honorable gentleman from Washington is offering an amendment, but I do have some concerns with this bill - I'm not sure if funding private organizations is the equitable way to encourage kids to learn the skills they need to enter the workforce.

Opinions may differ on that, I suppose, but the bill as written would specifically give an assist to organizations that know what they're doing and have proper roots in the community they serve. The skill set required to enter the workforce does vary from area to area, and if we want to add a requirement that eligible organizations prioritize these I wouldn't be opposed to that (though I do think it shouldn't be a dealbreaker if they don't prepare our youth for specifically mandated parts of the workforce).

My concern r.e. equity was more related to accessibility - I'm concerned that these privately-run programs might not be available to all Atlasians. I'm not sure how many spots these organizations can offer to prospective program participants, and how said spots can be distributed in a fair manner, and  honestly think this might be better pursued as a curriculum offering administered by public education (potentially in out-of-school time as well).

[The Dowager Mod]

This is a non starter for me without some protection from religious discrimination from those "faith based" organizations.

[Poirot]

It says may include a faith based organization. This kind of organization doesn't seem to be the main beneficiary and it has to be representative of a signifant segment of the community so it's not some minuscule or radical group.

i. The term community-based organization means a youth-serving private nonprofit organization (which may include a faith-based organization) that—
    ii. is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community;

[Left Wing]

Seeing as multiple representatives have voiced their concerns over faith-based organizations, which I agree with. I am introducing this amendment to remove the wording from the bill. But further revisions are still needed.

Section 3. Definitions
As defined in this Act:

a. Community-based organization
    i. The term community-based organization means a youth-serving private nonprofit organization (which may include a faith-based organization) that—
    ii. is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community;
    iii. has demonstrated expertise and effectiveness in workforce development; and
    iv. has demonstrated expertise—
    v. in the planning and delivery of education, training, and related activities that are included in a career pathway;
    vi. in forging coordination and cooperation between educators and other members of the community; and
    vii. in development and implementation of data systems that measure the progress of students and outcomes of career pathways.

[Joseph Cao]

Ah whoops, overlooked this. I don't see anything wrong with this amendment, so 24 hours to object to its adoption.

[West_Midlander]

I object and I concur with Rep. Poirot's comments.

[Joseph Cao]

Given Westy's objection, a vote is open on adoption of the amendment above.

72 hours to vote. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Left Wing]

Aye

[SevenEleven]

Aye.

[OBD]

Aye

[West_Midlander]

Nay

[Rep Jessica]

Nay

[The Dowager Mod]

Aye.