Sec. 566. Grants to State and Tribal workforce agencies

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In this section: Except as otherwise provided, the terms in this section have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ). The term apprenticeship or apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act ) (50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act, as such requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on December 30, 2019.

The term contact tracing and related positions means employment related to contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation activities as described in paragraphs (2), (3), and

(4)of section 562(d). The term eligible entity means— a State or territory, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, Alaska Native entity, Indian-controlled organizations serving Indians, or Native Hawaiian organizations; an outlying area; or a local board, if an eligible entity under subparagraphs

(A)through

(C)has not applied with respect to the area over which the local board has jurisdiction as of the date on which the local board submits an application under subsection (c). Notwithstanding section 170(b)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3225(b)(2) ), the term eligible individual means an individual seeking or securing employment in contact tracing and related positions and served by an eligible entity or community-based organization receiving funding under this section. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor. Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (g), the Secretary shall award national dislocated worker grants under section 170(b)(1)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3225(b)(1)(B) ) to each eligible entity that seeks a grant to assist local boards and community-based organizations in carrying out activities under subsections

(f)and (d), respectively, for the following purposes: To support the recruitment, placement, and training, as applicable, of eligible individuals seeking employment in contact tracing and related positions in accordance with the national system for COVID–19 testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation established under section 561. To assist with the employment transition to new employment or education and training of individuals employed under this section in preparation for and upon termination of such employment. The Secretary of Labor shall— issue application requirements under subsection

(c)not later than 10 days after the date of enactment of this section; and award grants to an eligible entity under paragraph

(1)not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application from such entity. An eligible entity applying for a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may reasonably require, which shall include a description of— how the eligible entity will support the recruitment, placement, and training, as applicable, of eligible individuals seeking employment in contact tracing and related positions by partnering with— a State, local, Tribal, or territorial health department; or one or more nonprofit or community-based organizations partnering with such health departments; how the activities described in paragraph

(1)will support State efforts to address the demand for contact tracing and related positions with respect to— the State plans referred to in the heading Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in title I of division B of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ); the testing strategy submitted under section 541; and the number of eligible individuals that the State plans to recruit and train under the plans and strategies described in subparagraphs

(A)and (B); the specific strategies for recruiting and placement of eligible individuals from or residing within the communities in which they will work, including— plans for the recruitment of eligible individuals to serve as contact tracers and related positions, including dislocated workers, individuals with barriers to employment, veterans, new entrants in the workforce, or underemployed or furloughed workers, who are from or reside in or near the local area in which they will serve, and who, to the extent practicable— have experience or a background in industry-sectors and occupations such as public health, social services, customer service, case management, or occupations that require related qualifications, skills, or competencies, such as strong interpersonal and communication skills, needed for contact tracing and related positions, as described in section 562(d)(2)(E)(ii); or seek to transition to public health and public health related occupations upon the conclusion of employment in contact tracing and related positions; and how such strategies will take into account the diversity of such community, including racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, linguistic, or geographic diversity; the amount, timing, and mechanisms for distribution of funds provided to local boards or through subgrants as described in subsection (d); for eligible entities described in subparagraphs

(A)through

(C)of subsection (a)(4), a description of how the eligible entity will ensure the equitable distribution of funds with respect to— geography (such as urban and rural distribution); medically underserved populations (as defined in section 33(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b) )); health professional shortage areas (as defined under section 332(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254e(a) )); and the racial and ethnic diversity of the area; and for eligible entities who are local boards, a description of how a grant to such eligible entity would serve the equitable distribution of funds as described in paragraph (5). An eligible entity may award a subgrant to one or more community-based organizations for the purposes of partnering with a State or local board to conduct outreach and education activities to inform potentially eligible individuals about employment opportunities in contact tracing and related positions. A community-based organization shall submit an application at such time and in such manner as the eligible entity may reasonably require, including— a demonstration of the community-based organization’s established expertise and effectiveness in community outreach in the local area that such organization plans to serve; a demonstration of the community-based organization’s expertise in providing employment or public health information to the local areas in which such organization plans to serve; and a description of the expertise of the community-based organization in utilizing culturally competent and multilingual strategies in the provision of services. The Secretary of Labor shall use the funds appropriated to carry out this section as follows: Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary shall distribute funds among eligible entities in accordance with a formula to be established by the Secretary that provides a minimum level of funding to each eligible entity that seeks a grant under this section and allocates additional funding as follows: The formula shall give first priority based on the number and proportion of contact tracing and related positions that the State plans to recruit, place, and train individuals as a part of the State strategy described in subsection (c)(2)(A). Subject to subclause (I), the formula shall give priority in accordance with section 562(c). Not more than 2 percent of the funding for administration of the grants and for providing technical assistance to recipients of funds under this section. If the geographic region served by one or more eligible entities overlaps, the Secretary shall distribute funds among such entities in such a manner that ensures equitable distribution with respect to the factors under subsection (c)(5). An eligible entity described in subparagraphs

(A)through

(C)of subsection (a)(4)— shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the entity receives grant funds under this section, provide not less than 70 percent of grant funds to local boards for the purpose of carrying out activities in subsection (f); may use up to 20 percent of such funds to make subgrants to community-based organizations in the service area to conduct outreach, to potential eligible individuals, as described in subsection (d); in providing funds to local boards and awarding subgrants under this subsection shall ensure the equitable distribution with respect to the factors described in subsection (c)(5); and may use not more than 10 percent of the funds awarded under this section for the administrative costs of carrying out the grant and for providing technical assistance to local boards and community-based organizations. A local board, or an eligible entity that is a local board, shall use— not less than 60 percent of the funds for recruitment and training for COVID–19 testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation established under section 561; not less than 30 of the funds to support the transition of individuals hired as contact tracers and related positions into an education or training program, or unsubsidized employment upon completion of such positions; and not more than 10 percent of the funds for administrative costs. The State or local boards shall use funds awarded under this section to support the recruitment and placement of eligible individuals, training and employment transition as related to contact tracing and related positions, and for the following activities: Establishing or expanding partnerships with— State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments; community-based health providers, including community health centers and rural health clinics; labor organizations or joint labor management organizations; two-year and four-year institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), including institutions eligible to receive funds under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ); and community action agencies or other community-based organizations serving local areas in which there is a demand for contact tracing and related positions. Providing training for contact tracing and related positions in coordination with State, local, Tribal, or territorial health departments that is consistent with the State or territorial testing and contact tracing strategy, and ensuring that eligible individuals receive compensation while participating in such training. Providing eligible individuals with— adequate and safe equipment, environments, and facilities for training and supervision, as applicable; information regarding the wages and benefits related to contact tracing and related positions, as compared to State, local, and national averages; supplies and equipment needed by the eligible individuals to support placement of an individual in contact tracing and related positions, as applicable; an individualized employment plan for each eligible individual, as applicable— in coordination with the entity employing the eligible individual in a contact tracing and related positions; and which shall include providing a case manager to work with each eligible individual to develop the plan, which may include— identifying employment and career goals, and setting appropriate achievement objectives to attain such goals; and exploring career pathways that lead to in-demand industries and sectors, including in public health and related occupations; and services for the period during which the eligible individual is employed in a contact tracing and related position to ensure job retention, which may include— supportive services throughout the term of employment; a continuation of skills training as related to employment in contact tracing and related positions, that is conducted in collaboration with the employers of such individuals; mentorship services and job retention support for eligible individuals; or targeted training for managers and workers working with eligible individuals (such as mentors), and human resource representatives; Supporting the transition and placement in unsubsidized employment for eligible individuals serving in contact tracing and related positions after such positions are no longer necessary in the State or local area, including— any additional training and employment activities as described in section 170(d)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3225(d)(4) ); developing the appropriate combination of services to enable the eligible individual to achieve the employment and career goals identified under paragraph (3)(D)(ii)(I); and services to assist eligible individuals in maintaining employment for not less than 12 months after the completion of employment in contact tracing and related positions, as appropriate. Any other activities as described in subsections (a)(3) and

(b)of section 134 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174 ). Notwithstanding section 170(d)(3)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3225(d)(3)(A) ), a person may be employed in a contact tracing and related positions using funds under this section for a period not greater than 2 years. Not later than 120 days of the enactment of this Act, and once grant funds have been expended under this section, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and make publicly available a report containing a description of— the number of eligible individuals recruited, hired, and trained in contact tracing and related positions; the number of individuals successfully transitioned to unsubsidized employment or training at the completion of employment in contact tracing and related positions using funds under this subtitle; the number of such individuals who were unemployed prior to being hired, trained, or deployed as described in paragraph (1); the performance of each program supported by funds under this subtitle with respect to the indicators of performance under section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141 ), as applicable; the number of individuals in unsubsidized employment within six months and 1 year, respectively, of the conclusion of employment in contact tracing and related positions and, of those, the number of individuals within a State, territorial, or local public health department in an occupation related to public health; any information on how eligible entities, local boards, or community-based organizations that received funding under this subsection were able to support the goals of the national system for COVID–19 testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation established under section 561 of this Act; and best practices for improving and increasing the transition of individuals employed in contract tracing and related positions to unsubsidized employment. All data reported under paragraph

(1)shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and, with respect to individuals with barriers to employment, subpopulation of such individuals, except for when the number of participants in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or when the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual participant. Any funds used for programs under this section that are used to fund an apprenticeship or apprenticeship program shall only be used for, or provided to, an apprenticeship or apprenticeship program that meets the definition of such term subsection

(a)of this section, including any funds awarded for the purposes of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, or the development, implementation, or administration, of an apprenticeship or an apprenticeship program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall provide the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration, with information on grants under section 562, including— the formula used to award such grants to State, local, Tribal, and territorial health departments; the dollar amounts of and scope of the work funded under such grants; the geographic areas served by eligible entities that receive such grants; and the number of contact tracers and related positions to be hired using such grants. Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this subtitle, $500,000,000 shall be used by the Secretary of Labor to carry out subsections

(a)through

(h)of this section.

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