Sec. 566. Transition Assistance Program: Department of Labor Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program
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Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program to be known as the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program . The pilot program shall supplement the program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall— seek to enter into contracts with public, private, and nonprofit entities under which such entities provide individualized employment counseling for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses; prioritize entering into contracts with qualified private entities that have experience providing instruction to members of the Armed Forces eligible for assistance under the pilot program carried out under this section on— private sector culture, resume writing, career networking, and training on job search technologies; academic readiness and educational opportunities; or other relevant topics, as determined by the Secretary; prioritize entering into a contract with a qualified private entity that is an existing Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program partner with experience integrating members of the Armed Forces into local communities across the entire nation, to:
Lead the program in clause
(2)and, following person-to-person interactions and discussions with the individuals seeking assistance, provide referrals to the organizations under contract with the Secretary based on the Armed Forces member or veterans preferences, geographic location, and other factors; Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to the those individuals receiving assistance under this title, to include services with other matters related to transition, and remain in contact with the individuals through person-to-person engagements throughout the process; Provide close coordination with contracted organizations and follow-up communications with those enrolled in the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program to ensure a smooth transition; Ensure the Secretary is provided with appropriate data on referrals, outcomes, and issues that arise to enable proper oversight of the program; give a preference to any private entity that— has a national or international geographical area of service; provides multiple forms of career assistance and placement services to— active duty members of the Armed Forces; spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces; veterans; and spouses of veterans; provides services to at least 1,000 individuals who are— active duty members of the Armed Forces; spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces; veterans; or spouses of veterans; has continuously, for at least the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the contract, provided services to individuals who are— active duty members of the Armed Forces; spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces; veterans; and spouses of veterans; and has a demonstrated record of success in providing assistance with employment services, as indicated by— the average wages or earnings of people who receive employment services provided by the entity; prior completion of Federal grants or contracts; having at least 75 percent of its participants find full-time employment within six months of initially receiving employment services provided by the entity; and other employment performance indicators, as determined by the Secretary; and seek to enter into contracts with not fewer than 10, but not more than 60, private entities under which each such entity is compensated at a rate agreed upon between the Secretary and the entity for each individual who receives employment services provided by the entity and is in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; and conduct such other activities as may be necessary for the delivery of individualized employment counseling and other employment services under this section. Not later than October 1 of each year during the term of the pilot program, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot program under this section, including the employment outcomes for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses who receive employment services under the program on the following indicators of performance— the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; and the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program. The pilot program shall terminate five years after the date on which the Secretary of Labor begins to carry out the pilot program.