S.Amdt. 1063

1. Adds SEC. 40__. PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING WORK AND ENHANCING SKILLS on page 380, between lines 15 and 16

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 40__. PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING WORK AND ENHANCING SKILLS.

   Inserted: Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) (as amended by section 4001(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(m) Pilot Program to Test Innovative Approaches to Supporting Work and Enhancing Skills.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall carry out, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be appropriate, pilot projects to identify best practices for employment and training programs under this Act to increase the number of work registrants who--

   Inserted: "(A) obtain unsubsidized employment;

   Inserted: "(B) increase earned income;

   Inserted: "(C) obtain or make progress toward a credential, certificate, or degree; and

   Inserted: "(D) reduce reliance on public assistance, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

   Inserted: "(2) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall select a pilot project to carry out under this subsection based on such criteria as the Secretary may establish, including--

   Inserted: "(A) enhancing existing employment and training programs in a State;

   Inserted: "(B) agreeing to participate in the evaluation described in paragraph (3), including making available data on participant employment activities and postparticipation employment, earnings, and receipt of public benefits;

   Inserted: "(C) collaborating with State and local workforce boards and other job training programs in a State or local area;

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   Inserted: "(D) the extent to which the components of the project can be easily replicated by other States or political subdivisions; and

   Inserted: "(E) such additional criteria as are necessary to ensure that all selected pilot projects--

   Inserted: "(i) target a variety of populations of work registrants, including childless adults, parents, and individuals with low skills or limited work experience;

   Inserted: "(ii) are selected from a range of existing employment and training programs, including programs that provide--

   Inserted: "(I) skills development and support services for work registrants with limited employment history;

   Inserted: "(II) postemployment support services necessary for maintaining employment; and

   Inserted: "(III) education leading to a recognized postsecondary credential, registered apprenticeship, or secondary school diploma or equivalent that has value in the labor market of the region;

   Inserted: "(iii) are located in a range of geographical areas, including rural and urban areas and Indian reservations; and

   Inserted: "(iv) have a plan for sustaining the program after the pilot phase has concluded.

   Inserted: "(3) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall provide for an independent evaluation of pilot projects selected under this subsection to measure the impact of the projects on the ability of each pilot project target population to find and retain employment that leads to increased household income, compared to what would have occurred in the absence of the pilot project.

   Inserted: "(4) Report to congress.--Not later than September 30, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that includes a description of--

   Inserted: "(A) the results of each pilot project carried out under this subsection, including an evaluation of the impact of the project on the employment, income, and public benefit receipt of the targeted population of work registrants;

   Inserted: "(B) the Federal, State, and other costs of each pilot project;

   Inserted: "(C) the planned dissemination among State agencies of the findings of the report; and

   Inserted: "(D) the measures and funding necessary to incorporate components of pilot projects that demonstrate increased employment and earnings into State employment and training programs.

   Inserted: "(5) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under section 18(a)(1), the Secretary shall use to carry out this subsection $16,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2016, to remain available until expended.

   Inserted: "(6) Use of funds.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--Funds made available under this subsection shall be used only for--

   Inserted: "(i) pilot projects that comply with the requirements of this Act;

   Inserted: "(ii) the cost and administration of the pilot projects;

   Inserted: "(iii) the costs incurred in providing information for the evaluation under paragraph (3); and

   Inserted: "(iv) the costs of the evaluation under paragraph (3).

   Inserted: "(B) Limitation.--Funds made available under this subsection may not be used to supplant non-Federal funds used for existing employment and training activities.".

   Original wording

   On page 380, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:

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As printed