HR2380-119

What This Bill Does

The Building Youth Workforce Skills Act adds individual training accounts to WIOA youth workforce investment activities. Local youth funds may be used to pay eligible training providers for training services for in-school youth who are at least 16 and not older than 21, and for any out-of-school youth. The payment mechanism mirrors how individual training accounts are used for adult and dislocated worker training. The bill therefore gives local workforce boards a more flexible way to connect youth participants to eligible training services rather than relying only on program contracts or youth-service activities.

Who Benefits and How

In-school youth ages 16 to 21 benefit because local workforce funds can pay training providers through individual training accounts. Out-of-school youth benefit from the same ITA payment route for eligible training services. Eligible training providers benefit from a new payment pathway for youth participants under WIOA. Local workforce boards benefit from more flexibility to buy training for youth using a familiar adult and dislocated-worker model.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Local workforce development boards must administer youth individual training accounts and provider payments. State workforce agencies must align youth program guidance, eligible training provider lists, and monitoring systems. Youth program case managers must help participants choose eligible training services and track account use. Training providers must satisfy WIOA eligible-provider requirements to receive youth ITA payments.

Key Provisions

• Adds individual training accounts as an allowed use of local WIOA youth workforce funds.
• Allows ITA payments for in-school youth who are at least 16 and not older than 21.
• Allows ITA payments for out-of-school youth.
• Uses the same eligible-provider and training-service framework used for adults and dislocated workers.