HR 929 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 929CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 49, United States Code, to expand and improve transit training programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 3, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. NADLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 49, United States Code, to expand and improve transit training programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Transportation Job Corps Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) There are millions of young people ages 16 through 24 who are neither in school nor in the labor force.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) According to a report issued by the Community Service Society in June 2008, entitled ‘Out of Focus: A Snapshot of Public Funding to Reconnect Youth to Education and Employment’, the young people described in paragraph (1), often referred to as disconnected youth, are largely youth of color from poor communities and at risk of becoming permanently disengaged from the labor market which threatens their ability to break out of the cycle of poverty and contribute to our economy and communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) When our young people lack the skills that local industries need and are unable to support themselves, we all bear the financial costs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) In the coming years, the combination of public transportation industry growth and an aging workforce will produce sizeable new openings in the transit sector.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) There is no pipeline of replacements on the horizon, and the transit industry has been limited in its ability to attract, recruit, and retain employees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) For the existing workforce, new technology is rapidly changing the way transit agencies function, affecting every sector of the workforce, including executive directors, mid-level managers, bus operators, and mechanics, yet relatively few programs exist to provide training to workers so that they can perform their jobs adequately, move up the career ladder, and help the Nation’s transit agencies operate at maximum efficiency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

(a) Workforce Development Program- Title 49, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking section 5322; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 5322. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

‘(a) National Joint Workforce Development Council-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Transportation Job Corps Act of 2011, the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration shall establish a National Joint Workforce Development Council (referred to in this section as the ‘National Council’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) COMPOSITION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) VOTING MEMBERS- Two representatives, one representing labor and one representing management, from each Regional Workforce Development Board described in subsection (c), shall be elected by majority vote of labor and management representatives respectively, on each Regional Board, to serve on the National Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS- The Administrator shall appoint as non-voting ex officio members to the National Council--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) up to 10 members, such as representatives of transit trade associations, non-profit organizations, research organizations, community colleges and universities, private industry, and any other group or individual the Administrator believes would contribute to the National Council;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a representative of the International Transportation Learning Center which administers the transit career ladder training program authorized pursuant to section 3046 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (49 U.S.C. 5338 note); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) an individual who has expertise in youth development programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) DUTIES- The National Council shall with a national focus--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) conduct a prevue national study on transit workforce development issues;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) identify skills gaps in transit agency maintenance departments and develop programs to train maintenance employees and fixed route and paratransit operators;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) develop programs to address the recruitment and retention of managerial and non-managerial employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) initiate relationships with nontransportation sector industries, associations, and groups in the public and private sector to develop best practices in training and skills development and determine appropriate ways to collaborate on behalf of disconnected youth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) conduct research on transit workforce development issues and develop best practices for recruitment, training, and retention of employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) conduct research on the extent of labor market disconnection among disconnected youth and assess the provision of employment services for such youth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) make recommendations to the Secretary and to public transit agencies regarding how to expand current employment training programs, outreach programs to increase minority and female employment in public transportation activities, and apprenticeship programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) develop programs and make recommendations to public transit agencies to address issues related to workplace quality of life issues, including absenteeism, scheduling, child care, and other issues that may be necessary to improve recruitment and retention of employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) maintain and update routinely an electronic library, consisting of such materials as online courseware and training manuals, white papers, research materials, and other related items;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(J) provide periodic assessments to the Secretary, on studies and programs carried out on the national level;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(K) coordinate research and program development of the Regional Boards pursuant to subsection (c), to reduce duplication and assure complimentary research goals; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(L) make recommendations to the Secretary for guidance on grant programs carried out in subsection (d) taking into account the recommendations of the Regional Boards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Regional Workforce Development Councils-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Transportation Job Corps Act of 2011, the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration shall establish a workforce development council in each of its 10 regions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) COMPOSITION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) SELECTION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS- The management of each public transit agency and the labor organization representing the majority of employees at each such transit agency in a region shall select one representative for the council established under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) ELECTION OF GOVERNING BOARD- The selected individuals from each transit agency shall elect, by majority vote from among members of such council, a governing board for the region, including a co-chairperson from among the representatives from labor and a co-chairperson from among the representatives from management.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Regional Governing Boards-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) COMPOSITION OF GOVERNING BOARDS- The governing board for each region shall be composed of not more than 10 members elected by the Council pursuant to subsection (b)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DUTIES- The governing board for each region shall on a regional basis--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) identify skills gaps in transit agency maintenance departments and develop programs to train maintenance employees and fixed route and paratransit operators on a regional basis;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) develop programs to address the recruitment and retention of managerial and nonmanagerial employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) initiate relationships with nontransportation sector industries, associations, and groups in the public and private sector to develop best practices in training and skills development and determine appropriate ways to collaborate on behalf of disconnected youth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) conduct research on transit workforce development issues and develop best practices for recruitment, training, and retention of employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) conduct research on the extent of labor market disconnection among disconnected youth and assess the provision of employment services for such youth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) make recommendations to the Secretary and to public transit agencies regarding how to expand current employment training programs, outreach programs to increase minority and female employment in public transportation activities, and apprenticeship programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) develop programs and make recommendations to public transit agencies to address issues related to workplace quality of life issues, including absenteeism, scheduling, child care, and other issues that may be necessary to improve recruitment and retention of employees;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(H) provide periodic assessments to the Secretary and to the National Joint Workforce Development Council established under subsection (a), on studies and programs carried out on the regional level; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) make recommendations to the National Joint Workforce Development Council for guidance on grant programs carried out under subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) POSSIBLE APPOINTMENTS- The Administrator--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) shall appoint representatives in accordance with subparagraph (B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) may appoint non-voting ex officio members to each regional governing board from among representatives of nonprofit organizations, research organizations, and any other groups or individuals the Administrator believes would contribute to the board.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) APPOINTMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION LEARNING CENTER AND FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATORS- The Administrator shall appoint as a non-voting ex officio member to the regional governing board of the respective region--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) one or more representatives of the International Transportation Learning Center which administers the transit career ladder training program authorized by section 3046 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) the Federal Transit Administrators of each of the 10 regions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) an individual who has expertise in youth development programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Grant Programs-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, acting through the Administrator and taking into account the recommendations of the National Council under subsection (a) and the Regional Governing Boards under subsection (c), shall establish grant programs as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) TRANSIT YOUTH OPPORTUNITY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) BASIC SKILLS EDUCATION AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIP SKILLS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) APPLICATIONS- The Administrator shall accept applications for grants from nonprofit organizations and public or privately funded educational institutions providing academic or technical instruction to encourage and introduce youth disconnected to a variety of careers in the transit industry by providing such youth with basic skills education, if necessary, and pre-apprenticeship skills.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) PRIORITY- The Administrator shall give priority for such grants to organizations with a proven record of success in providing disconnected youth with basic education and pre-apprenticeship skills.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) APPRENTICESHIPS- The Administrator shall accept applications from partnerships of transit agencies and the unions representing non-managerial employees for grants to develop local and regional labor-management apprenticeship programs aligned with national transit industry apprenticeship programs for a variety of transit-related jobs, by giving priority to individuals who have successfully completed a pre-apprenticeship program pursuant to clause (i).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) TRANSIT WORKER EDUCATION AND RETENTION GRANTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) APPLICATIONS- The Administrator shall accept applications from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) in the case of non-managerial employees, partnerships of transit agencies and the unions representing non-managerial employees; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) in the case of managerial employees, from providers of management and technical programs for the delivery of such programs and the related costs of attendee participation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) USE OF GRANT FUNDS- Funds for a grant under this subparagraph may be used--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) to develop education programs in a variety of training settings for transit employees from diverse population groups to maintain and improve job skills and advance employee development across a career span; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) assisting individuals to obtain education and training required to enter the transit profession and advance within such profession, such as by providing career counseling and mentoring.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) WORKFORCE DIVERSITY GRANTS- The Administrator shall accept applications from partnerships of transit agencies and the unions representing non-managerial employees for a grant to develop special projects to increase education opportunities within the transit industry for individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities under-represented among transit management, by providing student scholarships or stipends, pre-entry preparation, and retention activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) GRANT REQUIREMENTS- A grant under this section shall be subject to all requirements of a grant under section 5307.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Funding- In addition to the amounts set forth in section 5315(d), there are authorized to be appropriated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) to carry out subsections (a), (b), and (c), $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2013; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) to carry out subparagraphs of subsection (d), $90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 and 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Certification- The Administrator shall develop a category on ‘Workforce Development’ on its annual Certifications and Assurances for Federal Transit Administration Assistance Programs in accordance with section 5323(n), and include such category as one of the areas of certification beginning in fiscal year 2012. Such category shall require transit agencies to develop short-range and long-range planning with regard to workforce development matters, with a particular focus on the recruitment, retention, and training of managerial and non-managerial employees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Definition- For purposes of this section, the term ‘disconnected youth’ means individuals ages 16 through 24 who are out of school and not employed and composed primarily of youth of color from poor communities and at risk of becoming permanently disengaged from the labor market which threatens their ability to break out of the cycle of poverty and contribute to our economy and communities.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink