Employment Support Job Retention Services Program

The bill creates the employment support and job retention services program (program) within the division of employment and training (division) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide emergency employment support and job retention services to eligible individuals in the state. The bill requires the director of the division (director) to contract with an entity to administer the program to provide reimbursement for employment support and job retention services provided to eligible individuals statewide. In order to be eligible for services for which a service provider may be reimbursed under the program, an individual must be 16 years of age or older, be eligible to work in the United States, have a household income that is at or below the federal poverty line, and be underemployed or unemployed and actively involved in employment preparation, job training, employment pursuit, or job retention activities. The director is required to establish procedures and guidelines to implement and set parameters for the operation of the program. The general assembly is required to appropriate money to the employment support and job retention services cash fund created in the bill for allocation to the division to implement and operate the program. The department is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the implementation and operation of the program. The program is repealed, effective September 30, 2022. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More