Incarcerated firefighter reentry program grants

(a) In general Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 173; and (2) by inserting after section 171 the following new section: 172. Incarcerated firefighter reentry program grants (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to provide job training, job placement services, and mentoring to individuals who are former incarcerated firefighters during reentry. (b) Application To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (c) Use of funds A grant awarded under this section may be used by an eligible entity to— (1) in the case of a program that provides job training, placement services, and mentoring exclusively to former incarcerated firefighters upon reentry, to pay costs related to such program; and (2) in the case of a program that provides job training, placement services, and mentoring to former incarcerated firefighters and to other individuals during reentry, to pay costs related to the participation of such former incarcerated firefighters in the program. (3) evaluate and implement methods to improve the employment opportunities of incarcerated firefighters upon reentry; and (4) identify, and make recommendations regarding, best practices relating to reentry and the employment of incarcerated firefighters as full-time firefighters during reentry. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a private non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (B) a local workforce development board; (C) a State or local government; or (D) an Indian or Native American entity eligible for grants under section 166. (2) Incarcerated firefighter The term incarcerated firefighter has the meaning given such term in section 3(z) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(z)). (3) Reentry period The term reentry means, in relation to an individual, the 180-day period beginning on the date on which such individual is released from incarceration.. (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 173(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act as redesignated by subsection (a) of this section is amended by striking section 169 and inserting sections 169 and 172. (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is amended— (1) by redesignating the item relating to section 172 as section 173; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 171 the following: 173. Incarcerated firefighter reentry program grants.