HB 2224 Summary

• Creates the "Youth Jobs Act" establishing a Youth Jobs Fund within the state treasury to provide employment opportunities and training for low-income youth ages 16-24 and unemployed low-income young adults ages 18-34.

• Authorizes the Division of Job Development and Training to administer the fund and contract with entities to provide summer employment, year-round employment, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, sector-based training, and other work-based strategies.

• Prioritizes funding for employment in emerging or in-demand occupations and public/nonprofit sector positions, with emphasis on linking participants to industry-recognized credentials and educational activities.

• Requires fund recipients to comply with Workforce Investment Act labor standards and nondiscrimination provisions and to report performance metrics including participant numbers, job creation, demographic data, and employment outcomes.

• Specifies performance indicators tracked by participant type, including work readiness skills for summer youth participants, educational attainment and credential acquisition for year-round youth participants, and employment retention and earnings for young adults.