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LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW — 01/12/10

Youth Jobs Act of 2010 introduced in the Senate

A bill (S. 2923) that would create 450,000 temporary jobs and training opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth across the country was introduced in the Senate December 22, 2009, by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash). Called the Youth Jobs Act of 2010, the bill would provide $1.5 billion through the Workforce Investment Act to stimulate local economies by building on and expanding the Recovery Act's youth employment program. The funds would be available for the period of January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. "This bill will expand and extend the extremely successful summer jobs program that has created hundreds of thousands of jobs, provided a boost to the economy, and changed the lives of so many young people around the country," said Senator Murray. "This bill helps families, communities, and businesses by providing jobs and training to the at-risk young people who need it most." Under the Recovery Act, $1.2 billion was allocated for summer jobs programs, putting over 300,000 young people to work. The bill has been referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Murray chairs the HELP committee's subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. According to the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for 16 to 19 year-olds was 27.1 percent in December 2009, compared to 20.8 percent in December 2008.

For more information on this and other topics, consult CCH Employment Practices Guide or CCH Labor Relations.

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