HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(A)  (1) TO THE EXTENT THAT STATE FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE
UNDER SECTION 124(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE SECRETARY OF
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING MAY PROVIDE GRANTS TO PRIVATE INDUSTRY
COUNCILS OR ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITIES OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY AREAS
DESIGNATED UNDER THE FEDERAL ACT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE YOUTH
WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION.

(2) GRANTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO
DEVELOP THE FUTURE EMPLOYABILITY AND JOB SKILLS OF PARTICIPATING
INDIVIDUALS.

(B)  INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN THE YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE
PROGRAM MAY WORK 12 OR FEWER HOURS EACH WEEK, OVER A PERIOD OF 9
OR FEWER MONTHS IN ANY STATE FISCAL YEAR.

(C)  IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUTH
WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, AN INDIVIDUAL MUST:

(1)  BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AS DEFINED IN THE
FEDERAL ACT;

(2)  BE EITHER A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLLED AND
ATTENDING THE JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, OR A HIGH
SCHOOL DROPOUT 16 TO 21 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAS EITHER RETURNED TO
AND IS ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL ON A FULL-TIME BASIS, OR HAS
ENROLLED IN AND IS PRESENTLY PARTICIPATING IN AN ALTERNATIVE
EDUCATION PROGRAM LEADING TO A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS
EQUIVALENT; AND

(3)  MEET AND MAINTAIN MINIMUM STATEWIDE ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION AND THE SECRETARY OF EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE MINIMUM STANDARDS SHOULD
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE YOUTH COMPETENCIES ALREADY DEVELOPED
IN THIS STATE. LOCAL PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCILS OR ADMINISTRATIVE
ENTITIES ESTABLISHED UNDER THE FEDERAL ACT, ACTING JOINTLY WITH
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES, MAY ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATEWIDE
STANDARDS.

(D)  IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUTH
WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, AN EMPLOYER MUST BE EITHER A
PRIVATE-FOR-PROFIT ENTERPRISE OR A PRIVATE-NONPROFIT ENTERPRISE,

AND MUST PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH TO LEARN
MARKETABLE SKILLS. ADEQUATE SUPERVISION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY AND TRAINING OF THE PARTICIPATING YOUTH.

(E)  CURRENTLY EMPLOYED WORKERS SHALL NOT BE DISPLACED BY
ANY INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING UNDER THE YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE
PROGRAM AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION.

(F)  IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION, EACH
PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OR ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITY MUST SUBMIT A
PROGRAM PLAN, DEVELOPED JOINTLY WITH LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES, TO