The DEMO Act establishes a new federal grant program to help people with arrest or conviction records enter healthcare careers through education and training programs. The grants would fund demonstration projects lasting at least three years in states that have policies allowing people with certain criminal records to obtain healthcare credentials and licenses. Eligible applicants include workforce development boards, educational institutions, hospitals, health centers, and nonprofits that can show experience working with low-income populations and understanding barriers faced by job seekers with criminal records. The program requires projects to provide legal assistance to participants, offer career pathway support, and may include emergency financial assistance. Congress would appropriate ten million dollars to fund these demonstration projects beginning in fiscal year 2024, with evaluations conducted to measure success in credential attainment, job placement, and addressing healthcare worker shortages.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.