This bill reauthorizes the Job Corps program, updating definitions and expanding participant eligibility to modernize program delivery. It renames "Job Corps center" to Job Corps campus and clarifies the definition of "State" to include outlying areas, aiming for broader reach and a more contemporary approach.

Eligibility is expanded for individuals up to age 28 with a disability or who are justice-involved individuals, and "school dropout" is redefined as "an opportunity youth." Low-income individuals, residents of qualified opportunity zones, and veterans meeting age requirements are also made eligible, with recruitment processes streamlined for joint applications across youth workforce programs.

The selection of Job Corps campus operators will now prioritize student outcomes, requiring awards based on best value and fair pricing, and considering metrics like employment and credential attainment rates. High-performing campuses, ranked in the top 25%, will receive extended operating contracts from two to four years, while the Secretary of Agriculture gains direct hire authority for Civilian Conservation Center graduates in specific fields.

Post-program support for graduates is significantly extended from three months to 12 months, and they may remain on campus for up to one month after graduation to aid transition. Campus operators are granted greater autonomy in hiring, staff development, and forming local partnerships, while also being required to implement behavioral management plans with a zero tolerance policy for serious violence or illegal activity, and establish agreements with local law enforcement.

The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965 is applied to Job Corps operators and service providers, ensuring fair wages and benefits at least equal to local determinations, with annual updates. The bill authorizes appropriations for the program from fiscal year 2026 through 2031, starting at over $1.8 billion and increasing annually, with dedicated funds for construction and rehabilitation, and updates performance measurement models to account for equity factors and local economic conditions.