Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-s-1210119th CongressWALLET
Helping to Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for Youth Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced
Summary
Expands and boosts the Work Opportunity Credit for youth. The bill would stretch the credit beyond summer, raise the credit amount for qualifying hires, and create a new ‘disconnected youth’ category that includes foster youth.
Show full summary
- Youth and families: Eligible young workers could qualify for the credit during more of the year. Students who work while attending secondary school would generally be limited to no more than 20 hours per week between September 16 and April 30.
- Employers: Businesses would be able to claim a larger credit for qualifying youth hires and for hires that meet the new disconnected youth rules. The changes would apply to individuals who begin work after enactment.
- Foster youth: The bill creates a foster-care pathway. Individuals ages 16 to 21 who were in foster care during the 12 months before hiring can qualify; other disconnected youth are ages 16 to 25 who self-certify limited recent school and work history and lack basic skills, with certification by a designated local agency.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tax credit for hiring disconnected youth
If enacted, employers would be able to claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit when they hire a new "disconnected youth." The bill would create two ways to qualify: (A) people aged 16 but not 25 who are certified by a local agency and who self‑certify they were not regularly in school or employed in the prior 6 months and lack basic skills; or (B) people aged 16 but not 21 who are certified foster children who were in foster care in the prior 12 months. The bill would also remove several "summer" limits, extend the student/seasonal rule to allow year‑round hires, and let students qualify if they work 20 hours or less per week during any Sep 16–Apr 30 period while regularly attending secondary school. The changes would apply to individuals who begin work after the date of enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov