Public Service Employment Act

Public Service Employment Act - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to provide unemployed and underemployed persons with employment in jobs providing needed public services and appropriate training and related services.

Authorizes to be appropriated to carry out this Act $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1972, $7,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1973, and $10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1974, and for each fiscal year thereafter.

Provides that the Secretary of Labor shall enter into arrangements with applicants for the purpose of providing financial assistance to public and private nonprofit agencies and institutions for the creation of jobs providing employment for unemployed or underemployed persons in carrying out needed public services. Provides that such eligible applicants shall be: (1) States, counties, cities, and other units or combinations of units of general local government which have established public service employment councils; and (2) other public and private agencies and institutions when government units of service are inadequate or nonexistent. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with eligible applicants, using twenty-five percent of the funds authorized under this Act, for the purpose of providing employment, for unemployed and underemployed persons residing in areas of substantial unemployment, in jobs providing needed public services, which shall be carried out to the maximum practicable extent, within such areas.

Provides for the establishment of a public service employment council, which shall: (1) be representative of community organizations, job and service providers, and organizations representing persons intended to be served by this Act; (2) set forth plans for conducting surveys and analysis of unemployment and underemployment and needs for public services in the areas served by the council; and (3) set forth arrangements assuring that community action agencies, model cities programs, and other appropriate community organizations, will be involved in the development of applications for financial assistance under this Act. Provides that an application for financial assistance under this Act shall set forth: (1) a description of the geographical area to be served by such program; (2) a description of unmet public service needs; (3) a description of jobs to be filled; (4) wages and salaries to be paid; (5) the education, training, and supportive services which complement and enhance the work performed; (6) a description of career opportunities and job advancement potentialities for participants; (7) assurances that all persons employed under any such program will be selected from among unemployed and underemployed persons; and (8) assurances that special consideration will be given to employing persons who have become unemployed as a result of technological changes or as a result of shifts in the pattern of Federal expenditures.

Provides that the Secretary shall not provide financial assistance for any program or activity under this Act unless he determines that: (1) the program will result in an increase in employment opportunities over those which would otherwise be available, will not result in the displacement of currently employed workers, will not impair existing contracts for services or result in the substitution of Federal for other funds in connection with work that would otherwise be performed, and will not substitute public service jobs for other federally assisted jobs; (2) persons employed in public service jobs assisted under this Act shall be paid wages which shall not be lower than whichever is the highest of the minimum wage which would be applicable to the employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the State or local minimum wage for the most nearly comparable covered employment, or the prevailing rates of pay for persons employed in similar public occupations by the same employer; (3) funds under this Act will not be used to pay persons employed in public service jobs under this Act at a rate in excess of $12,000 per year; (4) all persons employed in public service jobs assisted under this Act will be assured of workmen's compensation, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and other benefits at the same levels and to the same extent as other employees of the employer and to the same working conditions and promotional opportunities as such other employees enjoy; (5) provisions of law relating to health and safety conditions shall apply to such program or activity; (6) the program will, to the maximum extent feasible, contribute to the occupational development or upward mobility of individual participants; (7) not to exceed ten percent of the funds available for any program under this Act will be used for the acquisition or the rental or leasing of supplies, equipment, materials, or real property; and (8) every participant shall be advised, prior to entering upon employment, of his rights and benefits in connection with such employment.

Provides that the Secretary shall transmit at least annually a detailed report setting forth the activities conducted under this Act.

Provides that the Secretary shall carry out a program of research and pilot projects into alternative ways and means to research full employment.

Provides that the Secretary shall publish on a regular basis data on unemployment, underemployment, and job vacancies by State, labor market area, rural area, and city and poverty neighborhoods.