HR 5372119th CongressIn Committee

DEMO Act

Introduced: Sep 16, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The DEMO Act would create a new set of demonstration grants under the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program to help eligible individuals with arrest or conviction records pursue education and training for health care careers. Grants would support projects lasting at least three years, designed to help participants gain credentials, licensing, and employment in health professions that pay well and are in shortage or high demand. Eligible entities (ranging from local workforce boards and colleges to hospitals, clinics, and tribal organizations) could apply, with requirements to show state policies enabling credentials for people with records, a plan to address barriers (including legal assistance), recruitment strategies, and post-employment support. The act also emphasizes rigorous evaluation, provides for technical assistance, and includes preferences for past successful projects and emergency financial support for participants. It would appropriate $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and takes effect October 1, 2025.

Key Points

1Grants for demonstration projects to create health-profession career pathways for individuals with arrest or conviction records, financed under the Health Profession Opportunity Grant program (SSA §2008).
2Project requirements and duration: projects must run for at least 3 years and include plans to help participants obtain credentials/licensure and employment in in-demand health careers; must address state policies on awarding credentials to people with records.
3Participant supports and services: projects must provide access to legal assistance to address records and employment barriers; may offer an emergency reserve fund and other eligible supports to help participants during training and employment preparation.
4Evaluation and accountability: the Secretary must conduct rigorous evaluations of funded projects (which may include randomized controlled trials, though not required); findings should identify effective activities for improving education, credentialing, job placement, retention, and addressing workforce shortages.
5Funding and implementation: a total of $10,000,000 is authorized for FY2026 to carry out this subsection; the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Eligible individuals with arrest or conviction records seeking education and training to enter health professions, particularly those with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level; beneficiaries would include populations facing barriers to employment due to criminal records.Secondary group/area affected: Organizations eligible to administer the grants (local workforce boards, state or tribal governments, hospitals, health centers, nursing facilities, colleges, nonprofits, etc.), as well as health care employers in need of skilled workers.Additional impacts: The bill could influence state credentialing policies and employer hiring practices by promoting pathways that accommodate individuals with records; it may expand access to post-employment support and legal assistance as part of workforce development; it sets up a framework for evaluation that could guide future scaling of successful demonstration projects if outcomes are positive.

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