,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #haif ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #f1 #bjbf,mr4 ,baumgartner introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to add the ,workforce data quality initiative4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,workforce ,data ,quality ,initiative ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,workforce data quality initiative 7a7 ,reservations of funds for workforce data quality initiative ,section #acb7;a77#b77;,a7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagb7;a77#b77;,a77 is amended by-- 7#a7 striking 1 #afi7;c7 7relating to dislocated worker projects712 and 7#b7 by inserting 1 and under subsections 7c7 7relating to dislocated worker projects7 and 7d7 7relating to workforce data quality initiatives7 of section #afi before 2 and4 7b7 ,workforce data quality initiative ,section #afi of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbbd7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,workforce data quality initiative 7#a7 ,grant program ,of amount made available pursuant to section #acb7;a77#b77;,a7 for any program year1 the ,secretary shall use not less than #e percent and not more than #aj percent of such amount1 and may also use funds appropriated under section #agb7;d7 for purposes of carrying out this section1 to award grants to eligible entities to create workforce longitudinal data systems and associated resources for the purposes of strengthening program quality1 building ,state capacity to produce evidence for decision-making1 meeting performance reporting requirements1 protecting privacy1 and improving transparency4 7#b7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection1 an eligible entity shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require1 which shall include-- 7,a7 a description of the proposed activities that will be conducted by the eligible entity1 including a description of the need for such activities and a detailed budget for such activities2 7,b7 a description of the expected outcomes and outputs 7such as systems or products7 that will result from the proposed activities and the proposed uses of such outputs2 7,c7 a description of how the proposed activities will-- 7i7 support the reporting of performance data1 including employment and earnings outcomes1 for the performance accountability requirements under section #aaf1 including outcomes for eligible providers of training services2 7ii7 improve workforce data standardization across programs in the ,state2 and 7iii7 improve the collection1 accuracy1 timeliness1 and usability of real-time1 economy-wide data on new and emerging skills and in-demand occupational roles2 7,d7 a description of the methods and procedures the eligible entity will use to ensure the security and privacy of the collection1 storage1 and use of all data involved in the systems and resources supported through the grant1 including compliance with ,state and ,federal privacy and confidentiality statutes and regulations2 and 7,e7 a plan for how the eligible entity will continue the activities or sustain the use of the outputs created with the grant funds after the grant period ends4 7#c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7,a7 eligible entities that are-- 7i7 a ,state agency of a ,state that has not previously received a grant from the ,secretary for the purposes of this subsection and demonstrates a substantial need to improve its data infrastructure2 or 7ii7 a consortium of ,state agencies that is comprised of ,state agencies from multiple ,states and includes at least one ,state agency described in clause 7i7 and has the capacity to make significant contributions toward building interoperable1 cross-,state data infrastructure2 and 7,b7 eligible entities that will use grant funds to-- 7i7 expand the adoption and use of linked1 open1 and interoperable data on credentials1 including through the development of a credential registry or other tools and services designed to help learners and workers make informed decisions1 such as a credential navigation feature that allows participants and the public to search a list of recognized post-secondary credentials offered by eligible providers of training services under section #abb2 7ii7 participate in and contribute data to a multistate data collaborative1 including data that provide participating ,states the ability to better understand-- 7,i7 earnings and employment outcomes of individuals who work out-of-,state2 and 7,,ii7 cross-,state earnings and employment trends2 7iii7 enhance collaboration with private sector workforce and labor market data entities and the end-users of workforce and labor market data1 including individuals1 employers1 economic development agencies1 and workforce development providers2 7iv7 leverage the use of non-,federal contributions to improve workforce data infrastructure1 including staff capacity building2 or 7v7 expand existing statewide integrated longitudinal data systems1 including such systems receiving assistance under section #bjh of the ,educational ,technical ,assistance ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ifjg74 7#d7 ,use of funds ,in addition to the activities described in paragraph 7#c77;,b71 an eligible entity awarded a grant under this subsection may use funds to carry out any of the following activities3 7,a7 ,developing or enhancing a ,state's workforce longitudinal data system1 including by participating and contributing data to the ,state's data system1 if applicable1 that links with elementary and secondary school and post-secondary data4 7,b7 ,accelerating the replication and adoption of data systems1 projects1 products1 or practices already in use in one or more ,states to other ,states4 7,c7 ,research and labor market data improvement activities to improve the timeliness1 relevance1 and accessibility of such data through pilot projects that are developed locally but designed to scale to other regions or ,states4 7,d7 ,establishing1 enhancing1 or connecting to a system of interoperable learning and employment records that provides individuals who choose to participate in such system ownership of a verified and secure record of their skills and achievements and the ability to share such record with employers and education providers4 7,e7 ,developing policies1 guidelines1 and security measures for data collection1 storing1 and sharing to ensure compliance with relevant ,federal and ,state privacy laws and regulations4 7,f7 ,increasing local board access to and integration with the ,state's workforce longitudinal data system in a secure manner4 7,g7 ,creating or participating in a data exchange for collecting and using standards-based jobs and employment data including1 at a minimum1 job titles or occupation codes4 7,h7 ,improving ,state and local staff capacity to understand1 use1 and analyze data to improve decision-making and improve participant outcomes4 7#e7 ,administration 7,a7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this subsection may be for a period of up to #c years4 7,b7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,funds made available under this subsection shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds used for development of ,state data systems4 7,c7 ,report ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall submit a report to the ,secretary not later than #ahj days after the conclusion of the grant period on the activities supported through the grant and improvements in the use of workforce and labor market information that have resulted from such activities4 7#f7 ,eligible entity defined ,in this subsection1 the term eligible entity means a ,state agency or consortium of ,state agencies1 including a multistate data collaborative1 that is or includes the ,state agencies responsible for-- 7,a7 ,state employer wage records used by the ,state's unemployment insurance programs in labor market information reporting and analysis and for fulfilling the reporting requirements of this ,act2 7,b7 the production of labor market information2 and 7,c7 the direct administration of one or more of the core programs4 4