,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dchb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bc 7legislative day1 ,april #bb71 #bjbf,mr4 ,hickenlooper 7for himself and ,mr4 ,marshall7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act to establish a grant program for a workforce data quality initiative1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,workforce ,data ,enhancement ,act4 #b4 ,amendments to the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7a7 ,in general ,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 ,the ,secretary shall use not less than #e percent and not more than #aj percent of the total amount made available pursuant to section #acb7;a77#b77;,a7 for any program year1 and may use amounts otherwise made available for purposes of carrying out this section1 to competitively award grants to eligible entities to design1 develop1 implement1 improve1 or align a statewide longitudinal data system for the purposes of integrating data from education and workforce development systems1 labor market outcomes1 and other data sources toward strengthening program quality1 building ,state capacity to produce evidence for decision making1 meeting performance reporting requirements1 promoting individual privacy and data security1 improving transparency1 moving toward improved workforce data standardization1 and improving worker and employer capacity to identify and address skill needs4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,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 agency 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 a core program4 7#c7 ,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 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 training providers2 7ii7 improve workforce data standardization2 7iii7 leverage public-private partnerships to achieve intended goals of the activities2 and 7iv7 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 promote individual privacy and data security in the collection1 storage1 and use of all data involved in the systems and resources supported through the grant1 in accordance with ,federal and ,state privacy laws2 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#d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7,a7 any eligible entity that is a consortium comprised of ,state agencies from multiple ,states 7including at least one ,state agency 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 infrastructure7 and-- 7i7 has the capacity to make significant contributions toward building interoperable1 cross-,state data infrastructure and leveraging public-private partnerships to 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 trends1 including new and emerging skills and in-demand occupational roles2 or 7ii7 proposes to use such grant funds to establish or participate in a cross-,state data exchange for collecting and using standards-based jobs1 skills1 and employment data including1 at a minimum1 job titles or occupation codes2 and 7,b7 any eligible entity that will use grant funds to-- 7i7 expand the adoption and use of structured1 linked1 open1 and interoperable data on skills and credentials1 including through the development of a credential registry or other tools and services designed to help learners and workers make informed decisions2 7ii7 enhance collaboration and partnerships 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 7iii7 improve real-time workforce data collection and reporting toward equipping employers1 workers1 and training providers with accurate information to better predict workforce demands1 including related to the expanding role of emerging technology 7including artificial intelligence and machine learning7 in the workplace2 7iv7 leverage the use of non-,federal contributions or other amounts made available to the eligible entity under the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja et seq47 to improve workforce data infrastructure1 including staff capacity building and ongoing administrative costs2 or 7v7 expand existing statewide 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#e7 ,use of funds ,in addition to the activities described in clauses 7i7 through 7v7 of paragraph 7#d77;,b71 an eligible entity awarded a grant under this subsection may use funds to carry out any of the following3 7,a7 ,supporting data linkages1 including on skills and emerging skills and in-demand occupational roles1 for data from education and workforce development systems1 labor market outcomes1 and other data sources1 which may include integrating such data with statewide longitudinal data systems4 7,b7 ,accelerating the replication and adoption of data standards1 systems1 projects1 products1 or practices already in use in a ,state to other ,states4 7,c7 ,research and labor market data improvement activities to improve the timeliness1 relevance1 and accessibility of such data1 which may include-- 7i7 pilot projects that are developed locally but designed to scale to other regions or ,states2 or 7ii7 end-user tools1 which may facilitate career exploration or related data insights4 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 the credentials earned and skills gained by such individuals and the ability to share such record with employers and education providers4 7,e7 ,defining policies1 guidelines1 standards1 or protocols1 as appropriate for data collection1 storage1 data sharing1 use1 data destruction1 and disclosure avoidance to secure any personally identifiable information1 in accordance with ,federal and ,state privacy laws4 7,f7 ,increasing local board access to and integration with the ,state's statewide longitudinal data system in a secure manner4 7,g7 ,improving ,state and local staff capacity to understand1 use1 and analyze data to improve decision making1 improve participant outcomes1 and improve the ability of workers to adapt to changes in the workplace1 including regarding emerging technologies 7including artificial intelligence and machine learning tools74 7#f7 ,administration 7,a7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this subsection may be for a period of not more than #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 any improvements in the use of workforce and labor market information that have resulted from such activities4 7#g7 ,statewide longitudinal data systems ,in this subsection1 the term statewide longitudinal data systems has the same meaning as such term used in section #aec7;a77#e7 of the ,education ,sciences ,reform ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iedc7;a77#e774 4 7b7 ,source of funding ,section #acb7;a77#b77;,a7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cagb7;a77#b77;,a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking under sections and inserting under section2 7#b7 by striking #afi7;c7 7relating to dislocated worker projects7 and inserting subsections 7c7 7relating to dislocated worker projects7 and 7d7 7relating to a workforce data quality initiative7 of section #afi2 and 7#c7 by striking and #agj and inserting and section #agj4