Skills Connection Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to create a searchable and publicly available database containing a registry of industry-recognized credentials, a skills database, and a jobs bank to enable programs that lead to such credentials to receive priority under:
Makes funds available from amounts appropriated for each fiscal year for the Workforce Innovation Fund for the costs of carrying out this Act.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4758 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4758
To direct the Secretary of Labor to create a searchable database
containing a credentials registry, a skills database, and a jobs bank.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2014
Mr. Carney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Labor to create a searchable database
containing a credentials registry, a skills database, and a jobs bank.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Skills Connection Act''.
SEC. 2. CREATION OF SEARCHABLE DATABASE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall create a publicly
available, easily navigable, and searchable database containing the
following:
(1) A registry of credentials (which may be certificates),
for purposes of enabling programs that lead to such a
credential to receive priority under a covered provision.
(2) A skills database, for purposes of enabling programs
that lead to such a credential to receive priority under a
covered provision.
(3) A jobs bank.
(b) Credentials Registry.--In creating a registry of credentials,
the Secretary shall--
(1) list the credential in the registry if the credential
is required by Federal or State law for an occupation (such as
a credential required by a State law regarding qualifications
for a health care occupation);
(2) list the credential, and list an updated credential, in
the registry if the credential involved is an industry-
recognized, nationally portable credential that is consistent
with the Secretary's established industry competency models and
is consistently updated through third party validation to
reflect changing industry competencies; and
(3) for each credential listed in the registry, provide an
assessment of which skills listed in the skills database
created under subsection (c) align with or are related to the
requirements of the credential.
(c) Skills Database.--In creating a skills database, the Secretary
shall--
(1) list identifiable skills that are required for
employment in the manufacturing sector, as determined by the
Secretary--
(A) by using Manufacturing Institute-Endorsed
Manufacturing Skills Certification System or similar
resource; or
(B) by consulting with an organization similar to
the Manufacturing Institute;
(2) after consultation with the Manufacturing Institute or
similar organization and representatives of the Armed Forces
list identifiable skills developed through service in the Armed
Forces; and
(3) for each skill listed under paragraphs (1) and (2),
include information about how that skill aligns with or is
related to the requirements for the credentials listed under
the credentials registry created under subsection (b).
(d) Jobs Bank.--In creating a jobs bank, the Secretary shall--
(1) enable job seekers to--
(A) enter basic information through the statewide
employment statistics system established under section
15 of the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49l-2) for their
State of residence about their skills, experience,
credentials, and preferred area of employment; and
(B) browse job listings submitted by employers to
such jobs bank that match the credentials, experience,
or other qualifications entered under subparagraph (A);
(2) automatically match available jobs with job seekers who
have matching qualifications; and
(3) enable information relating to shortages in certain
skills or credentials available to be utilized by State
workforce investment board established under section 111 of the
Workforce Investment Board of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 49j) and others
to inform decisions about how to allocate workforce development
resources.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed--
(1) to require an entity with responsibility for selecting
or approving an education, training, or workforce investment
activities program with regard to a covered provision, to
select a program with a credential listed in the registry
described in subsection (b); or
(2) to be an endorsement of a skill listed under the skills
database described in subsection (c) by the Secretary of Labor
or the Federal Government.
(f) Availability of Funds.--For each fiscal year, funds shall be
available from the amount appropriated for each such fiscal year for
the Workforce Innovation Fund established under section 1801(a)(3) of
title VIII of division B of Public Law 112-10 for the costs of carrying
out the provisions of this Act.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Armed forces.--The term ``Armed Forces'' means the
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
(2) Covered provision.--The term ``covered provision''
means any of sections 129 and 134 of the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2854, 2864), section 122(c)(1)(B) of the
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(B)), and section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2296).
(3) Industry recognized credential.--The term ``industry-
recognized'', used with respect to a credential, means a
credential that--
(A) is sought or accepted by companies within the
industry sector involved as recognized, preferred, or
required for recruitment, screening, or hiring; and
(B) is endorsed by a nationally recognized trade
association or organization representing a significant
part of the industry sector.
(4) Nationally portable.--The term ``nationally portable'',
used with respect to a credential, means a credential that is
sought or accepted by companies within the industry sector
involved, across multiple States, as recognized, preferred, or
required for recruitment, screening, or hiring.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(6) Workforce investment activities.--The term ``workforce
investment activities'' has the meaning given the term in
section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.
2801).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line