-CITE-
    29 USC CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT    01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
             CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT         

-MISC1-
    Sec.                                                     
    2701.       Findings.                                             
    2702.       Purposes.                                             
    2703.       Definitions.                                          
    2704.       Grants.                                               
    2705.       Identification and dissemination of best practices.   
    2706.       Authorization of appropriations.                      

-End-

-CITE-
    29 USC Sec. 2701                                            01/03/2007

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    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2701. Findings

-STATUTE-
      The Congress finds and declares the following:
        (1) In an increasingly competitive world economy, the companies
      and nations that lead in the rapid development,
      commercialization, and application of new and advanced
      technologies, and in the high-quality, competitively priced
      production of goods and services, will lead in economic growth,
      employment, and high living standards.
        (2) While the United States remains the world leader in science
      and invention, it has not done well in rapidly making the
      transition from achievement in its research laboratories to high-
      quality, competitively priced production of goods and services.
      This lag and the unprecedented competitive challenge that the
      United States has faced from abroad have contributed to a drop in
      real wages and living standards.
        (3) Companies that are successfully competitive in the rapid
      development, commercialization, application, and implementation
      of advanced technologies, and in the successful delivery of goods
      and services, recognize that worker participation and labor-
      management cooperation in the deployment, application, and
      implementation of advanced workplace technologies make an
      important contribution to high-quality, competitively priced
      production of goods and services and in maintaining and improving
      real wages for workers.
        (4) The Federal Government has an important role in encouraging
      and augmenting private sector efforts relating to the
      development, application, manufacture, and deployment of new and
      advanced technologies. The role should be to - 
          (A) work with private companies, States, worker
        organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of
        higher education to ensure the development, application,
        production, and implementation of new and advanced technologies
        to promote the improvement of workers' skills, wages, job
        security, and working conditions, and a healthy environment;
          (B) encourage worker and worker organization participation in
        the development, commercialization, evaluation, selection,
        application, and implementation of new and advanced
        technologies in the workplace; and
          (C) promote the use and integration of new and advanced
        technologies in the workplace that enhance workers' skills.

        (5) In working with the private sector to promote the
      technological leadership and economic growth of the United
      States, the Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure
      that Federal technology programs help the United States to remain
      competitive and to maintain and improve living standards and to
      create and retain secure jobs in economically stable communities.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 542, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4051.)

-MISC1-
                                SHORT TITLE                            
      Section 541 of Pub. L. 103-382 provided that: "This part [part D
    (Secs. 541-547) of title V of Pub. L. 103-382, enacting this
    chapter] may be cited as the 'Workers Technology Skill Development
    Act'."

                 STUDY AND REPORT ON THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE"             
      Pub. L. 106-313, title I, Sec. 115, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat.
    1262, provided that:
      "(a) Study. - The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a review of
    existing public and private high-tech workforce training programs
    in the United States.
      "(b) Report. - Not later than 18 months after the date of
    enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2000], the Secretary of Commerce
    shall submit a report to Congress setting forth the findings of the
    study conducted under subsection (a)."

          REPORT ON OLDER WORKERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD      
      Pub. L. 105-277, div. C, title IV, Sec. 417, Oct. 21, 1998, 112
    Stat. 2681-656, provided that:
      "(a) Study. - The Director of the National Science Foundation
    shall enter into a contract with the President of the National
    Academy of Sciences to conduct a study, using the best available
    data, assessing the status of older workers in the information
    technology field. The study shall consider the following:
        "(1) The existence and extent of age discrimination in the
      information technology workplace.
        "(2) The extent to which there is a difference, based on age,
      in - 
          "(A) promotion and advancement;
          "(B) working hours;
          "(C) telecommuting;
          "(D) salary; and
          "(E) stock options, bonuses, and other benefits.
        "(3) The relationship between rates of advancement, promotion,
      and compensation to experience, skill level, education, and age.
        "(4) Differences in skill level on the basis of age.
      "(b) Report. - Not later than October 1, 2000, the Director of
    the National Science Foundation shall submit to the Committees on
    the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives and the
    Senate a report containing the results of the study described in
    subsection (a)."

               REPORT ON HIGH TECHNOLOGY LABOR MARKET NEEDS           
      Pub. L. 105-277, div. C, title IV, Sec. 418(a), Oct. 21, 1998,
    112 Stat. 2681-656, provided that:
      "(1) In general. - The Director of the National Science
    Foundation shall conduct a study to assess labor market needs for
    workers with high technology skills during the next 10 years. The
    study shall investigate and analyze the following:
        "(A) Future training and education needs of companies in the
      high technology and information technology sectors and future
      training and education needs of United States students to ensure
      that students' skills at various levels are matched to the needs
      in such sectors.
        "(B) An analysis of progress made by educators, employers, and
      government entities to improve the teaching and educational level
      of American students in the fields of math, science, computer
      science, and engineering since 1998.
        "(C) An analysis of the number of United States workers
      currently or projected to work overseas in professional,
      technical, and managerial capacities.
        "(D) The relative achievement rates of United States and
      foreign students in secondary schools in a variety of subjects,
      including math, science, computer science, English, and history.
        "(E) The relative performance, by subject area, of United
      States and foreign students in postsecondary and graduate schools
      as compared to secondary schools.
        "(F) The needs of the high technology sector for foreign
      workers with specific skills and the potential benefits and costs
      to United States employers, workers, consumers, postsecondary
      educational institutions, and the United States economy, from the
      entry of skilled foreign professionals in the fields of science
      and engineering.
        "(G) The needs of the high technology sector to adapt products
      and services for export to particular local markets in foreign
      countries.
        "(H) An examination of the amount and trend of moving the
      production or performance of products and services now occurring
      in the United States abroad.
      "(2) Report. - Not later than October 1, 2000, the Director of
    the National Science Foundation shall submit to the Committees on
    the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives and the
    Senate a report containing the results of the study described in
    paragraph (1).
      "(3) Involvement. - The study under paragraph (1) shall be
    conducted in a manner that ensures the participation of individuals
    representing a variety of points of view."

                 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORKFORCE COMMISSION             
      Pub. L. 105-220, title III, subtitle C, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat.
    1087, as amended by Pub. L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(f) [title
    VIII, Sec. 401(15)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-337, 2681-412,
    known as the "Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission Act",
    established the Commission to study all matters relating to the
    information technology workforce in the United States, including
    skills necessary to enter the information technology workforce,
    ways to expand the number of skilled information technology
    workers, and the relative efficacy of programs in the United States
    and foreign countries to train information technology workers, and
    to submit a report to the President and Congress of its findings,
    conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative
    actions, and provided for powers of the Commission, compensation of
    members, employment of staff, authorization of appropriations, and
    termination of the Commission 90 days after submission of its final
    report, which was released June 27, 2000.

-End-

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    29 USC Sec. 2702                                            01/03/2007

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    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2702. Purposes

-STATUTE-
      The purposes of this chapter are to - 
        (1) improve the ability of workers and worker organizations to
      recognize, develop, assess, and improve strategies for
      successfully integrating workers and worker organizations into
      the process of evaluating, selecting, and implementing advanced
      workplace technologies, and advanced workplace practices in a
      manner that creates and maintains stable well-paying jobs for
      workers; and
        (2) assist workers and worker organizations in developing the
      expertise necessary for effective participation with employers in
      the development of strategies and programs for the successful
      evaluation, selection, and implementation of advanced workplace
      technologies and advanced workplace practices through the
      provision of a range of education, training, and related
      services.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 543, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4052.)

-End-

-CITE-
    29 USC Sec. 2703                                            01/03/2007

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    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2703. Definitions

-STATUTE-
      As used in this chapter:
      (1) Advanced workplace practices
        The term "advanced workplace practices" means innovations in
      work organization and performance, including high-performance
      workplace systems, flexible production techniques, quality
      programs, continuous improvement, concurrent engineering, close
      relationships between suppliers and customers, widely diffused
      decisionmaking and work teams, and effective integration of
      production technology, worker skills and training, and workplace
      organization, and such other characteristics as determined
      appropriate by the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the
      Secretary of Commerce.
      (2) Advanced workplace technologies
        The term "advanced workplace technologies" includes - 
          (A) numerically controlled machine tools, robots, automated
        process control equipment, computerized flexible manufacturing
        systems, associated computer software, and other technology for
        improving the manufacturing and industrial production of goods
        and commercial services, which advance the state-of-the-art; or
          (B) novel industrial and commercial techniques and processes
        not previously generally available that improve quality,
        productivity, and practices, including engineering design,
        quality assurance, concurrent engineering, continuous process
        production technology, inventory management, upgraded worker
        skills, communications with customers and suppliers, and
        promotion of sustainable economic growth.
      (3) Department
        The term "Department" means the Department of Labor.
      (4) Nonprofit organization
        The term "nonprofit organization" means a tax-exempt
      organization, as described in paragraph (3), (4), or (5) of
      section 501(c) of title 26.
      (5) Secretary
        The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Labor.
      (6) Worker organization
        The term "worker organization" means a labor organization
      within the meaning of section 501(c)(5) of title 26.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 544, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4053.)

-End-

-CITE-
    29 USC Sec. 2704                                            01/03/2007

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    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2704. Grants

-STATUTE-
    (a) In general
      The Secretary of Labor, after consultation with the Secretary of
    Commerce, shall, to the extent appropriations are available, award
    grants to eligible entities to carry out the purposes described in
    section 2702 of this title.
    (b) Eligibility
      To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity
    shall - 
        (1) be a nonprofit organization, or a partnership consortium of
      such organizations;
        (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such
      time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
      Secretary may require, including a description of the activities
      that the entity will carry out using amounts received under the
      grant; and
        (3) agree to make available (directly or through donations from
      public or private entities) non-Federal contributions toward the
      costs of the activities to be conducted with grant funds, in an
      amount equal to the amount required under subsection (d) of this
      section.
    (c) Use of amounts
      An entity shall use amounts received under a grant awarded under
    this section to carry out the purposes described in section 2702 of
    this title through activities such as - 
        (1) the provision of technical assistance to workers, worker
      organizations, employers, State economic development agencies,
      State industrial extension programs, Advanced Technology Centers,
      and National Manufacturing Technology Centers to identify
      advanced workplace practices and strategies that enhance the
      effective evaluation, selection, and implementation of advanced
      workplace technologies;
        (2) the researching and identification of new and advanced
      workplace technologies, and advanced workplace practices that
      promote the improvement of workers' skills, wages, working
      conditions, and job security, that research the link between
      advanced workplace practices and long-term corporate performance,
      and which are consistent with the needs of local communities and
      the need for a healthy environment; and
        (3) the development and dissemination of training programs and
      materials to be used for and by workers, worker organizations,
      employers, State economic development agencies, State industrial
      extension programs, Advanced Technology Centers, and National
      Manufacturing Technology Centers relating to the activities and
      services provided pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), and
      regarding successful practices including practices which address
      labor-management cooperation and the involvement of workers in
      the design, development, and implementation of workplace
      practices and technologies.
    (d) Terms of grants and non-Federal shares
      (1) Terms
        Grants awarded under this section shall be for a term not to
      exceed six years.
      (2) Non-Federal share
        Amounts required to be contributed by an entity under
      subsection (b)(3) of this section shall equal - 
          (A) an amount equal to 15 percent of the amount provided
        under the grant in the first year for which the grant is
        awarded;
          (B) an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount provided
        under the grant in the second year for which the grant is
        awarded;
          (C) an amount equal to 33 percent of the amount provided
        under the grant in the third year for which the grant is
        awarded;
          (D) an amount equal to 40 percent of the amount provided
        under the grant in the fourth year for which the grant is
        awarded; and
          (E) an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount provided
        under the grant in the fifth and sixth years for which the
        grant is awarded.
    (e) Evaluation
      The Department shall develop mechanisms for evaluating the
    effectiveness of the use of a grant awarded under this section in
    carrying out the purposes under section 2702 of this title and, not
    later than two years after October 20, 1994, and every two years
    thereafter, prepare and submit a report to Congress concerning such
    evaluation.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 545, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4053.)

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-CITE-
    29 USC Sec. 2705                                            01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2705. Identification and dissemination of best practices

-STATUTE-
    (a) In general
      (1) Information
        The Secretary, in cooperation and after consultation with the
      Secretary of Commerce, shall assist workers, worker
      organizations, and employers in successfully adopting advanced
      workplace technologies, and advanced workplace practices by
      identifying, collecting, and disseminating information on best
      workplace practices and workplace assessment tools, including - 
          (A) methods, techniques, and successful models of labor-
        management cooperation and of worker and worker organization
        participation in the development, evaluation, selection, and
        implementation of new and advanced workplace technologies, and
        advanced workplace practices;
          (B) methods, techniques, and successful models for the design
        and implementation of new and advanced workplace practices;
          (C) methods, techniques, and successful models for the design
        and implementation of advanced forms of work organization; and
          (D) methods, techniques, and successful models for the
        assessment of worker skills and training needs relating to the
        effective development, evaluation, selection, and
        implementation of advanced workplace technologies, and advanced
        workplace practices.
      (2) Contents
        Such information on best workplace practices shall include - 
          (A) summaries and analyses of best practice cases;
          (B) criteria for assessment of current workplace practices;
        and
          (C) information on the best available education and training
        materials and services relating to the development,
        implementation, and operation of systems utilizing new and
        advanced workplace technologies, and advanced workplace
        practices.
    (b) Distribution
      The information and materials developed under this section shall
    be distributed through an appropriate entity designated by the
    Secretary of Commerce to the Regional Centers for the Transfer of
    Manufacturing Technology, to the Manufacturing Outreach Center, to
    other technology training entities, and directly to others as
    determined appropriate by the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary
    of Commerce.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 546, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4055.)

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    29 USC Sec. 2706                                            01/03/2007

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    TITLE 29 - LABOR
    CHAPTER 29 - WORKERS TECHNOLOGY SKILL DEVELOPMENT

-HEAD-
    Sec. 2706. Authorization of appropriations

-STATUTE-
    (a) In general
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter
    such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995
    through 1997.
    (b) Availability
      Amounts appropriated under subsection (a) of this section shall
    remain available until expended.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 103-382, title V, Sec. 547, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat.
    4055.)

-End-