Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act
Bill: H.R.7349 | Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. (R-NY)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act
This bill incorporates assessments that measure an individual's prior knowledge, skills, competencies, and experiences into specified state and local employment training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to identify or 
      develop assessments to measure the prior knowledge, skills, 
competencies, and experiences of an individual, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Validate Prior Learning to 
Accelerate Employment Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENTS TO MEASURE THE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, 
              COMPETENCIES, AND EXPERIENCES OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

    (a) Statewide Employment and Training Activities.--Section 
134(a)(2)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3174(a)(2)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (v)(VI), by striking the ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vii) coordinating with industry 
                        organizations, employers (including small and 
                        mid-sized employers), training providers, local 
                        boards, and institutions of higher education to 
                        identify or develop assessments that--
                                    ``(I) are a valid and reliable 
                                method of collecting information; and
                                    ``(II) measure the prior knowledge, 
                                skills, competencies, and experiences 
                                of an individual for the purpose of--
                                            ``(aa) awarding 
                                        postsecondary credit toward a 
                                        recognized postsecondary 
                                        credential aligned with in-
                                        demand industry sectors and 
                                        occupations in the State;
                                            ``(bb) awarding a 
                                        recognized postsecondary 
                                        credential that is used by 
                                        employers in the State for 
                                        recruitment, hiring, retention, 
                                        or advancement purposes;
                                            ``(cc) developing 
                                        individual employment plans 
                                        that incorporate the prior 
                                        knowledge, skills, 
                                        competencies, and experiences 
                                        of an individual to identify 
                                        skills related to an in-demand 
                                        industry sector or occupation 
                                        and any upskilling needed to 
                                        secure employment in such 
                                        sector or occupation; and
                                            ``(dd) helping individuals 
                                        communicate their prior 
                                        knowledge, skills, 
                                        competencies, and experiences 
                                        to prospective employers 
                                        through skills-based profiles 
                                        or portfolios; and
                            ``(viii) disseminating to local areas 
                        information relating to the assessments 
                        identified or developed pursuant to clause 
                        (vii), including--
                                    ``(I) any recognized postsecondary 
                                credential awarded through such an 
                                assessment;
                                    ``(II) the industry organizations, 
                                employers, training providers, and 
                                institutions of higher education 
                                located within the State that recognize 
                                the prior knowledge, skills, 
                                competencies, and experiences of an 
                                individual validated by such 
                                assessments; and
                                    ``(III) how such assessments may be 
                                provided to, and accessed by, 
                                individuals through the one-stop 
                                delivery system.''.
    (b) Allowable Statewide Employment and Training Activities.--
Section 134(a)(3)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3174(a)(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (xiii), by striking the ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (xiv), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xv) identifying and providing to 
                        employers information relating to best 
                        practices on the use of assessments, including 
                        such assessments developed or identified by the 
                        State pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(vii);
                            ``(xvi) providing technical assistance to 
                        employers seeking to use such assessments for 
                        hiring, promotion, or upskilling of employees; 
                        and
                            ``(xvii) supporting employers in the State 
                        seeking to implement a practice of hiring 
                        individuals based on their prior knowledge, 
                        skills, competencies, and experiences as an 
                        alternative to relying on postsecondary degree 
                        requirements in the hiring process.''.
    (c) Authorized Local Employment and Training Activities.--Section 
134(c)(2)(A)(iii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)(A)(iii) is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(iii) initial assessment of skill levels 
                        (including literacy, numeracy, and English 
                        language proficiency), aptitudes, abilities 
                        (including skills gaps), and supportive service 
                        needs, and a determination (considering factors 
                        including prior work experience, military 
                        service, life experience, or education history, 
                        and in-demand industry sectors and occupations 
                        in the local area) of whether such an 
                        individual would benefit from an assessment 
                        identified by the State pursuant to subsection 
                        (a)(2)(B)(vii) to measure the individual's 
                        prior knowledge, skills, competencies, and 
                        experiences to accelerate the individual in 
                        obtaining employment that leads to economic 
                        self-sufficiency or career advancement;''.
    (d) Permissible Local Employment and Training Activities.--Section 
134(d)(1)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3174(d)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (xi), by striking the ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (xii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xiii) assessments for individuals upon 
                        initial assessment of skills (pursuant to 
                        subsection (c)(2)(A)(iii)) or completion of 
                        training services or other learning 
                        experiences; and
                            ``(xiv) providing technical assistance or 
                        other support to employers seeking to use such 
                        assessments for hiring, promotion, or 
                        upskilling of employees.''.
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