H.R. 1446

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1446 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1446

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.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 21, 2025

Mr. Allen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

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 ``and'' at the end;
(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 competency-based 
assessments that are a valid and reliable 
method of measuring and collecting information 
on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of 
individuals who are adults or dislocated 
workers for the purpose of--
``(I) awarding, based on the 
knowledge, skills, and abilities of 
such an individual--
``(aa) a recognized 
postsecondary credential that 
is used by employers in the 
State for recruitment, hiring, 
retention, or advancement 
purposes; or
``(bb) credit toward a 
recognized postsecondary 
credential aligned with an in-
demand industry sector or 
occupation in the State;
``(II) developing individual 
employment plans under subsection 
(c)(2)(A)(xii)(II) that identify--
``(aa) in-demand industry 
sectors or occupations that 
require knowledge, skills, and 
abilities that are similar to 
the knowledge, skills, and 
abilities of such an individual 
to secure employment in such 
sectors or occupations; and
``(bb) any upskilling 
needed to secure such 
employment; or
``(III) helping such an individual 
communicate the knowledge, skills, and 
abilities of the individual to 
prospective employers through skills-
based resumes, profiles, or portfolios; 
and
``(viii) disseminating to local areas and 
employers information relating to the 
assessments described in clause (vii), 
including--
``(I) any credential or credit 
awarded pursuant to items (aa) and (bb) 
of clause (vii)(I);
``(II) the industry organizations, 
employers, training providers, and 
institutions of higher education 
located within the State that recognize 
the knowledge, skills, and abilities of 
such an individual that are validated 
by such assessments;
``(III) how such assessments may be 
provided to, and accessed by, such an 
individual through the one-stop 
delivery system; and
``(IV) information on how the 
development of the individual 
employment plans under subsection 
(c)(2)(A)(xii)(II) can include an 
identification of the information 
described in items (aa) and (bb) of 
clause (vii)(III).''.
(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 ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (xiv), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(xv) supporting employers in the State 
seeking to implement skills-based hiring 
practices to evaluate individuals based on the 
demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities 
of such individuals, as an alternative to 
relying on postsecondary degree requirements in 
the hiring process, which may include--
``(I) technical assistance on the 
use and validation of employment 
assessments, such as the competency-
based assessments identified or 
developed by the State pursuant to 
paragraph (2)(B)(vii); and
``(II) support in the creation of 
skills-based job descriptions.''.
(c) Authorized Local Employment and Training Activities.--Section 
134(c)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3174(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (iii), by inserting before the semicolon the 
following: ``, including a determination (which shall consider 
factors including prior work experience, military service, 
education, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in 
the local area) of whether such an individual would benefit 
from a competency-based assessment identified or developed by 
the State pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(B)(vii) to accelerate 
the time to obtaining employment that leads to economic self-
sufficiency or career advancement''; and
(2) in clause (xii)(I)(aa), by inserting before the 
semicolon the following: ``, including a competency-based 
assessment identified or developed pursuant to subsection 
(a)(2)(B)(vii)''.
(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 (ix)(II)--
(A) in item (cc), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in item (dd), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(ee) technical assistance 
or other support to employers 
seeking to implement skills-
based hiring practices, which 
may include technical 
assistance on the use and 
validation of employment 
assessments, including 
competency-based assessments 
developed or identified by the 
State pursuant to subsection 
(a)(2)(B)(vii), and support in 
the creation of skills-based 
job descriptions.'';
(2) in clause (xi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in clause (xii), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(xiii) competency-based assessments for 
individuals upon the initial assessment of 
skill levels pursuant to subsection 
(c)(2)(A)(iii), or upon completion of training 
services or other learning experiences.''.
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