WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 1340

Ensures the safe and efficient delivery of materials for the timely construction of major renewable energy facilities in furtherance of the goals mandated by the New York state climate leadership and community

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker and 1 co-sponsor

Expands and standardizes public access to Massachusetts workforce outcomes data to improve evaluation and policy, with privacy protections and a new interagency data task force.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1340

Summary — S.1340: "An Act to make data on workforce development outcomes public and accessible"

Note on source material
- The full bill text provided is for a Massachusetts Senate bill (S.1340) introduced by Senator Patricia D. Jehlen and amending Massachusetts General Laws chapter 151A, section 14P. Some metadata supplied with the request (title referencing New York, a mix of sponsors from other jurisdictions, and varied committee referrals) appears inconsistent with the bill text. This summary is based on the bill text (Massachusetts workforce data access) and cites the statutory and regulatory references contained therein.

Purpose

To expand and standardize the sharing of workforce development outcome data held by Massachusetts state agencies so that program performance can be evaluated, services can be coordinated, and research and reporting can be improved — while maintaining applicable state and federal privacy protections.

Key provisions

  • Amends G.L. c.151A, §14P to broaden permissible disclosures of information the director holds, explicitly allowing disclosure to federal, state, and local agencies (including the 16 MassHire workforce development boards) and their agents/contractors for purposes including:

    • Program evaluation and longitudinal outcome analyses;
    • Financial/other analyses required by law;
    • Preparation of required reports;
    • Operation of public programs to improve service quality and equitable outcomes;
    • Establishing common case management systems for shared customers.

  • Adds a new subsection (j) requiring the department to:

    1. Develop minimum requirements for approving disclosure requests consistent with 20 C.F.R. pt. 603, subpart B, §603.10.
    2. Create a standard application for disclosure requests.
    3. Decide to approve, deny, or request more information within 30 business days of receiving the application; applicants must respond to requests for additional information within 20 business days; the department must issue a final decision within 30 calendar days after receiving additional information. All decisions must be in writing and denials must state reasons.
    4. Post on its website the requirements, standard application, decision timeframes, and contact information.
    5. Require that for approved wage-data requests to the Department of Career Services (DCS) and MassHire boards, the director of DCS report quarterly wage-match files with participant demographic info, program/service participation, service geography, and credential attainment — subject to state and federal privacy laws.

  • Requires creation of a multi-agency task force (within 30 days of enactment) led by the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, in consultation with DUA, DCS, Commonwealth Corporation, Mass. Workforce Association, Workforce Solutions Group, and others to:

    • Improve workforce data infrastructure and inter-state data linkages;
    • Ensure data security/privacy;
    • Improve wage-data quality and sharing for evaluation;
    • Participate in the Massachusetts education-to-career/longitudinal data systems;
    • Review quarterly measures, analyze equity of access/outcomes, and improve public access consistent with privacy laws;
    • Produce 2-year and 6-year implementation plans and submit a report with recommendations and draft legislation to relevant legislative committees. (Full reporting deadlines are truncated in the provided text.)

Who is affected

  • State entities: Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Department of Career Services (DCS), Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, Commonwealth Corporation, MassHire workforce development boards.
  • Workforce program operators and contractors who supply or use participant and wage data.
  • Researchers, policymakers, and advocates who rely on workforce outcome data.
  • Participants in workforce programs (data subjects) — with privacy protections emphasized.

Procedural/timeline details (from bill text)

  • Department decision timelines: 30 business days initial; applicant: 20 business days to respond to info requests; 30 calendar days final after added info.
  • Quarterly reporting of wage-match files to be established for approved requests.
  • Task force must be convened within 30 days after the act’s effective date; deliverables include a report and draft legislation (specific submission date truncated in text).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Pros: stronger evaluation capacity (including longitudinal analysis), improved program coordination and case management, better-informed policy and funding decisions, and more transparent public reporting of workforce outcomes.
  • Cons/risks: administrative workload for agencies to build standardized application and satisfy timelines; need for robust privacy, security, and data governance to protect individual-level information; potential legal constraints from federal privacy laws requiring careful implementation.
  • Implementation will require technical work: data matching, harmonization across agencies, and participation in state longitudinal data systems.

For verification or legislative tracking: confirm the jurisdiction (Massachusetts), sponsor(s), and current committee status (text shows this bill filed 1/15/2025 as S.1340 in the Massachusetts Senate).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.