HB97 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education, related statistics, answers, data system established and operated, maintained by Office of Edu. and Workforce Statistics in Dept. of Labor, to provide education and workforce training for Alabama residents, confidentiality protected, advisory board created

Summary

HB97 would create the Alabama ANSWERS data system to combine education and workforce data and guide training, policy, and outcomes while protecting personal information.

What This Bill Does

HB97 creates the Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education-Related Statistics (ANSWERS), a data system to connect education and workforce data and guide training, policy, and outcomes. It would collect and analyze data from multiple state education and workforce agencies, protect individuals' confidential information, and provide findings on program effectiveness and ROI. An advisory board would oversee the system and set a research agenda; the system would be fully operational by Sept. 30, 2020, with funding from various sources.

Who It Affects

• Students and families in Alabama who would receive timely, actionable information about career paths, education options, and return on investment.
• Educational and workforce data providers (state agencies, colleges and universities, school systems, and related entities) that must share data, adhere to privacy rules, and participate in governance.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education-Related Statistics (ANSWERS) data system to be developed, operated, and maintained by the Office of Education and Workforce Statistics within the Department of Labor; protects confidential information.
• Creates an Advisory Board with designated members from state government, education, and industry to oversee the system, establish the research agenda, identify policy questions, and report annually.
• Defines data types (deidentified data, educational data, and workforce data), states that each data-providing entity retains ownership of its data, and requires data collection and use to follow applicable laws to improve outcomes.
• Requires a statewide governance plan on data use, privacy, security, and researcher access; limits direct access to personally identifying information; mandates deidentification and public reporting of aggregated data; and requires a published plan.
• Implements a comprehensive data security and privacy framework with training, audits, breach response, and penalties for violations; governs third-party access and vendor contracts.
• Specifies data-sharing requirements, listing multiple agencies that must provide data and allowing other entities to participate with advisory board approval; emphasizes data quality and timely reporting.
• Stipulates the system be fully operational by September 30, 2020; authorizes funding from state appropriations, grants, federal funds, user fees, and other sources; and allows the office to hire staff and enter contracts as needed.
• Notes that while the bill involves local funding, it is exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding vote requirements because it falls within specified exceptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education