SB153 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

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

SB153 would create the Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education-Related Statistics (ANSWERS), a privacy-protected data system to connect education and workforce information for Alabama residents.

What This Bill Does

It would establish ANSWERS as a data system developed and run by the Alabama Office of Education and Workforce Statistics in the Department of Labor, using existing data to support education and workforce training. The bill requires collection and linking of educational outcomes and workforce data from multiple state agencies and higher education institutions, with the system targeted to be fully operational by September 30, 2020, and each provider retaining ownership of its data. An advisory board would oversee the system and set a research agenda focused on workforce needs, education program effectiveness, career information for students and parents, and ROI of programs. The system would protect confidential information, restrict direct access to personally identifying data, allow deidentified and aggregated data for research and public reporting, and require compliance by education entities receiving state funds, with penalties for disclosure.

Who It Affects

• Education and workforce data providers (such as the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, State Department of Education, Alabama Community College System, public and private higher education institutions, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Alabama Department of Labor, Alabama Department of Veterans' Affairs, Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute, Alabama Department of Commerce Workforce Development Division, and Regional Workforce Development Councils) who must share data and follow governance, privacy, and data-use rules.
• Alabama residents, including students, parents, and workers, who would receive better information about education and career options and benefit from improved programs while data is protected and used for research and policy.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education-Related Statistics (ANSWERS) data system to collect, link, and analyze education and workforce data, managed by the Office of Education and Workforce Statistics within the Department of Labor, to develop education and workforce training for residents while protecting confidentiality.
• Creates an Advisory Board and a statewide governance plan to oversee data collection, data sharing (with deidentification), privacy and security standards, research access, reporting requirements, and compliance by funded education entities; sets terms for board operations, reporting, and data use policies.

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