§1732. Research, demonstration, and evaluation

(a) Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this section to assist the United States in expanding employment opportunities and ensuring access to such opportunities for all who desire such opportunities.

(b) Program established

(1) In general

The Secretary shall establish a comprehensive program of training and employment research, utilizing the methods, techniques, and knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences and such other methods, techniques, and knowledge as will aid in the solution of the employment and training problems of the United States.

(2) Studies

The program established under this section may include studies concerning-

(A) the development or improvement of Federal, State, local, and privately supported employment and training programs;

(B) labor market processes and outcomes, including improving workplace literacy;

(C) policies and programs to reduce unemployment and the relationships of the policies and programs with price stability and other national goals;

(D) productivity of labor;

(E) improved means of using projections of labor supply and demand, including occupational and skill requirements and areas of labor shortages at the national and subnational levels;

(F) methods of improving the wages and employment opportunities of low-skilled, disadvantaged, and dislocated workers, and workers with obsolete skills;

(G) methods of addressing the needs of at-risk populations, such as youth, homeless individuals and other dependent populations, older individuals, and other groups with multiple barriers to employment;

(H) methods of developing information on immigration, international trade and competition, technological change, and labor shortages; and

(I) methods of easing the transition from school to work, from transfer payment receipt to self-sufficiency, from one job to another, and from work to retirement.

(c) Pilot and demonstration programs

(1) Program established

(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish a program of pilot and demonstration programs for the purpose of developing and improving techniques and demonstrating the effectiveness of specialized methods in addressing employment and training needs. The Secretary may award grants and enter into contracts with entities to carry out the programs.

(B) Projects

Such programs may include projects in such areas as-

(i) school-to-work transition;

(ii) new methods of imparting literacy skills and basic education;

(iii) new training techniques (including projects undertaken with the private sector);

(iv) methods to eliminate artificial barriers to employment;

(v) approaches that foster participation of groups that encounter special problems in the labor market (such as displaced homemakers, teen parents, welfare recipients, and older individuals);

(vi) processes that demonstrate effective methods for alleviating the adverse effects of dislocations and plant closings on workers and their communities; and

(vii) cooperative ventures among business, industry, labor, trade associations, community-based organizations or nonprofit organizations to develop new and cost-effective approaches to improving work force literacy.

(2) Evaluation component

Demonstration programs assisted under this subsection shall include a formal, rigorous evaluation component. Pilot programs assisted under this subsection shall include an appropriate evaluation component.

(3) Special rule

No demonstration program under this subsection shall be assisted under this section for a period of more than 7 years. No pilot program under this subsection shall be assisted under this section for a period of more than 3 years.

(d) Evaluation

(1) Programs

(A) Job training programs

The Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation of programs conducted under this chapter, including the cost effectiveness of the program in achieving the purposes of this chapter.

(B) Other programs

The Secretary may conduct evaluations of other federally funded employment-related activities including programs administered under-

(i) the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.);

(ii) the National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.);

(iii) the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.);

(iv) chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.); and

(v) the Federal unemployment insurance program under titles III, IX, and XII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 501 et seq., 1101 et seq., and 1321 et seq.).

(2) Techniques

(A) Methods

Evaluations conducted under paragraph (1) shall utilize sound statistical methods and techniques of the behavioral and social sciences, including random assignment methodologies if feasible.

(B) Analysis

Such evaluations may include cost-benefit analysis of programs, the impact of the programs on community and participants, the extent to which programs meet the needs of various demographic groups, and the effectiveness of the delivery systems used by various programs.

(C) Effectiveness

The Secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of programs authorized under this chapter with respect to-

(i) the statutory goals;

(ii) the performance standards established by the Secretary; and

(iii) the extent to which such programs enhance the employment and earnings of participants, reduce income support costs, improve the employment competencies of participants in comparison to comparable persons who did not participate in such programs, and, to the extent feasible, increase the level of total employment over the level that would have existed in the absence of such programs.

( Pub. L. 97–300, title IV, §452, Oct. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1381 ; Pub. L. 102–367, title IV, §403(a)(2), Sept. 7, 1992, 106 Stat. 1078 .)

Repeal of Section

Pub. L. 105–220, title I, §199(b)(2), (c)(2)(B), Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1059 , provided that this section is repealed effective July 1, 2000.

References in Text

The Wagner-Peyser Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(i), is act June 6, 1933, ch. 49, 48 Stat. 113 , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 4B (§49 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 49 of this title and Tables.

The National Apprenticeship Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(ii), is act Aug. 16, 1937, ch. 663, 50 Stat. 664 , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 4C (§50 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 50 of this title and Tables.

The Older Americans Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(iii), is Pub. L. 89–73, July 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 218 , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§3001 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3001 of Title 42 and Tables.

The Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(iv), is Pub. L. 93–618, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 1978 , as amended. Chapter 2 of title II of the Act is classified principally to part 2 (§2271 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of Title 19, Customs Duties. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 2101 of Title 19 and Tables.

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(v), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620 , as amended. Titles III, IX, and XII of the Act are classified generally to subchapters III (§501 et seq.), IX (§1101 et seq.), and XII (§1321 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1992-Pub. L. 102–367 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to employment and training research, including experimental, developmental, and demonstration projects to improve effectiveness of methods for meeting employment and training problems.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–367 effective July 1, 1993, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 102–367, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment; Transition Provisions note under section 1501 of this title.

Workforce Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Program

Pub. L. 105–78, title I, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1469 , provided in part: "That the Secretary of Labor shall establish a workforce flexibility (work-flex) partnership demonstration program under which the Secretary shall authorize not more than six States, of which at least three States shall each have populations not in excess of 3,500,000, with a preference given to those States that have been designated Ed-Flex Partnership States under section 311(e) of Public Law 103–227 [20 U.S.C. 5891(e)], to waive any statutory or regulatory requirement applicable to service delivery areas or substate areas within the State under titles I–III of the Job Training Partnership Act [29 U.S.C. 1511 et seq., 1601 et seq., 1651 et seq.] (except for requirements relating to wage and labor standards, grievance procedures and judicial review, nondiscrimination, allotment of funds, and eligibility), and any of the statutory or regulatory requirements of sections 8–10 of the Wagner-Peyser Act [29 U.S.C. 49g–49i] (except for requirements relating to the provision of services to unemployment insurance claimants and veterans, and to universal access to basic labor exchange services without cost to job seekers), for a duration not to exceed the waiver period authorized under section 311(e) of Public Law 103–227, pursuant to a plan submitted by such States and approved by the Secretary for the provision of workforce employment and training activities in the States, which includes a description of the process by which service delivery areas and substate areas may apply for and have waivers approved by the State, the requirements of the Wagner-Peyser Act [29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.] to be waived, the outcomes to be achieved and other measures to be taken to ensure appropriate accountability for Federal funds."

[References to a provision of the Job Training Partnership Act, effective Aug. 7, 1998, are deemed to refer to that provision or the corresponding provision of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105–220, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 936 , and effective July 1, 2000, are deemed to refer to the corresponding provision of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, see section 2940(b) of this title. For complete classification of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9201 of Title 20, Education, and Tables.]

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations act:

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(e) [title I], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233 , 3009-234.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1516, 1571, 1703, 1703a of this title.