HB97 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Network of Statewide Workforce and Education-Related Statistics (ANSWERS) system within the Department of Labor to collect and analyze education and workforce data from early learning through employment.

• Creates the Alabama Office of Education and Workforce Statistics headed by a chief policy officer appointed by the Governor to develop, operate, and maintain the data system while ensuring compliance with federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.

• Establishes a 20-member advisory board consisting of state agency leaders, legislative representatives, education officials, and private sector representatives to oversee system development, establish research agenda, and ensure data protection and security.

• Requires participating education and workforce entities to provide accurate data while maintaining strict data confidentiality through deidentification standards, limiting direct access to personally identifiable information to authorized office staff only.

• Makes unauthorized disclosure of collected data a Class C felony and mandates system full operationalization by September 30, 2020.