Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Widening Internet Readiness for Employment Development Act” or the “WIRED Act”.
Widening Internet Readiness for Employment Development Act
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to require one-stop delivery systems under such Act to offer services through Internet websites and to direct the Secretary of Labor to develop standards and best practices for such websites.
Sec. 2 Online provision of one-stop services
Online provision of one-Stop services— Section 134(c)(2) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(c)(2)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “; and”;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) to the extent that each of the programs, services, and activities described in paragraph (1) can be made accessible through an Internet website, shall make such services accessible on such a website that—
“(i) is unique to the particular one-stop delivery system; and
“(ii) meets the standards and incorporates the best practices established by the Secretary pursuant section 121(g).”
Standards and best practices for online provision of services by one-Stop delivery systems— Section 121 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2841) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g) Standards and best practices for online provision of services—After soliciting public comments and consulting with and receiving input from relevant parties, including State workforce investment boards, the Secretary shall establish and maintain standards and best practices for Internet websites maintained by one-stop delivery systems as required by section 134(c)(2)(C), and for the provision of services through such websites. Such standards and best practices shall include—
“(1) a requirement for a user-friendly, up-to-date website available to all dislocated workers;
“(2) a requirement that the website prominently display the address and hours of operation of all physical one-stop centers in the local area, and a description of services provided in and events held at each such center;
“(3) best practices for providing, through the website, services such as resume assistance, cover letter review, job searching, interview preparations, and online employment-related practice tests, through videos, video-conferencing, or other means;
“(4) best practices for assuring a secure network and the protection of any personal information;
“(5) best practices for incorporating social media and networking capabilities into the website; and
“(6) best practices for making such websites accessible by mobile devices to the extent practicable.”
Deadline— The Secretary of Labor shall establish the initial standards and best practices required by section 121(g) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (as added by subsection (b)) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.