A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the government data analytics center to establish a Task Force to STUDY the collection and use of data on education and employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the north carolina longitudinal data system, as recommended by the legislative research commission committee on intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Government Data Analytics Center (GDAC) shall establish a task force to study the collection and use of data among State agencies and stakeholders to evaluate education and employment programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as part of the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System (System), established pursuant to Chapter 116E of the General Statutes. The task force shall include representatives from at least the following State agencies and stakeholders:
(1)	The Department of Health and Human Services.
(2)	The Department of Public Instruction.
(3)	The North Carolina Community College System.
(4)	The University of North Carolina.
(5)	Local school administrative units and charter schools.
(6)	North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
(7)	The Department of Commerce.
(8)	The Department of Labor.
(9)	The Department of Revenue.
(10)	The North Carolina Postsecondary Education Alliance.
(11)	Community organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
SECTION 2.  The task force shall study issues related to collecting and sharing individual‑level data among agencies through the System, including the Common Follow‑Up System and NC SchoolWorks (P‑20W), for the purpose of evaluating and reporting whether federal and State‑supported education and employment programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are effective in providing education and employment opportunities resulting in positive outcomes for those individuals. In doing so, the task force shall consider at least the following:
(1)	Establishing uniform definitions of disability and requiring specificity by type of disability to be used in the collection of data among agencies.
(2)	Conducting an inventory of the unique individual identifiers used within each agency and determining whether any identifiers need to be added to facilitate the sharing of data.
(3)	Identifying common performance measures and establishing key indicators, such as enrollment in postsecondary education or training, attainment of a postsecondary degree or credential, employment status and earnings, and poverty and receipt of public assistance.
(4)	Establishing a uniform length of time in which individuals are tracked that is sufficient to evaluate long‑term outcomes.
(5)	Developing interagency data sharing agreements to facilitate the evaluation of data and reporting of outcomes.
(6)	Identifying any limitations to sharing data through the System for the purpose of evaluating programs and services, including ensuring compliance with State and federal privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The task force shall propose best practices for maximizing data sharing and the evaluation and reporting of data using the System within the parameters of State and federal privacy laws.
(7)	Developing strategies to facilitate data sharing, evaluation, and reporting of outcomes of programs and services when the System cannot be utilized under certain circumstances, such as with small population sample sizes.
(8)	Recommending that the General Assembly require measurability assessments done in accordance with Chapter 143E of the General Statutes for any proposed or existing program relating to education and employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
SECTION 3.  By October 1, 2018, GDAC shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on the results of the study required by this act and any legislative recommendations from the task force.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.