Employer-Directed Skills Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 3846 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3846 To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regarding employer-directed skills development, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 11, 2026 Mr. Budd (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. Husted) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regarding employer-directed skills development, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Employer-Directed Skills Act''. SEC. 2. EMPLOYER-DIRECTED SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. (a) Employer-Directed Skills Development.-- (1) In general.--Section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) is amended-- (A) by striking paragraph (14); (B) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (18) as paragraphs (14) through (17), respectively; and (C) by inserting after paragraph (17), the following: ``(18) Employer-directed skills development.--The term `employer-directed skills development' means a program-- ``(A) that is selected or designed to meet the specific skill demands of an employer (including a group of employers); ``(B) that is conducted pursuant to the terms and conditions provided under an employer-directed skills contract described in section 134(c)(3)(I), including the commitment by the employer to employ an individual upon successful completion of the program; and ``(C) for which the employer pays a portion of the cost of the program that is-- ``(i) determined by the local board involved; and ``(ii)