Sec. 12. (a) As used in this section, “workforce related program” has the meaning set forth in IC 22-4.1-1-7(a).

     (b) The governor, general assembly, and cabinet intend that each workforce related program effectuates the purposes for which it was enacted and that the cost of workforce related programs should be included more readily in the biennial budgeting process.

     (c) To provide the information needed to make informed policy choices about the efficacy of each workforce related program, the cabinet shall conduct a regular review, analysis, and evaluation of all workforce related programs.

     (d) The review, analysis, and evaluation must include information about each workforce related program that is necessary to determine if the goals of the workforce related program are being achieved, which may include any of the following:

(1) The basic attributes and policy goals of the workforce related program, including the statutory and programmatic goals of the workforce related program, the original scope and purpose of the workforce related program, and how the scope or purpose has changed over time.

(2) The estimated cost to the state to administer the workforce related program.

(3) The workforce related program’s equity, simplicity, competitiveness, public purpose, adequacy, and extent of conformance with the original purposes of the legislation enacting the workforce related program.

(4) The types of activities on which the workforce related program is based and how effective the workforce related program has been in promoting these targeted activities and in assisting participants in the workforce related program.

(5) The count of the following:

(A) Participants that enter the workforce related program.

(B) Participants that complete the workforce related program.

(C) Providers of the workforce related program.

(6) The dollar amount allotted for the workforce related program for the most recent state fiscal year.

(7) An estimate of the impact of the workforce related program, including the following:

(A) A return on investment calculation for the workforce related program. For purposes of this clause, “return on investment calculation” means analyzing the cost to the state of providing the workforce related program and analyzing the benefits realized by the participants in the workforce related program and to the state.

(B) A cost-benefit comparison among workforce related programs.

(C) An estimate of the number of jobs that were the direct result of the workforce related program.

(D) For the workforce related program, a statement by the chief executive officer of the state agency that administers the workforce related program as to whether the statutory and programmatic goals of the workforce related program are being met, with obstacles to these goals identified, if possible.

(8) The methodology and assumptions used in carrying out the reviews, analyses, and evaluations required under this section.

(9) An estimate of the extent to which benefits of the workforce related program remained in Indiana or flowed outside Indiana.

(10) Whether the effectiveness of the workforce related program could be determined more definitively if the general assembly were to clarify or modify the workforce related program’s goals and intended purpose.

(11) Whether measuring the workforce related program’s impact is significantly limited due to data constraints and whether any changes in statute would facilitate data collection in a way that would allow for better review, analysis, or evaluation.

(12) An estimate of the indirect economic benefit or activity stimulated by the workforce related program.

(13) Any additional review, analysis, or evaluation that the cabinet considers advisable, including comparisons with workforce related programs offered by other states if those comparisons would add value to the review, analysis, and evaluation.

     (e) The cabinet may request a state official or a state agency or a body corporate and politic to furnish information necessary to complete the workforce related program review, analysis, and evaluation required by this chapter. An official or entity presented with a request from the cabinet under this section shall cooperate with the cabinet in providing the requested information. An official or entity may require that the cabinet adhere to the provider’s rules, if any, that concern the confidential nature of the information.

     (f) The cabinet shall, before October 1 of each year, submit a report to the governor, the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, and the interim study committee on fiscal policy established by IC 2-5-1.3-4 containing the results of the cabinet’s review, analysis, and evaluation under this chapter. The report must include at least the following for each workforce related program reviewed:

(1) An explanation of the workforce related program.

(2) The history of the workforce related program.

(3) An estimate for each state fiscal year of the next biennial budget of the cost of the workforce related program.

(4) A detailed description of the review, analysis, and evaluation for the workforce related program.

(5) Information to be used by the governor and general assembly to determine whether the workforce related program should be continued, modified, or terminated, the basis for the recommendation, and the expected impact of the recommendation.

(6) Information to be used by the governor and general assembly to better align the workforce related program with the original intent of the legislation that enacted the workforce related program. The report required by this section must not disclose any proprietary or otherwise confidential information.

As added by P.L.152-2018, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.106-2024, SEC.3.