Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Automated decision system. The term automated decision system means a system, software, or process that uses computation, in whole or in part, to make, or serve as the principal basis for, a covered decision, including such a system, software, or process derived from machine learning, statistics, artificial intelligence, or other system. Such term does not include passive computing infrastructure, including web hosting, data storage, or cybersecurity tools that do not influence or determine such outcomes or decisions.

(2) Covered participant. The term covered participant means an individual who applies for, participates in, or has completed a program funded under this Act, including an apprenticeship under section 204, a reskilling program under section 205, or a fellowship program under section 206.

(3) Covered decision. The term covered decision means a decision by an entity receiving funds under this Act with respect to a covered participant’s admission, continuation, completion, or placement in a program funded under this Act.

(4) Principal basis. The term principal basis means an output of an automated decision system that is used to make a covered decision without:

(A) human review, oversight, involvement, or intervention; or

(B) meaningful consideration by a human.

(b) Limitation on use. An entity receiving funds under this Act may not rely exclusively on an automated decision system in making a covered decision with respect to a covered participant.

(c) Requirements for the provision of automated decision system. An entity that provides an automated decision system for use by an entity receiving funds under this Act in making a covered decision shall—

(1) conduct pre-deployment testing and validation of such system, and test such system not less than annually thereafter, with respect to—

(A) the efficacy of such system;

(B) potential discriminatory impact on the basis of a protected characteristic (as defined in section 3); and

(C) compliance with the designated risk management framework; and

(2) make available to the entity receiving funds under this Act a description of the automated decision system, including the types of data used as inputs, sufficient to support the disclosure required under subsection (d).

(d) Grantee obligations. An entity receiving funds under this Act that uses or intends to use an automated decision system output in making a covered decision shall—

(1) disclose to the covered participant, in plain language and in languages other than English common among participants served by such entity—

(A) that the entity uses or intends to use such a system in making such a decision;

(B) a description of the automated decision system, including the types of data used as inputs; and

(C) how the covered participant may seek human review of such decision under paragraph (3);

(2) provide for meaningful human review, by an individual with appropriate and relevant experience, of any automated decision system output prior to its use in a covered decision;

(3) provide a covered participant with an opportunity to seek human review of a covered decision made using an automated decision system output; and

(4) train personnel who operate or rely on such system on—

(A) the input data and limitations of the system; and

(B) potential biases and discriminatory impacts of the system.

(e) Self-Operated systems. An entity receiving funds under this Act that develops or operates its own automated decision system for use in making a covered decision shall be subject to the obligations under subsection (c) with respect to such system, in addition to the obligations under subsection (d).