Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/628

 124 STAT. 602 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 required partnership activities during the duration of an implementation grant; (E) a budget proposal of the cost of the activities sup- ported by the implementation grant and a timeline for the provision of matching funds required; (F) proposed performance benchmarks to be used to assess and evaluate the progress of the partnership activi- ties; (G) a description of how the State partnership will collect data to report progress in grant activities; and (H) such additional assurances as the Administration determines to be essential to ensure compliance with grant requirements. (6) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.— (A) IN GENERAL.—A State partnership that receives an implementation grant may reserve not less than 60 percent of the grant funds to make grants to be competi- tively awarded by the State partnership, consistent with State procurement rules, to encourage regional partner- ships to address health care workforce development needs and to promote innovative health care workforce career pathway activities, including career counseling, learning, and employment. (B) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP DUTIES.—An eligible State partnership receiving an implementation grant shall— (i) identify and convene regional leadership to dis- cuss opportunities to engage in statewide health care workforce development planning, including the poten- tial use of competitive grants to improve the develop- ment, distribution, and diversity of the regional health care workforce; the alignment of curricula for health care careers; and the access to quality career informa- tion and guidance and education and training opportunities; (ii) in consultation with key stakeholders and regional leaders, take appropriate steps to reduce Fed- eral, State, or local barriers to a comprehensive and coherent strategy, including changes in State or local policies to foster coherent and comprehensive health care workforce development activities, including health care career pathways at the regional and State levels, career planning information, retraining for dislocated workers, and as appropriate, requests for Federal pro- gram or administrative waivers; (iii) develop, disseminate, and review with key stakeholders a preliminary statewide strategy that addresses short- and long-term health care workforce development supply versus demand; (iv) convene State partnership members on a reg- ular basis, and at least on a semiannual basis; (v) assist leaders at the regional level to form partnerships, including technical assistance and capacity building activities;