Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/357

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PUBLIC LAW 106-170—DEC. 17, 1999 113 STAT. 1875 (3) FULL IMPLEMENTATION.—The Commissioner shall ensure that ability to provide tickets and services to individuals under the Program exists in every State as soon as practicable on or after the effective date specified in subsection (c) but not later than 3 years after such date. (4) ONGOING EVALUATION OF PROGRAM. — (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner shall provide for independent evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this section and the amendments made thereby. Such evaluations shall address the cost-effectiveness of such activities, as well as the effects of this section and the amendments made thereby on work outcomes for beneficiaries receiving tickets to work and self-sufficiency under the Program. (B) CONSULTATION. —Evaluations shall be conducted under this paragraph after receiving relevant advice from experts in the fields of disability, vocational rehabilitation, and program evaluation and individuals using tickets to work and self-sufficiency under the Program and in consultation with the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel established under section 101(f) of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, other agencies of the Federal Government, and private organizations with appropriate expertise. (C) METHODOLOGY. — (i) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Commissioner, in consultation with the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel established under section 101(f) of this Act, shall ensure that plans for evaluations and data collection methods under the Program are appropriately designed to obtain detailed employment information. (ii) SPECIFIC MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED.—Each such evaluation shall address (but is not limited to)— (I) the annual cost (including net cost) of the Program and the annual cost (including net cost) that would have been incuried in the absence of the Program; (II) the determinants of return to work, including the characteristics of beneficiaries in receipt of tickets under the Program; (III) the types of emplo^^yment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services furnished to beneficiaries in receipt of tickets under the Program who return to work and to those who do not return to work; (IV) the duration of employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services furnished to beneficiaries in receipt of tickets under the Program who return to work and the duration of such services furnished to those who do not return to work and the cost to employment networks of furnishing such services; (V) the employment outcomes, including ' ^ wages, occupations, benefits, and hours worked, of beneficiaries who return to work after receiving