WHEREAS, More than four hundred thousand citizens of disability, of which half are of working age, live in the State of Washington, making this one of the state's largest social minorities; and

WHEREAS, More than ever before, citizens of disability are highly educated, well-trained and ready to play active, important roles in the social and economic mainstream; and

WHEREAS, Even with the gains that citizens of disability have achieved, their unemployment rate is higher and more live in poverty in our state than anytime since 1970; and

WHEREAS, Many citizens of disability, who have valuable job skills and a strong desire to work have dropped out of the labor force and are no longer seeking employment; and

WHEREAS, There exist within the State of Washington significant barriers to the employment of citizens of disability which barriers have not been fully understood or addressed by state government; and

WHEREAS, There is an urgent need for meaningful progress in achieving employment, independence, and economic well-being by citizens of disability;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on disability employment and economic participation be established to study and analyze the barriers to employment and full economic participation experienced by citizens of disability and to develop and monitor the implementation of recommendations of the joint select committee on disability employment and economic participation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee, through consultation with all departments and pertinent boards, committees and commissions of the State of Washington and the various affected interest groups, review and make recommendations on the following issues:

(1) Disincentives in present state programs and services which deter citizens of disability from successfully entering or remaining in the labor force;

(2) The influence on and interrelationship of federal programs and services with those programs delivered separately by the state that also deter or exacerbate the problems experienced by citizens of disability in entering or remaining in the labor force;

(3) The lack of coordination and gaps among separate state educational, vocational rehabilitation, and employment programs and services that prevent effective job training and employment for citizens of disability;

(4) The active participation and willingness by employers and the business community to shape and support successful, long-term job training and employment for citizens of disability;

(5) The effect on citizens of disability by general efforts in the state to promote higher employment and economic development;

(6) Incentives and solutions for achieving full, lasting participation by citizens of disability in employment and economic mainstreams; and

(7) Any other disability employment or economic participation issue that the committee determines to be pertinent to its general responsibility; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of twelve voting members appointed as follows:

(1) Three members from each caucus of the Senate, selected by the president of the Senate: One member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate commerce and labor committee and one member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate human resources and corrections committee; and

(2) Three members from each caucus of the House of Representatives, selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives: One member from each caucus shall be a member of the House commerce and labor committee and one member from each caucus shall be a member of the House social and health services committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall also consist of four voting members appointed as follows:

(1) Two members from the governor's committee on employment of the handicapped, selected by its chairperson; and

(2) Two members from the developmental disabilities planning council, selected by its chairperson; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee use legislative staff and facilities and may request assistance from state agencies to carry out the mandates of this resolution. All expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by the commencement of the 1987 regular session of the legislature. The committee shall cease to exist on April 1, 1987, unless the legislature determines it is necessary to extend the committee to continue required analysis and legislative oversight for proper implementation.