_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 5768
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 03/05/97.
Creating
supported employment programs.
AN
ACT Relating to supported employment for persons with developmental
disabilities; adding new sections to chapter 41.04 RCW; and creating a new
section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that the rate of unemployment among persons with
developmental disabilities is high due to the limited employment opportunities
available to disabled persons. Given that persons with disabilities are
capable of filling employment positions in the general work force population,
supported employment is an effective way of integrating such individuals into
the general work force population. The creation of supported employment
programs can increase the types and availability of employment positions for
persons with developmental disabilities.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise the definitions in this section
apply throughout sections 3 through 5 of this act.
(1)
"Developmental disability" means a disability as defined in RCW
71A.10.020.
(2)
"Supported employment" means employment for individuals with
developmental disabilities who may require on-the-job training and long-term
support in order to fulfill their job duties successfully. Supported
employment offers the same wages and benefits as similar nonsupported
employment positions.
(3)
"State agency" means any office, department, division, bureau, board,
commission, community college or institution of higher education, or agency of
the state of Washington.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. State
agencies are encouraged to participate in supported employment activities. The
department of social and health services, in conjunction with the department of
personnel and the office of financial management, shall identify agencies that
have positions and funding conducive to implementing supported employment. An
agency may only participate in supported employment activities pursuant to this
section if the agency is able to operate the program within its existing
budget. These agencies shall:
(1)
Designate a coordinator who will be responsible for information and resource
referral regarding the agency's supported employment program. The coordinator
shall serve as a liaison between the agency and the department of personnel
regarding supported employment;
(2)
Submit an annual update to the department of social and health services, the
department of personnel, and the office of financial management. The annual
update shall include: A description of the agency's supported employment
efforts, the number of persons placed in supported employment positions,
recommendations concerning expanding the supported employment program to
include people with mental disabilities or other disabilities, and an overall
evaluation of the effectiveness of supported employment for the agency.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. The
department of social and health services and the department of personnel shall,
after consultation with supported employment provider associations and other
interested parties, encourage, educate, and assist state agencies in implementing
supported employment programs. The department of personnel shall provide human
resources technical assistance to agencies implementing supported employment
programs. The department of personnel shall make available, upon request of
the legislature, an annual report that evaluates the overall progress of
supported employment in state government.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. The
creation of supported employment positions under sections 3 and 4 of this act
shall not count against an agency's allotted full-time equivalent employee
positions. Supported employment programs are not intended to displace
employees or abrogate any reduction-in-force rights.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.
Sections 2 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 41.04 RCW.
