_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 1811
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed
Legislature - 1999 Regular Session
State
of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 02/26/1999.
Revising provisions relating to supported employment for
persons with severe disabilities.
AN
ACT Relating to supported employment; amending RCW 41.04.750, 41.04.760, and
41.04.770; and amending 1997 c 287 s 1 (uncodified).
BE IT ENACTED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. 1997
c 287 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
The
legislature finds that the rate of unemployment among ((persons)) individuals
with developmental disabilities or other significant disabilities is
high due to the limited employment opportunities available to ((disabled
persons)) them. Given that ((persons)) individuals
with developmental disabilities or other significant 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))
individuals with developmental disabilities or other significant
disabilities.
Sec.
2. RCW
41.04.750 and 1997 c 287 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless
the context clearly requires otherwise the definitions in this section apply
throughout RCW 41.04.760 through 41.04.780.
(1)
"Developmental disability" means a disability as defined in RCW
71A.10.020.
(2)
"Significant disability" means a disability as defined in 29
U.S.C. Sec. 705.
(3)
"Supported employment" means employment for individuals with
developmental disabilities or other significant 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)))
(4) "State agency" means any office, department, division,
bureau, board, commission, community college or institution of higher
education, or agency of the state of Washington.
Sec.
3. RCW
41.04.760 and 1997 c 287 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
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)) individuals 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.
*Sec.
4.
RCW 41.04.770 and 1997 c 287 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
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 social and
health services shall maintain information regarding the number of supported
employment placements by type of disability and report this information to the
department of personnel. 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.
*Sec. 4 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.
Passed the House April 20, 1999.
Passed the Senate April 15, 1999.
Approved by the Governor May
5, 1999, with the exception of certain items that were vetoed.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 5, 1999.
Note:
Governor's explanation of partial veto is as follows:
"I
am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 4, Substitute House
Bill No. 1811 entitled:
"AN ACT Relating to supported employment;"
This bill would expand
the state's supported employment program to include individuals with more
significant disabilities than are currently included. The supported employment
program offers on-the-job training and long-term support to disabled people at the
same wages and benefits received by people in similar positions who are not
disabled.
Section 4 of the bill
would require the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to maintain
certain information, and to report that information to the Department of
Personnel, and for the Department of Personnel to in turn report the
information to the legislature on request. Such a provision is inefficient and
unnecessary in statute. DSHS currently maintains the information and will
continue to do so. If the legislature wants information on supported
employment, it may request it at any time.
For these reasons, I have
vetoed section 4 of Substitute House Bill No. 1811.
With
the exception of section 4, Substitute House Bill No. 1811 is approved."
