H-3777              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2692

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooper, Moyer, Sayan, Brooks, K. Wilson, Ferguson, Youngsman, Jacobsen, Rector, Doty, H. Myers, Todd, Scott and Sprenkle

Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committees on Human Services/Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to supported employment; adding a new section to chapter 43.20A RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the employment and inclusion in their communities of persons with significant disabilities are critical to the health of the individuals and the communities.  Supported employment offers enhanced opportunities for integration in the workplace and the greater community.  The partnership with business created through supported employment benefits employers and employees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

          The department of social and health services shall contract with a not-for-profit organization to promote supported employment opportunities state-wide.  The department shall contract with an organization that has prior experience providing supported employment opportunities.  The organization shall provide training and education to enable persons with significant disabilities to experience the maximum integration they can achieve into employment and related community activities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of social and health services the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this act.