HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5326

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by  Senators Garrett, Johnson, Peterson, Lee, Tanner, Warnke, Williams, Kiskaddon and Bauer; by request of Joint Select Committee on Disability Employment and Economic Participation)

Creating the Washington disability training and placement coordination council.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Commerce and Labor and as further amended by Committee on Ways and Means.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, McLean, McMullen, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Sandi Gray (786-7154)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In its 1986 report, the Joint Select Committee on Disability Employment and Economic Participation found that the state has no coordinated system for meeting the training and placement needs of persons of disability.  Both persons of disability and employers have reported confusion about the variety of services available. The committee recommended that a Washington Disability Training and Placement Coordination Council be created to offer clearing house services and to develop a coordinated comprehensive plan for disability training, employment, and economic participation of persons of disability.

SUMMARY:

The Employment Security Department is directed to establish an information clearinghouse to provide information on the services and incentive programs available to persons of disability to assist in training and employment needs, and to publish a list of the services available.  In establishing the clearinghouse, the department is required to consult with organizations representing private employers and persons of disability.

A two year interagency task force on disability training and placement is created, consisting of the commissioner of the Employment Security Department, the director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Social and Health Services, the director of the Department of Personnel, the director of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the director of the Department of Services for the Blind, and the executive director of the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment.  The function of the interagency task force is to develop and implement recommendations to promote greater participation of persons of disability in the workforce, and to improve interagency coordination and services to persons of disability, employers and governmental agencies.  The task force is required to submit a report on its activities to the governor and the Commerce & Labor committees of the Senate and House of Representatives by December 1st of each year.  The task force will cease to exist on June 30, 1989.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Commerce & Labor)  Les Treece-Sinclair, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Commerce & Labor)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Commerce & Labor)  A central office for dissemination of information on disability issues is needed to assist both employers and disabled workers to benefit from employment opportunities.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Commerce & Labor)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.