NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8379A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Disabilities Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 15, 2024	print number 8379a
May 15, 2024	amend (t) and recommit to disabilities
Jan 25, 2024	referred to disabilities

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S8379 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6397
Current Committee:: Senate Disabilities
Law Section:: Labor
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:: A33

2023-S8379 - Summary

Establishes the task force to promote the employment by state agencies of people with disabilities.

2023-S8379 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8379

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to establishing the task force to promote the employ-
ment by state agencies of people with disabilities; and to provide for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof (Part A); and in
relation to requiring the commissioner of labor, in collaboration with
the commissioner of health, to create a sustainable, comprehensive stra-
tegy to accomplish various goals aimed at bringing persons with disabil-
ities into employment (Part B)

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to
implement certain provisions regarding the employment of people with
disabilities.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one.describes the topic of the legislation, outlines the subdi-

vision into part A and part B of the column.

Section two sets out the effective date of this act.

Section three stablishes the severability clause of the act.

Part A

Section one details the benefits of employment for people with disabili-
ties and establishes a taskforce which promotes the employment of people
with disabilities through strategy planning, working with state agencies
and collaborating with private partners.

Section two outlines the composition of the taskforce, the appointment
process for the taskforce, the term length of the taskforce, the compen-
sation-of the taskforce and-the operation of the taskforce.

Section three defines the role of the taskforce and sets out how often
it shall report to the State.

Section four outlines the effective date of Part A of the act.

Part B

Section one explains the legislative intent and historical context of
the act.

Section two requires the Commissioner of Labor and the Commissioner of
Health to support the promotion of employment of people with disabili-
ties in state agencies. It also requires state agencies to develop a
comprehensive strategy to increase employment of adults with disabili-
ties, to ensure the State is a model employer of people with disabili-
ties, and to support private employment of people with disabilities.

Section three establishes a committee on employment for people with
disabilities within the state workforce investment board, as appointed
by the Governor to advise the state workforce investment board on issues
relating to increasing workforce participation of people with disabili-
ties. Section four details how the new committee on employment for
people with disabilities will make grants available to counties and
local workforce development boards to develop local strategies on remov-
ing barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

Section five mandates that the State provide information, training and
services to prospective employers and jobseekers with disabilities.

Section six sets out the effective date of Part B of the act.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill aims to help people with disabilities by removing barriers to
employment through task force recommendations. Only 33% of adults with
disabilities in New York are currently employed which starkly contrasts
with a general population employment percentage of 74%. New Yorkers with
disabilities currently suffer from a high unemployment rate and have
trouble accessing employment Services, information and training.

This bill creates an employment taskforce set up to improve employment
rates of people with disabilities to provide a sense of dignity and
economic empowerment.

Jobseekers with disabilities will receive employment information,
services, and training from the State on employment for people with
disabilities thus removing barriers to employment for people with disa-
bilities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATION:

Unknown.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided that Parts A and B of
this act have specific effective date's as provided in each part's last
section.

2023-S8379 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8379
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 25, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  RAMOS  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing the task force to promote the employ-
   ment by state agencies of people with disabilities; and to provide for
   the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof (Part A); and in
   relation to requiring the commissioner of labor, in collaboration with
   the commissioner of health, to  create  a  sustainable,  comprehensive
   strategy  to  accomplish  various goals aimed at bringing persons with
   disabilities into employment (Part B)
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This  act enacts into law major components of legislation
 necessary to implement certain provisions regarding  the  employment  of
 people  with  disabilities.  Each component is wholly contained within a
 Part identified as Parts A  through  B.  The  effective  date  for  each
 particular provision contained within such Part is set forth in the last
 section  of  such  Part. Any provision in any section contained within a
 Part, including the effective date of the Part, which makes a  reference
 to a section "of this act", when used in connection with that particular
 component,  shall  be  deemed  to  mean  and  refer to the corresponding
 section of the Part in which it is found. Section three of this act sets
 forth the general effective date of this act.
 
                                  PART A
 
   Section 1. Legislative intent.  The  legislature  finds  and  declares
 that:
   1.  More than 19 million people in the United States work in state and
 local governments, and more than 570,000 people have public sector  jobs
 in New York, including 130,000 state government employees, employed in a
 wide variety of jobs and occupations, including accountants, corrections
 officers,  mail  clerks,  chaplains,  social  workers, doctors, lawyers,
 teachers, and computer programmers;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10281-01-3

 S. 8379                             2
 
   2. People with disabilities can benefit from the experience of employ-
 ment in state agencies, gaining skills and  receiving  benefits  through
 both  internships  and employment in the public sector and the state can
 benefit from the contributions that they can make as state employees;
   3.  A  number  of  states have instituted within their human resources
 agencies policies and programs that foster the inclusion of people  with
 disabilities  into state government jobs, including provisional appoint-
 ments, alternative examination and interview processes, trial work peri-
 ods, and special appointment lists;
   4. As a leading employer, and as an employer providing many well paid,
 quality jobs with ample paid time off and medical and pension  benefits,
 the  state  of New York can set an important example to other employers,
 especially private  sector  employers,  by  increasing  its  efforts  to
 recruit  and  retain  in  employment  individuals  with intellectual and
 developmental disabilities; and
   5. It is therefore appropriate to establish a task  force  to  promote
 the  employment  by  state  agencies of people with disabilities for the
 purposes of studying the problem  of  unemployment  and  underemployment
 among  individuals  in  New  York  with disabilities, reviewing existing
 programs in this and other states,  and  private  sector  companies,  to
 recruit  and  retain  in  employment  individuals  with intellectual and
 developmental disabilities, and  assisting  in  the  identification  and
 implementation  of  strategies to expand efforts of New York state agen-
 cies to recruit and retain in employment individuals with  disabilities,
 including by providing guidance and support to agencies and institutions
 of higher education.
   §  2.  1.  There  is established, in the department of labor, the task
 force to promote the employment by state agencies of people  with  disa-
 bilities.  The  task  force  shall  consist of 13 members, including one
 representative each from the department of civil service, the department
 of education, the disability employment initiative of the department  of
 labor,  the  state comptroller, the office for people with developmental
 disabilities, the state rehabilitation council, the office of  strategic
 workforce  development,  and the office of the chief disability officer,
 and 5 members appointed by the governor with the advice and  consent  of
 the senate as follows: 2 members representing The Arc New York; a repre-
 sentative  of  a community rehabilitation program, and 2 individuals who
 have a disability.
   2. Members of the task force shall be appointed within 90  days  after
 the  effective date of this act. The appointed members of the task force
 shall serve for terms of 3 years.  Vacancies in the  membership  of  the
 appointed  members  of the task force shall be filled in the same manner
 as the original appointments.
   3. Members of the task force shall  serve  without  compensation,  but
 shall  be  reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance
 of their duties as members of the task force, within the limits of funds
 appropriated or otherwise made available  to  the  task  force  for  its
 purposes.
   4.  The  task  force  shall  organize  as  soon  as possible after the
 appointments are made and select a chairperson from among  its  members.
 The  task  force  shall  meet  at least quarterly, may hold meetings and
 hearings at places and times as it designates, and may meet at any other
 times at the call of the chairperson. No action shall be  taken  by  the
 task  force  except  by  an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting
 members.
 S. 8379                             3
 
   § 3. 1. The purpose of the task force is to study the problem of unem-
 ployment and underemployment among individuals with disabilities, review
 relevant, available programs within the state of New York for state  and
 local  government  agencies  to  recruit, hire, and retain in employment
 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as
 similar  programs  in  other  states  and  private sector employers, and
 assist in the identification and implementation of strategies to  expand
 efforts  of  New  York  state  and local government agencies to recruit,
 hire, and retain in employment individuals with disabilities.
   2. The task force shall issue annual reports which offer a vision  and
 provide  viable  recommendations  on how the state can increase opportu-
 nities for employment for individuals  with  intellectual  and  develop-
 mental  disabilities  by  expanding  efforts of New York state and local
 government agencies to promote the employment  of  such  individuals  by
 recruiting,  hiring,  and  retaining  them  in  employment, including by
 providing guidance and support to agencies and  institutions  of  higher
 education.
   3. The task force shall issue its first report to the governor and the
 legislature  not later than one year after the members of the task force
 are appointed. Each annual report shall be made available to the  public
 by  means  including  the  posting  of the report on the websites of the
 state agencies represented on the task force.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed December 31, 2030.
 
                                  PART B
 
   Section  1.  Legislative intent. 1. Historically, federal programs for
 adults with disabilities have encouraged dependency on  income  supports
 and  have  created barriers to employment and economic self-sufficiency.
 Even in strong economic times, adults with disabilities have had limited
 options and faced major barriers to achieve  economic  self-sufficiency,
 resulting  in  prolonged reliance upon public assistance programs and an
 unacceptably high unemployment rate statewide.
   2. Federal laws enacted during the 1990's offered  significant  public
 policies  and fiscal incentives designed to assist states to restructure
 workforce development  programs  into  integrated  workforce  investment
 systems  that  will  respond  to the employment, training, and education
 needs of its citizens.
   3. Since 1998, employment-focused reforms for adults with disabilities
 in the workforce have been enacted into Medicare, Medicaid, the  Supple-
 mental  Security  Income  Program  (SSI), the Social Security Disability
 Insurance Program (SSDI), and with respect to programs  administered  by
 the  United States department of labor, and the United States department
 of education.
   4. The federal Workforce Investment Act of  1998  (WIA),  (Public  Law
 105-220)  redesigned  major  federal  public  employment  programs,  and
 included a requirement that services  for  employers  and  employees  be
 centered in accessible, community-based one-stop centers.
   5.  The  federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of
 1999, (Public Law 106-170) increased opportunities for states to  remove
 and  minimize  barriers  to  employment  for people with disabilities by
 improving access to health care coverage available  under  Medicare  and
 Medicaid.
   6.  Beginning February 1, 2002, the Social Security Ticket to Work and
 Self-Sufficiency  program  began  a   state-by-state   phase-in   period
 S. 8379                             4
 
 nationally,  allowing  SSI  and SSDI beneficiaries to receive a "ticket"
 from the Social Security Administration that can be assigned for employ-
 ment services to a wider pool of rehabilitation,  employment,  or  other
 employment support service providers.
   §  2.  1. The commissioner of labor, in collaboration with the commis-
 sioner of health, shall make available the expertise of state  employees
 and programs to support the employment-related needs of individuals with
 disabilities.    Using  existing resources, the agencies shall develop a
 sustainable, comprehensive strategy to do all of the following:
   a. bring adults with disabilities into gainful employment  at  a  rate
 that is as close as possible to that of the general adult population;
   b.  support  the goals of equality of opportunity, full participation,
 independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for these individuals;
   c. ensure that state government is a  model  employer  of  individuals
 with disabilities; and
   d.  support  state  coordination  with, and participation in, benefits
 planning training and information dissemination  projects  supported  by
 private foundations and federal grants.
   2.  a.  The state workforce investment board shall monitor and enforce
 implementation of Section 188 of the federal Workforce Investment Act of
 1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2938), and shall require local  workforce  develop-
 ment boards to report as follows:
   (i)  By  July  1,  2024,  each local workforce development board shall
 report to the state workforce investment board or its designated depart-
 ment on the steps it has taken to ensure compliance with Section 188  of
 the  federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec.  2938), in
 regard to the provisions as they apply to persons with disabilities.
   (ii) By October 31, 2024, each local workforce development board  that
 chooses to participate in the federal Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficien-
 cy  program  shall report to the state workforce investment board on its
 readiness to meet the eligibility standards to serve  as  an  employment
 network  under  the  federal Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program
 (Section 1148(f), Part A, Title XI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.
 Section 1320b-19).
   b. The state workforce investment board  shall  report  its  findings,
 based  on  the  reports  described in subparagraph (i) of paragraph a of
 this subdivision to the governor and the legislature.
   § 3. 1. a. The  governor  shall  establish,  in  the  state  workforce
 investment  board,  a  governor's committee on employment of people with
 disabilities. The committee shall include, but not be limited to:
   (i) 4 individuals with disabilities representing disabled  persons,  2
 appointed by the governor and one each appointed by the temporary presi-
 dent  of  the  senate and the speaker of the assembly, each for a 3-year
 term;
   (ii) the commissioner  of  labor,  the  commissioner  of  health,  the
 commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of the office for people
 with  developmental  disabilities,  the commissioner of social services,
 the director of the state education department's office of adult  career
 and  continuing  education services-vocational rehabilitation, the chief
 disability officer, and the chair of  the  New  York  state  independent
 living council, inc.;
   (iii) a representative from the state workforce investment board;
   (iv)  representatives  from  any  other department or program that may
 have a role in increasing the capacity of state programs to support  the
 employment-related needs of individuals with disabilities;
 S. 8379                             5
 
   (v)  a  representative from a local one-stop center or local workforce
 development board, to be appointed by the governor; and
   (vi)  a  business  representative with experience in employing persons
 with disabilities, to be appointed by the governor.
   b. Members of the committee shall be appointed within  90  days  after
 the  effective  date of this act. The appointed members of the committee
 shall serve for terms of 3 years.  Vacancies in the  membership  of  the
 appointed members of the committee shall be filled in the same manner as
 the original appointments.
   c.  The  members  of  the governor's committee on employment of people
 with disabilities shall select a chair from among the members and  shall
 hold open meetings no less than quarterly.
   2.  The  committee  shall  consult with and advise the state workforce
 investment board on all issues related to full inclusion  in  the  work-
 force of persons with disabilities, including development of the compre-
 hensive  strategy required by this section and the implementation of the
 grant program established pursuant to section four of this act.
   3. The governor's committee on employment of people with  disabilities
 shall:
   a.  coordinate  and  provide  leadership, as necessary, with regard to
 efforts to increase inclusion in the workforce of persons with disabili-
 ties;
   b. report annually to the legislature and the governor on the  employ-
 ment status of New York residents with disabilities;
   c.  provide  support  to  the state workforce investment board and the
 local one-stop centers in their efforts to achieve full compliance  with
 federal  and  state law, and shall identify the extent to which any one-
 stop centers are not in full compliance with those laws and the  reasons
 for the lack of compliance, including the need for additional resources;
   d.  using existing funding, facilitate, promote, and coordinate colla-
 borative dissemination of information on employment supports  and  bene-
 fits,  which  shall  include  the  Ticket  to  Work and Self-Sufficiency
 program and health benefits, to individuals with disabilities, consumers
 of public services, employers, service providers, and  state  and  local
 agency staff; and
   e.  using  existing  funding, receive primary administrative and staff
 support from the department of labor.
   § 4. 1. The governor's committee on employment of people with disabil-
 ities, in conjunction with the department of labor  and  to  the  extent
 that  funds  are  available, shall make grants available to counties and
 local workforce development boards in order to develop local  strategies
 for enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and
 to  fund comprehensive local and regional benefits planning and outreach
 programs to assist persons with disabilities  in  removing  barriers  to
 work.
   2. The governor's committee on employment of people with disabilities,
 in conjunction with the department of labor and to the extent that funds
 are  available,  shall make grants available to counties and local work-
 force development boards, through collaborative efforts of public  agen-
 cies  and  private  organizations,  including  organizations  that serve
 people with disabilities, to accomplish the following purposes:
   a. to develop local strategies, including, but not limited to, regular
 cross-agency staff training, for enhancing employment opportunities  for
 individuals with disabilities; and
 S. 8379                             6
 
   b.  to  fund  comprehensive  local  or  regional benefits planning and
 outreach programs to assist individuals with  disabilities  in  removing
 barriers to work.
   §  5.  1.  It  is the purpose of this section to ensure that workforce
 preparation services provided through one-stop centers, including infor-
 mation and services provided electronically, are accessible to employers
 and jobseekers with disabilities. It is the intent  of  the  legislature
 that:
   a.  one-stop  centers provide appropriate services to individuals with
 disabilities to enhance their employability; and
   b. in order to achieve the goals  specified  in  this  section,  local
 workforce  development boards plan for and report on services to employ-
 ers and jobseekers with disabilities, including  the  implementation  of
 the  federal Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program for those local
 workforce development boards and one-stop centers that choose to  imple-
 ment  the  Ticket  to  Work program in their local workforce development
 board areas.
   2. To the extent not already available, each local workforce  develop-
 ment  board  shall  establish at least one comprehensive one-stop career
 center in each local workforce development area. These one-stop  centers
 shall ensure access to services pursuant to Section 134(d) of the feder-
 al  Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2864(d)), including
 services for persons with disabilities, including, but not  limited  to,
 the following:
   a. outreach, intake, and orientation;
   b.  initial  assessments of skills, aptitudes, abilities, and need for
 support services;
   c. program eligibility determinations;
   d. information on the local, regional, and national labor market;
   e. information on filing for unemployment insurance;
   f. access to intensive services as needed, including, but not  limited
 to,  comprehensive  and  specialized  assessments  of  skill  levels and
 service needs, development of individual employment plans,  group  coun-
 seling,  individual  counseling and career planning, case management for
 participants seeking training services under paragraph g of this  subdi-
 vision and short-term prevocational services, such as learning, communi-
 cation,  interview, and other jobseeking and work-related skills to help
 prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment and training; and
   g. training services, including,  but  not  limited  to,  occupational
 skills training, on-the-job training, workplace training and cooperative
 education programs, private sector training programs, skills upgrade and
 retraining,  entrepreneurial  training,  job  readiness  training, adult
 education, and literacy activities combined with training,  and  custom-
 ized training.
   3.  Each  local workforce development board shall schedule and conduct
 regular performance reviews  of  their  one-stop  centers  to  determine
 whether the centers and providers are providing effective and meaningful
 opportunities  for  persons  with  disabilities  to  participate  in the
 programs and activities of the centers and providers.
   4. One-stop center counselor staff shall provide accurate  information
 to  beneficiaries  of Supplemental Security Income and the state Supple-
 mental Program and Social Security Disability Insurance  on  the  impli-
 cations  of  work  for these individuals. The information shall include,
 but not be limited to,  referrals  to  appropriate  benefit's  planners.
 One-stop  center counselor staff shall also provide accurate information
 S. 8379                             7
 
 to individuals with disabilities on how they may gain access to Medicaid
 benefits.
   5.  In  order to ensure that one-stop career centers operated by local
 workforce development boards meet the needs of employers and  jobseekers
 with  disabilities, the governor shall ensure that evaluations conducted
 pursuant to Sections 134 (a)(2)(B)(ii) and (v) of the federal  Workforce
 Investment  Act  of  1998  (29  U.S.C. Sec. 2864 (a)(2)(B)(ii) and (v)),
 address how local one-stop centers provide the following:
   a. full access to workforce development services  for  their  disabled
 community;
   b. assistive technology to ensure access to services;
   c.  staff  training on assessment and service strategies for employers
 and jobseekers with disabilities;
   d. representation of the disability community in program planning  and
 service delivery; and
   e.  the  development of regional employment networks to participate in
 the federal Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program and the role  of
 the local board and one-stop centers in the Ticket to Work and Self-Suf-
 ficiency program.
   6.  The  state workforce investment board shall report to the governor
 and the legislature by September 30, 2024, on  the  status  of  one-stop
 services  to  individuals  with  disabilities  and implementation of the
 federal Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program in New York.
   7. If permitted by federal law, the state workforce  investment  board
 and  local workforce development boards shall include persons with disa-
 bilities or their representatives on  such  boards,  with  a  particular
 effort  to  include such persons who are not employees of state or local
 government.
   § 6. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.
   § 2. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
 sion, section or part of this act shall be  adjudged  by  any  court  of
 competent  jurisdiction  to  be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
 impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall  be  confined  in
 its  operation  to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section
 or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judg-
 ment shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
 the legislature that this act would  have  been  enacted  even  if  such
 invalid provisions had not been included herein.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 the applicable effective date of Parts A through B of this act shall  be
 as specifically set forth in the last section of such Parts.

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6397
Current Committee:: Senate Disabilities
Law Section:: Labor
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:: A33

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the task force to promote the employment by state agencies of people with disabilities.

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8379A

SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to establishing the task force to promote the employ-
ment of people with disabilities

 
PURPOSE:

This bill establishes a task force to promote competitive integrated
employment for people with disabilities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 establishes a task force in the Department of Labor to promote
competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. This
section outlines the composition of the taskforce, the appointment proc-
ess for the taskforce, the term length of the task force, the compen-
sation of the taskforce and the operation of the taskforce.

Section 2 defines the role of the taskforce and sets out how often it

shall report to the state.

Section 3 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill aims to help people with disabilities by removing barriers to
employment through task force recommendations.

Only 33% of adults with disabilities in New York are currently employed
which starkly contrasts with a general population employment percentage
of 74%. New Yorkers with disabilities currently suffer from a high unem-
ployment rate and have trouble accessing employment Services, informa-
tion and training.

This bill creates an employment taskforce set up to improve employment
rates of people with disabilities to provide a sense of dignity and
economic empowerment.

The task force shall examine, support, promote, assist and coordinate
New York state agencies and departments to be an exemplar in the areas
of model employment for people with disabilities and promote New York
State in the identification and implementation of strategies to expand
efforts of state and local government agencies to recruit, hire, and
retain in employment individuals with disabilities.

 
FISCAL IMPACT:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8379--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 25, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  RAMOS  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing the task force to promote the employ-
   ment of people with disabilities

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. 1. (a) There is hereby established, in  the  department  of
 labor,  a  task  force  to promote competitive integrated employment for
 people with disabilities. The task force shall consist of 16 members  to
 be appointed by the governor as follows:
   (i) a representative from the department of civil service;
   (ii)  a  representative  from  the department of education's office of
 adult career and continuing education services;
   (iii) a representative from the department of labor;
   (iv) a representative from the office of the state comptroller;
   (v) a representative from the office  for  people  with  developmental
 disabilities;
   (vi) a representative from the office of mental health;
   (vii) a representative from the office of strategic workforce develop-
 ment;
   (viii)  a representative from the office of the chief disability offi-
 cer;
   (ix) a representative of organized labor appointed upon recommendation
 of the New York State American Federation of  Labor-Congress  of  Indus-
 trial Organizations;
   (x)  a  representative of the business community appointed upon recom-
 mendation of the Business Council of New York State, Incorporated;
   (xi) an individual upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly;
   (xii) an individual upon recommendation of the temporary president  of
 the senate;
   (xiii) two representatives of employment services providers for people
 with disabilities; and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD10281-03-4
 S. 8379--A                          2
 
   (xiv) two individuals with a disability.
   (b) The representative from the department of labor shall serve as the
 chair of the task force.
   2.  The appointed members of the task force shall serve for terms of 3
 years.  Vacancies in the membership of the appointed members of the task
 force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
   3. Members of the task force shall  serve  without  compensation,  but
 shall  be  reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance
 of their duties as members of the task force.
   4. The task force  shall  organize  as  soon  as  possible  after  the
 appointments are made. The task force shall meet at least quarterly in a
 calendar  year, may hold meetings and hearings at places and times as it
 designates, and may meet at any other times at the call  of  the  chair-
 person. No action shall be taken by the task force except by an affirma-
 tive vote of a majority of the voting members.
   §  2.  1. (a) The purpose of the task force is to study the problem of
 unemployment and underemployment among  individuals  with  disabilities,
 and  review  relevant  programs  within  New  York and other states that
 assist in the employment of individuals with disabilities in the  public
 and/or private sectors.
   (b) The task force shall:
   (i)  examine  strategies to increase competitive integrated employment
 of people with disabilities;
   (ii) support the goals of competitive integrated employment,  equality
 of  opportunity,  full  participation,  independent living, and economic
 self-sufficiency for these individuals;
   (iii) ensure that state government is a model employer of  individuals
 with disabilities;
   (iv)  promote  state  efforts to disseminate information to workers on
 state and federal programs that assist individuals with disabilities  in
 seeking and maintaining employment;
   (v)  assist  in the identification and implementation of strategies to
 expand efforts of New  York  state  and  local  government  agencies  to
 recruit,  hire,  and retain in employment individuals with disabilities;
 and
   (vi) coordinate and provide leadership, as necessary, with  regard  to
 efforts to increase inclusion in the workforce of individuals with disa-
 bilities.
   2.  No  later than two years after the appointment of its members, the
 task force shall prepare and submit a report to the governor, the tempo-
 rary president of the senate, and the  speaker  of  the  assembly.  Such
 report  shall provide recommendations on the ways in which the state can
 increase competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabil-
 ities. Such recommendations shall address the topics set forth  in  this
 section.  Each  annual  report  shall be made publicly accessible on the
 websites of the state agencies represented on the task force.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8379A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Disabilities Committee

Bill Amendments

2023-S8379 - Details

2023-S8379 - Summary

2023-S8379 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8379 - Bill Text download pdf

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S8379A

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Sponsored By

Jessica Ramos

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Disabilities Committee

Bill Amendments

2023-S8379 - Details

2023-S8379 - Summary

2023-S8379 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8379 - Bill Text download pdf

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S8379A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments