S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4511
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 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 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;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00022-01-5
 S. 4511                             2
              

   (xiii) two representatives of employment services providers for people
 with disabilities; and
   (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.