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2016 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Landes
Virginia As Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities (language only)

Item 4-7.01 #1h

Item 4-7.01 #1h

Statewide Plans
Statewide Plans

Language

Page 496, after line 17, insert:

"h.1. The Commonwealth of Virginia shall promote and increase the employment of individuals with disabilities directly employed at all levels and occupations by the Commonwealth's agencies, departments, divisions, subsidiaries and through its state contracts, with a goal to increase employment within state government and through its state contracts by five percent within five years and/or by fiscal year 2022. To assist in achieving this goal as a model employer, the Commonwealth shall: (i) use available hiring authorities, consistent with statutes, regulations and prior Executive Orders; (ii) increase efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities within state government employment by increasing retention and return to work of individuals with disabilities; (iii) expand existing efforts for the recruitment, accommodation, retaining and advancement of individuals with disabilities for positions available in state government; (iv) designate senior-level staff within each agency to be responsible to increase employment of individuals with disabilities within their departments, divisions and subsidiaries; (v) require agencies and departments to prepare a plan to increase opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be employed in the agency and/or department.  The Secretary of Administration shall develop guidance for agencies on the provisions to be included in the development of agency plans. Each agency shall submit its plan to the Secretary of Administration no later than December 31, 2016 and each July 1 annually thereafter.

2. All executive branch agencies, including their state departments and divisions, and subsidiaries shall examine existing policies relating to the employment of individuals with disabilities, which shall include a review of their recruitment efforts, interviewing criteria, testing procedures and resources to accommodate applicants and workers with disabilities.

3. These requirements do not require the Commonwealth to create new positions or to change existing qualification standards for any position.

4. These requirements do not require any state employee or state employment applicant to disclose disability status involuntarily.

5. The Secretary of Administration, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resource Management, shall report the number of individuals with disabilities directly employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, its' agencies, departments, divisions and subsidiaries on an annual basis.  The information shall be included in the Department of Human Resource Management's annual demographic report.   The report shall be in a format to be specified by the Secretary of Administration.  The Secretary of Administration shall make this format available no later than July 1, 2016.

6. The Secretary of Administration shall institute a reporting system to track the Commonwealth's progress in increasing the number of individuals with disabilities directly employed by its' agencies, departments, divisions and subsidiaries. A report on the Commonwealth's progress in meeting the 5% goal by 2022 shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by July 1 of each year.

7. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade, serving as the Chief Workforce Development Advisor, shall include appropriate stakeholders including the Virginia Association Supporting Employment First (VaAPSE), the Virginia Association of Community Rehabilitation Programs (vaACCSES) and other disability employment advocate representatives in the planning and ongoing implementation of Executive Order 46 to advance Virginians with disabilities in the Commonwealth's workforce."



Explanation

(This amendment add language setting forth the policy for the Commonwealth of Virginia to become a model employer of individuals with disabilities.)