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2018 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Hanger
Requirements for LTESS and EES Employment Services (language only)

Item 329 #9s

Item 329 #9s

Health and Human Resources
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Language

Page 297, after line 25,insert:

"C.1. Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services shall be provided in the Commonwealth to assist individuals with a significant disability or most significant disability with maintaining employment. The department shall administer such services in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2. Long-Term Employment Support Services shall be provided to individuals with a most significant disability, as defined in 29 U.S.C. § 705, to assist such individuals with maintaining group-supported employment or individual center-based, facility-based, or community-based employment through an employment services organization.  All employment services organizations that provide group-supported, center-based, facility-based, or community-based employment services to individuals with a most significant disability shall be eligible to receive funding for Long-Term Employment Support Services.

3. Extended Employment Services shall be provided to individuals with a most significant disability and individuals with a significant disability, as those terms are defined in 29 U.S.C. § 705, to assist such individuals with maintaining group-supported employment or individual center-based or facility-based employment through an employment services organization. Extended Employment Services funds may also be used to support such individuals that transition from group-supported, center-based, or facility-based employment into community-based employment. Extended Employment Services shall be provided upon the informed choice of the individual being served and in accordance with the Commonwealth's Employment First initiative, federal law and regulation, and the Commonwealth's August 23, 2012, settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.  All employment services organizations that provide group-supported, center-based, or facility-based employment services to individuals with a most significant disability or individuals with a significant disability, or that provide community-based employment services to such individuals transitioning from group-supported, center-based, or facility-based employment, shall be eligible to receive funding for Extended Employment Services.

4. In allocating funds for Long-Term Employment Support Services and Extended Employment Services, the department shall consider recommendations made by the Employment Service Organization Steering Committee.

5.  The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall convene a workgroup of relevant stakeholders that shall include at a minimum representatives of various employment services organisations including Goodwill Industries, staff of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, the Department of Planning and Budget, and appropriate staff from the department.  The purpose of the workgroup is to evaluate combing the EES and LTESS programs and associated funding into one program.  The workgroup shall report its recommendations to the Chairman of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, 2018."

Page 297, line 26, strike "C" and insert "D".

Page 297, line 29, strike "D" and insert "E".

Page 297, line 29, strike "is provided" and insert "shall be used to contract with employment services organizations to support "

Page 297, line 30, after "program." insert "The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall notify the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by September 1 of each year the program allocation by employment services organization."

Page 297, line 31, strike "E" and insert "F".

Page 297, 31, strike "is provided" and insert "shall be used to contract with employment services organizations"

Page 297, line 33, after "program." insert "The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall notify the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by September 1 of each year the program allocation by employment services organization."

Page 297, line 34, strike "F" and insert "G".

Page 297, line 36, strike "G" and insert "H".

Page 297, line 40, strike "H" and insert "I".

Page 297, line 44, strike "I" and insert "J".

Page 297, line 46, strike "J" and insert "K".

Page 297, line 49, strike "K" and insert "L".

Page 297, line 52, strike "L" and insert "M".

Page 298, line 23, strike "M" and insert "N".

Page 298, line 29, strike "N" and insert "O".

Page 298, line 32, strike "O" and insert "P".



Explanation

(This amendment adds language setting out requirements for the Long Term Employment Supports and Extended Employment Services programs.)