751 Establishing Employment First Policy and Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability implementation plan

DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES

Establishing Employment First Policy and Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability Implementation Plan

[46 Pa.B. 2246]
[Saturday, April 30, 2016]

 The purpose of this notice is to seek public comment on the development of the Commonwealth's implementation plan as directed in Governor Tom Wolf's Executive Order 2016-03, entitled ''Establishing 'Employment First' Policy and Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Pennsylvanians with a Disability.''

 The Executive Order establishes Employment First as the policy of all Commonwealth executive branch agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor and reflects the goal of making the Commonwealth a model state when it comes to creating a climate hospitable to workers with a disability. The Executive Order defines ''Employment First'' as ''competitive integrated employment is the first consideration and preferred outcome of publicly-funded education, training, employment and related services, and long-term supports and services for working-age residents of this Commonwealth with a disability. . . .''

 The definition of ''competitive integrated employment'' under the Executive Order is the definition contained in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Pub.L. No. 113-128) which is work performed on a full or parttime basis (including self-employment) for which a person is:

(1) Compensated at not less than Federal minimum wage requirements or State or local minimum wage law (whichever is higher) and not less than the customary rate paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by people without a disability;

(2) At a location where the employee interacts with people without a disability (not including supervisory personnel or people who are providing services to such employee); and

(3) Presented, as appropriate, opportunities for similar benefits and advancement like those for other employees without a disability and who have similar positions.

 The Executive Order directs the Office of Administration to explore the means to reduce barriers to Commonwealth employment for residents of this Commonwealth with a disability, and directs the Secretaries of the Departments of Education, Human Services, and Labor and Industry, working with other Commonwealth agencies or executive office officials as appropriate, to develop a written plan to implement the Executive Order. The Executive Order is available at https://www.governor.pa.gov/executive_orders/executive-order-2016-03-establishing-employment-first-policy-and-increasing-competitive-integrated-employment-for-pennsylvanians-with-a-disability/.

Public Comment

 The Executive Order requires broad stakeholder input to be sought to inform the development of the plan. The plan is to be submitted to the Governor's Office for review and approval within 120 days of the effective date of the Executive Order.

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Human Services, Steve Suroviec, Special Advisor to the Secretary, 625 Forster Street, Health and Welfare Building, Room 330-C, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments will also be accepted by e-mail at [e-mail]. Comments received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered for development of the plan.

 Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users).

THEODORE DALLAS, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-1015. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-751. Filed for public inspection April 29, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]