2021 Legislative Session Enactments
The 2021 legislative session faced significant challenges, as policymakers balanced the needs of their constituents with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, states continued making progress in employment for people with disabilities. At least 33 states and the District of Columbia enacted 90 pieces of legislation relating to the Work Matters policy framework, including state hiring of people with disabilities, transportation, work-based learning, and private-sector capacity building. Below are few notable examples in each policy area. For all enactments, please refer to the disability legislation employment database.
State as a Model Employer
California AB 313: Requires each state agency to develop its own reasonable accommodation policy for individuals with disabilities, consistent with state and federal law, to address requests for reasonable accommodations.
New Jersey A 1597: Establishes the Task Force to Promote Employment by State Agencies of People with Disabilities.
Tennessee HB 112: Creates the State as a Model Employer program to ensure state agencies and departments design and proactively implement best, promising, and emerging policies, practices, and procedures related to the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities.
Getting to Work
Arizona HB 2813: Establishes a regulatory framework for the operation of autonomous vehicles in the state.
Delaware SB20: Clarifies that a person with a special license plate or permit for persons with disabilities may park for an unlimited period where the length of time is otherwise limited and must be able to park in a metered parking space for at least 1 hour. This Act clarifies that it is a violation of the state equal accommodations law to prohibit parking as authorized for a person with a special license plate or permit for persons with disabilities.
Preparing for Work
Florida HB 173: Relates to individual education plan (IEP) requirements for students with disabilities, including implementation of the IEP for transition services for student with disabilities to a postsecondary education and career opportunities.
Maine LD 924: Establishes a task force to study the coordination of services and expansion of educational programs and vocational opportunities for young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities or acquired brain injury.
Oklahoma SB 89: States that children who have individualized education programs pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and who satisfy the graduation requirements through the individualized education program for that student shall be awarded a standard diploma.
Public and Private Sector Employment Strategies
North Dakota HB 1405: Establishes an income tax credit for the employment of individuals with developmental disabilities or severe mental illness.