Work Matters Policy Framework: Reviewing 2017 Legislative Actions
State legislatures across the country were active in 2017 passing legislation impacting employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
This was the first legislative session following the release of Work Matters: A Framework for States on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities. Together, NCSL and the Council of State Governments published Work Matters in December 2016 after a bipartisan national task force of state legislators, governors, state regulators, and private industry representatives identified dozens of state policy options states can pursue to increase employment among people with disabilities.
The report was part of the ongoing State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). SEED assists states in fostering employment success for people with disabilities through meaningful policies that promote disability-inclusive workforce development.
- Laying the groundwork.
- Preparing for work.
- Getting to and accessing work opportunities.
- Staying at work.
- Supporting Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship.
As a partner organization in SEED, NCSL analyzed 230 enacted bills across 44 states from the 2017 legislative sessions related to disability employment seeking to identify those bills that align with the Work Matters policy framework. We identified 51 bills from 28 states that directly relate to policy options identified in the Work Matter framework. Those bills are summarized below:
Laying the Groundwork
This policy area includes legislation that establishes a broad policy environment that embraces inclusiveness and supports disability employment. Key policies identified in the Work Matters framework include:
- The state serving as a model employer,
- State incentives for the business sector that promote hiring people with disabilities,
- Training programs that raise awareness about disability etiquette and inclusiveness,
- Optimizing resources through interagency collaboration.
| State |
Bill Number |
Bill Sponsor |
Bill Title |
Work Matters Policy |
| Arizona |
HB 2214 |
Leach (R) |
Arizona Disabilities Act and Income Tax Subtraction |
Private Sector Incentives |
| California |
SB 728 |
Newman (D) |
State Public Employees: Sick Leave: Veterans |
State as Model Employer, Return-to-work |
| California |
SB 731 |
Newman (D) |
Public School Employees: Veteran Leave of Absence |
State as Model Employer, Return-to-work |
| California |
AB 1111 |
Garcia E (D) |
Removing Barriers to Employment Act: Breaking Barriers |
Interagency Collaboration |
| Illinois |
HB 2782 |
Jimenez (R) |
Employment and Economic Opportunity |
State as Model Employer |
| Indiana |
SB 390 |
Stoops (D) |
Employment of Individuals With Disabilities |
Interagency Collaboration |
| Louisiana |
HB 253 |
Smith P (D) |
Exceptional Persons |
Raising Awareness |
| Maryland |
HB 1466 |
Young P (D) |
Disabled Veterans |
State as Model Employer |
|
North
Dakota
|
HB 1135 |
Human Services Cmt |
Disabled Employment Consolidation |
State as Model Employer |
|
New
Jersey
|
SB 2721 |
Vitale (D) |
Person-First Language and Pejorative Terminology Change |
Raising Awareness |
| Nevada |
AB 192 |
Sprinkle (D) |
Temporary Limited Appointment of Disabled Persons |
State as Model Employer |
| Nevada |
SB 516 |
Commerce, Labor, and Energy Cmt |
Workforce Innovation and Apprenticeships |
Interagency Collaboration |
| Nevada |
AB 309 |
Cohen (D) |
Employment of Veterans and Certain Widows and Widowers |
State as Model Employer |
| Tennessee |
HB 165 |
Pitts (D) |
Hiring Preference to Veterans |
State as Model Employer |
| Texas |
SB 2027 |
Rodriguez Jo (D) |
Training and Employment for Intellectually Disabled |
State as Model Employer |
| Virginia |
HB 2425 |
Anderson (R) |
Employment Of Individuals With Disabilities |
State as Model Employer |
| Washington |
HB 1802 |
Reeves (D) |
Shared Leave in State Employment |
State as Model Employer, Return-to-work |
| Wyoming |
SB 53 |
Joint Interim Trans, Highways & Military |
Veterans Public Employment |
State as Model Employer |
Preparing for Work
This policy area includes legislation that strengthens programs designed to prepare students and adults with disabilities with the necessary skills to successfully enter the workforce. Key policies identified in the Work Matters framework include:
- Education policies that prepare all youth—including those with disabilities—for college and a career,
- Supporting work-based learning programs inclusive of people with disabilities,
- Promoting meaningful family engagement throughout the education and career development process.
Getting to and Acccessing Work Opportunities
This policy area includes legislation that improves access to transportation services and promotes accessibility within the workplace. Key policies identified in the Work Matters framework include:
- Widely available and accessible transportation options for people with disabilities,
- Accessible information and communication technologies in the workplace.
| State |
Bill Number |
Bill Sponsor |
Bill Title |
Work Matters Policy |
| Colorado |
SB 213 |
Moreno (D) |
Automated Driving Motor Vehicles |
Accessible Transportation |
| Colorado |
SB 11 |
Lambert (R) |
Transportation Access for People With Disabilities |
Accessible Transportation |
| Connecticut |
HB 7126 |
Joint Insurance and Real Estate |
Transportation Network Companies |
Accessible Transportation |
| Florida |
HB 221 |
Sprowls (R) |
Transportation Network Companies |
Accessible Transportation |
| Florida |
HB 371 |
Ausley (D) |
Assistive Technology Devices |
Accessible Technology |
| Maryland |
SB 180 |
Peters (D) |
Independent Living Tax Credit Act |
Accessible Housing |
|
New
Jersey
|
AB 3695 |
Lagana (D) |
Transportation Network Companies |
Accessible Transportation |
|
Rhode
Island
|
HB 5241 |
O'Brien (D) |
Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction |
Accessible Transportation |
| Washington |
HB 2003 |
Kloba (D) |
Special Parking Privileges |
Accessible Transportation |
Staying at Work
This policy area includes legislation that supports workers experiencing a medical condition that challenges their ability to work. These policies are intended to help those workers stay on the job or re-enter the workforce following a leave of absence. Key policies identified in the Work Matters framework include:
- Supporting employee retention in the event of injury, illness or a change in status of an individual’s disability.
- Tax deductions for contributions to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts.
| State |
Bill Number |
Bill Sponsor |
Bill Title |
Work Matters Policy |
| California |
SB 218 |
Dodd (D) |
ABLE Act Accounts revisions |
ABLE Accounts |
| Connecticut |
HB 7032 |
Joint Banking Committee |
Qualified ABLE Program: Tax-Advantaged Savings Account |
ABLE Accounts |
| Delaware |
HB 145 |
Paradee (D) |
Special Savings Accounts |
ABLE Accounts |
| Idaho |
HB 41 |
Health and Welfare Committee |
Individuals With Disabilities |
ABLE Accounts |
| Maryland |
HB 448 |
Bromwell (D) |
Better Life Experience Program |
ABLE Accounts |
| Maine |
HB 428 |
Fecteau (D) |
Vocational Rehabilitation |
Stay-at-work/Return-to-work |
| Mississippi |
SB 2311 |
Blackwell (R) |
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act |
ABLE Accounts |
|
North
Dakota
|
SB 2124 |
Government and Veterans Affairs Committee |
Better Life Experience Plan |
ABLE Accounts |
| Oregon |
SB 476 |
Boquist (R) |
Definition of Preferred Worker Addition |
Stay-at-work/Return-to-work |
| Oregon |
SB 1027 |
Hayden (R) |
ABLE Accounts |
ABLE Accounts |
| Utah |
SB 199 |
Weiler (R) |
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act Revisions |
ABLE Accounts |
Supporting Self-employment and Entrepreneurship
This policy area includes legislation that increases access and opportunity for new and existing business owners with disabilities through entrepreneurship training and business incentives and supports. Key policies identified in the Work Matters framework include:
- State support for professional development opportunities for people with disabilities.
- State procurement and contract preferences for disability-owned business.
| State |
Bill Number |
Bill Sponsor |
Bill Title |
Work matter Policy |
| Illinois |
HB 2698 |
Turner (D) |
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Illinois |
SB 2012 |
Weaver (R) |
Income Tax |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Kansas |
HB 2356 |
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Cmt |
Certification of Businesses |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Kentucky |
HB 161 |
Johnson (R) |
Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Maryland |
HB 1446 |
Hayes (D) |
Blind Industries |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Tennessee |
HB 1276 |
Lovell (R) |
Disability-Owned Businesses |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Virginia |
HB 2396 |
Hope (D) |
Public Procurement Act |
Disability-owned Businesses |
| Virginia |
SB 1334 |
Ruff (R) |
Public Procurement Act |
Disability-owned Businesses |