Bill Text: WV HCR100 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting the Joint Standing Committee on Government and Finance study existing policies and programs available to assist working age individuals with disabilities
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 10-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-20 - To House Government Organization [HCR100 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HCR100-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 100
(By Delegates Graves, Higginbotham, Caputo, Ellington, Bartlett, Nelson, Sypolt, Pack, Barnhart, Storch and Hanna)
[Introduced February 20, 2020]
Requesting the Joint Standing Committee on Government and Finance study existing policies and programs available to assist working age individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment in the general workforce, and whether an Employment First Policy would benefit the state by aligning available employment resources for these individuals.
Whereas, According to the West Virginia Development Disability Council, 38 states have the Employment First Policy to address the lack of participation in the workforce by people with disabilities. Recent data shows that, in the United States, 37 percent of individuals with disabilities participate in the workforce, compared to 77 percent of those without disabilities;
Whereas, Among all states, West Virginia ranked last in the percentage of individuals with disabilities employed at 26 percent and is also last in terms of individuals with cognitive disabilities employed, at 19 percent;
Whereas, The end result of this data is that too many West Virginians with disabilities are living lives of poverty, highly dependent on public benefits, which impacts the quality of not only their own lives but the lives of their families, and the communities they live in;
Whereas, The West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health has reported that 65 percent of individuals are served in facility-based and non-working settings, while only 18 percent of funding is going toward integrated employment;
Whereas, Individuals with disabilities represent a major untapped labor force that can meet the needs of employers and businesses, and these individuals have the right to pursue the full range of available employment opportunities, and to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing, based on their talents, skills, and interests;
Whereas, We have the benefit of incredible advancements in the knowledge and understanding of how even those with significant disabilities can become successfully employed, and, with the right job match and the right supports, individuals who were previously considered unemployable can be successful additions to the workplace;
Whereas, An Employment First Policy recognizes that employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome in the provision of publicly funded services for working age individuals with disabilities. The policy could help West Virginia make a systematic effort to include individuals with disabilities in the workforce and align resources to support these individuals. Examples of supports include accommodations and assistive technology, assistance with managing the impact of earnings on public benefits, and assistance with transportation;
Whereas, An Employment First Policy prioritizes competitive integrated employment for those with disabilities who need some type of publicly funded supports, but other services, such as nonwork day programs, could also be available;
Whereas, Implementation of Employment First principles should be based on clear public policies and practices that ensure the employment of individuals with disabilities within the general workforce is a priority for public funding and service delivery, and should incorporate existing programs and services in the state that benefit and support West Virginians with disabilities; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Standing Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study West Virginia’s existing policies and programs available to assist working age individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment in the general workforce, and whether an Employment First Policy would benefit the state by aligning available employment resources for these individuals; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Standing Committee on Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2021, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Standing Committee on Finance.
