Sen. Laura Fine

Filed: 3/14/2019

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2087

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2087 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to assist
7individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or
8similar conditions resulting in a most significant disability
9who seek employment and require more individualized assistance
10to achieve and maintain integrated employment at competitive
11wages through a process of customized planning and negotiation.
 
12    Section 10. Customized Employment Pilot Program. The
13Department of Human Services, through its Division of
14Rehabilitation Services and in collaboration with the Division
15of Developmental Disabilities, shall establish a 5-year

 

 

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1Customized Employment Pilot Program that serves a minimum of 25
2individuals by the second year of the Pilot Program. The Pilot
3Program shall include the following components:
4        (1) An intensive discovery phase during which the
5    unique needs, abilities, and interests of the individual
6    will be explored by the individual at his or her direction
7    with assistance from family, friends, colleagues,
8    advocates, community-based service agencies, and others as
9    determined by the individual.
10        (2) A customized person-centered planning process
11    based upon information gathered during the discovery phase
12    that involves capturing, organizing, and presenting the
13    information in a blueprint for the job search.
14        (3) An employer negotiation process in which job duties
15    and employee expectations are negotiated to align the
16    skills and interests of the individual with the needs of an
17    employer. The negotiation process may result in agreement
18    on options such as (i) carving out a job for the
19    individual, (ii) creating a new job description, (iii)
20    creating a new job, (iv) job-sharing, and (v) agreeing on
21    job supports, transportation needs, assistive technology,
22    work hours, location, or supervision needs.
23        (4) A flexible timeline for a comprehensive discovery,
24    planning, and job placement process to accommodate the
25    unique needs of the individual.
26    The Customized Employment Pilot Program shall be

 

 

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1implemented through an individualized plan for employment
2developed by the individual with a disability and the
3vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the Division
4of Rehabilitation Services. The individual with a disability
5may choose to have a personal representative participate in the
6development of the individualized plan for employment.
 
7    Section 15. Selection of participants. Individuals shall
8be identified and referred to the Department to participate in
9the Pilot Program by community-based agencies serving persons
10with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A team of
11individuals identified during the discovery phase shall be
12created to work with the individual during the process. The
13team shall include at least one qualified staff person as
14described in Section 25. Selection preference shall be given to
15individuals who are currently working in a sheltered workshop
16setting for a subminimum wage and individuals for whom it is
17likely that their current employment options will be limited to
18working in a sheltered workshop for a subminimum wage.
 
19    Section 20. Diversity. Participants in the Pilot Program
20shall reflect the geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and
21income-level diversity of the State.
 
22    Section 25. Community-based agencies and staff
23qualifications. The Pilot Program shall utilize a minimum of 4

 

 

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1Illinois non-profit community-based agencies that must:
2        (1) assign at least one staff member who has received a
3    certificate of completion for training in community
4    employment, with a specialization in customized
5    employment, from a recognized and qualified training
6    entity such as the Association of Community Rehabilitation
7    Educators; and
8        (2) have access to technical assistance on customized
9    employment from a recognized and qualified training entity
10    to work with each participant in the Pilot Program.
 
11    Section 30. Data collection and reporting. The Department
12shall collect data regarding the successes and challenges of
13the Pilot Program and shall submit an annual report to the
14Governor and the General Assembly on March 1st of each year
15beginning in 2021 until the Pilot Program terminates. The
16reports shall: (i) make a recommendation as to whether the
17Pilot Program should continue or become a statewide program;
18(ii) provide cost estimates, including the average per person
19costs; and (iii) recommend ways in which the Pilot Program can
20be improved to better serve the needs of individuals with
21disabilities and employers.
 
22    Section 35. Advice and recommendations. In the creation,
23operation, and administration of the Pilot Program, the
24Department shall seek the advice and recommendations of the

 

 

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1State Rehabilitation Council, Illinois Council on
2Developmental Disabilities, the Illinois Task Force on
3Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with
4Disabilities, statewide disability advocacy groups, and
5organizations representing large, medium, and small
6businesses.
 
7    Section 40. The Department may adopt administrative rules
8governing the Pilot Program; however, the Pilot Program shall
9not be delayed pending the adoption of rules.".