Session Laws

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to immediately change the name, membership and purpose of the commission on employment of the handicapped, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 17 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 24, the words "employment of the handicapped" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the employment of people with disabilities.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out the caption preceding section 105, as so appearing.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out section 105, as amended by section 4 of chapter 177 of the acts of 1990, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 105. There shall be a commission on the employment of people with disabilities, in this section and sections one hundred and six and one hundred and seven called the commission, consisting of the secretary of communities and development, the secretary of consumer affairs and business regulation, the secretary of economic affairs, the secretary of human services, the secretary of labor, the secretary of transportation and construction, the commissioner of the Massachusetts commission for the blind, the commissioner of the commission for the deaf and hard of hearing, the commissioner of corrections, the commissioner of education, the commissioner of employment and training, the commissioner of industrial accidents, the commissioner of labor and industries, the commissioner of medical security, the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of public health, the commissioner of public welfare, the commissioner of social services, the commissioner of youth services, the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, the commissioner of veterans' services, the chancellor of the board of regents of higher education, the chairman of the Massachusetts developmental disabilities council, the director of the office of affirmative action, the director of the Massachusetts office on disability, and the personnel administrator of the department of personnel administration, or their respective designees, who shall serve as ex officio members, and twenty-eight members to be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall represent rehabilitation programs, three of whom shall represent industry, three of whom shall represent employment boards, two of whom shall represent labor, two of whom shall represent education, and one of whom shall represent veterans' organizations. It is encouraged that the majority of the remaining appointive members be persons with disabilities. A chairperson or co-chairpersons shall be named by the governor from among the said remaining appointive members. The chairperson or co-chairpersons may appoint additional individuals to serve as ex officio members. Of the appointive members, seven shall be designated in their initial appointment to serve for terms of one year, seven for terms of two years, seven for terms of three years and seven for terms of four years. Upon the expiration of the initial term of an appointive member, his successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of four years. The governor shall in like manner fill any vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

SECTION 4. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out section 106, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 106. The commission shall promote employment to maximize the independence, productivity, and integration of all citizens in the commonwealth with disabilities. Said purposes shall be accomplished through the encouragement and advocacy by the commission of the following: (i) plans to promote, develop, and coordinate effective education, transition, employment and training services to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities at the state and local levels; (ii) the development of and access to educational programs that will enable students with disabilities to enter employment; (iii) the dissemination of information about available services and resources to persons who are disabled, families, advocates, and employers; (iv) the creation of greater awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities; (v) the expansion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors; (vi) the creation of work environments which enable persons with disabilities to achieve their full potential; and (vii) the acceptance, appreciation, and support of such persons by employers and employees.

SECTION 5. Section 107 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 10, the words "handicapped persons" and inserting in place thereof the words:- people with disabilities.

SECTION 6. Section 189 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the words "chairman of the commission on employment of the handicapped" and inserting in place thereof the words:- chairperson of the commission on the employment of people with disabilities.

SECTION 7. Section 17 of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 12, the words "the handicapped" and inserting in place thereof the words:- people with disabilities.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect on February first, nineteen hundred and ninety-one.