HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4482        FILED ON: 1/16/2018

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4168

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Chris Walsh

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to enhance employment outcomes and strengthening workforce development programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

1/16/2018

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

1/18/2018

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

1/18/2018

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

1/18/2018

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

1/18/2018

William M. Straus

10th Bristol

1/18/2018

Tackey Chan

2nd Norfolk

1/18/2018

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

1/23/2018

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/18/2018

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/18/2018

John C. Velis

4th Hampden

1/18/2018

Mathew Muratore

1st Plymouth

1/19/2018

John Barrett

1st Berkshire

1/19/2018

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

1/19/2018

Mark J. Cusack

5th Norfolk

1/19/2018

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

1/22/2018

Diana DiZoglio

14th Essex

1/22/2018

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Bristol

1/22/2018

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

1/22/2018

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

1/22/2018

Thomas P. Walsh

12th Essex

1/22/2018

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/22/2018

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/22/2018

Brian Murray

10th Worcester

1/22/2018

Natalie Higgins

4th Worcester

1/22/2018

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

1/23/2018

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

1/23/2018

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

1/23/2018

William C. Galvin

6th Norfolk

1/23/2018

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

1/23/2018

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

1/23/2018

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

1/24/2018

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

1/24/2018

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

1/24/2018


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4482        FILED ON: 1/16/2018

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4168

By Mr. Walsh of Framingham, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Chris Walsh and others for legislation to establish a center for workforce development programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Department of Career Services.  Labor and Workforce Development.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to enhance employment outcomes and strengthening workforce development programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

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. Chapter 23H: of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 11 the following new section:

Section 12. (a) There shall be established a Statewide Center for Innovation and Change offering workforce development programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The Statewide Center for Innovation and Change shall support staff development and innovation leading to an increased ability to place and support persons with disabilities in typical employment settings. 

(b) The Center shall work with community rehabilitation programs in adopting policies, procedures and practices that increase the placement of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Statewide Center for Innovation and Change shall offer training and intensive technical assistance, as well as program evaluation to those community rehabilitation programs and work with school age children, beginning at age 14 and adults with intellectual disabilities. These individuals may be referred to the Statewide Center for Innovation and Change by the Department of Developmental Services offering employment for such individuals. The Center may partner with the Department of Developmental Services to provide funds to direct service provider agencies in order to modify their structures, increase staff skills and correspondingly increase their placement rates for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities served. 

The Statewide Center for Innovation and Change shall recruit employers to assist in the identification of jobs as well as support the advancement of these individuals in the workplace. The center shall be run by a university center for excellence in disabilities, based at a public research university located in Massachusetts.