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Employment First bill sent to Wolf

Measure targets job opportunities for people with disabilities

Legislation aimed at providing competitive work opportunities for people with disabilities and improving the state’s workforce shortage passed the General Assembly on Tuesday and has been sent to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature.

The Employment First Act, also known as House Bill 1641, calls state agencies to employ individuals with disabilities in no less than 7 percent of the overall state workforce, but would not require state agencies to give preference in hiring these individuals.

“The Employment First Act is designed to provide people with disabilities a range of job options, all at fair compensation — unlike the pay they receive now, which is often well below minimum wage,” state Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Peach Bottom, the bill’s sponsor, said. “I’m calling on the governor to support this important group of people by allowing them to fill vacant positions in their communities rather than keeping them in segregated facilities.”

The bill’s purpose as outlined in the act is to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to achieve “economic independence” in community integrated settings.

John Seely, Empowering Lives executive director, applauded the General Assembly’s approval of the act, commenting on how it will make people with various abilities “more prevalent” in the workforce.

“I think that will be the biggest impact because I think it will inspire job seekers who want to work,” Seely said. “It’ll allow employers to understand better and be more courageous in taking that step to hire different people and to look at different labor pools.”

The bill would not require additional state funding but would instead have state agencies “shift priorities within existing budgets,” according to a statement.

HB 1641 also would establish an oversight commission to set and monitor measurable goals for improving the percentage of workers with disabilities in the state and to issue an annual progress report.

State Rep. John McGinnis, R-Altoona, a supporter of the bill, said it’s a win for everyone involved.

“This is a positive for the intellectually disabled be­cause they can now work in gainful employment without suffering any penalties,” McGinnis said. “It’s a gain for the state because now we’re going to have an expanding workforce, which means expanding revenues for the state. And it’s a gain for employers because many across the state have openings they can’t fill. It’s hard to see any downside here because I don’t think there is any downside.”

There are 33 states with Employment First policies, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First.

Mirror Staff Writer Shen Wu Tan is at 946-7457.

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