Bill Text: NJ A4874 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action create "Model Employer for People with Disabilities" program for State government.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-15 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [A4874 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A4874-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action create "Model Employer for People with Disabilities" program for State government.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action to create a "Model Employer for People with Disabilities" program and supplementing chapter 7 of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that:
The United States spends approximately $300 billion annually to support unemployed people with disabilities who could be, and are willing to be, employed. When people with disabilities become employed, they achieve a vocational identity. People with and without disabilities who achieve this vocational identity have more disposable income, pay taxes, purchase more goods and services, and have increased financial security. In addition, people who are gainfully employed are more independent and self-confident, and in many instances, no longer rely on costly government programs and subsidies. New Jersey has policies regarding the employment of people with disabilities and should develop and implement programs to increase the number of employees with disabilities working in State agencies.
b. The Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the Civil Service Commission shall develop and implement a "Model Employer for People with Disabilities" program. The program shall include policies and procedures to increase the number of qualified employees with disabilities working in State agencies. At a minimum, the programs shall include: a review of State agency hiring procedures; placement and advancement opportunities for people with disabilities; and programs to increase outreach activities about job openings to people with disabilities.
The division shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
c. A biannual report shall be prepared and distributed to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report may include recommendations for legislation, and at a minimum, shall include Statewide goals, if any, and a study of government employment patterns for people with disabilities.
d. For the purposes of this act, "State agency" shall mean and include every department, division, office, agency or bureau of this State, or any authority.
2. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
New Jersey currently provides several employment programs and opportunities for people with disabilities. Under this bill, the Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the Civil Service Commission will develop and implement a "Model Employer for People with Disabilities" program. The program will include policies and procedures to increase the number of employees with disabilities working in State agencies. At a minimum, the programs will include a review of State agency hiring procedures, placement and advancement opportunities for people with disabilities, and programs to increase outreach activities about job openings to people with disabilities.
A biannual report will be prepared and distributed by the division. The report may include recommendations for legislation, but at a minimum, it will include any Statewide goals, and a study of government employment patterns for people with disabilities.
