SB2538sam001 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Susan Garrett

Filed: 3/11/2008

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2538

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2538 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 405-122 as follows:

(20 ILCS 405/405-122 new)

Sec. 405-122. Employees with a disability. The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, shall develop and implement plans to increase the number of individuals with a disability employed by State government. The Department must submit a report, annually, to the Governor and to the General Assembly concerning its actions under this Section.

Section 10. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-813 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-813 new)

Sec. 605-813. Public awareness campaign concerning disability issues. The Department, in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign designed to increase statewide awareness of issues that affect individuals with a disability. The public awareness campaign must address, without limitation, issues concerning:

(1) the State's duties and responsibilities concerning the employment of individuals with a disability;

(2) the availability of federal income tax credits for taxpayers who employ individuals with a disability;

(3) the availability of federal income tax credits for individuals with disabilities;

(4) the availability of the Medicaid for Working Persons with Disabilities program; and

(5) other programs and services available to individuals with a disability under State and federal law.

Section 15. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 10-27 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-27 new)

Sec. 10-27. Information concerning federal tax credits for hiring employees with a disability.

(a) The Department shall collect information during the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 regarding:

(1) how many employers claim the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit during that time period for employing an employee with a disability;

(2) whether each such employer who claimed the credit is a large businesses or a small businesses; and

(3) whether each employee with a disability for whom the Work Opportunity Tax Credit was claimed is a part-time or full-time employee.

(b) For purposes of this Section:

"Employee with a disability" means an employee of the taxpayer who has been certified by the Department of Human Services as (i) meeting the definition of an "individual with a disability" under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and (ii) having a disability that constitutes an impediment to obtaining or maintaining employment or to making transition from school to work.

"Full-time employee with a disability" means an employee with a disability employed for at least 35 hours per week.

"Part-time employee with a disability" means an employee with a disability employed for at least 15 hours per week.

"Small business" means a business concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field, and employs fewer than 16 employees or has gross annual sales of less than $3,000,000.

"Large business" means a business concern that is not a small business.

(c) The Department must submit a report, annually, to the Governor and to the General Assembly concerning its actions under this Section.

Section 20. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by adding Section 45-85 as follows:

(30 ILCS 500/45-85 new)

Sec. 45-85. Encouragement to hire qualified individuals with a disability. A chief procurement officer may, as part of any solicitation, encourage prospective vendors to consider hiring qualified individuals with a disability and to notify them of any available financial incentives or other advantages associated with hiring such persons.".