| ||||
Public Act 098-0091 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning employment.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Illinois Employment First Act. | ||||
Section 5. Policy. It is the policy of this State that | ||||
competitive and integrated employment shall be considered the | ||||
first option when serving persons with disabilities of working | ||||
age. This policy applies to programs and services that provide | ||||
services and supports to help persons with disabilities obtain | ||||
employment. All State agencies shall follow this policy and | ||||
ensure that it is effectively implemented in their programs and | ||||
services. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require | ||||
any employer to give preference to hiring persons with | ||||
disabilities. | ||||
Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: | ||||
"Competitive employment" means work in the competitive | ||||
labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time | ||||
basis in an integrated setting and for which an individual is | ||||
compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the | ||||
customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for | ||||
the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not |
disabled. | ||
"Disability" has the meaning ascribed to that term in | ||
Section 10 of the Disabilities Services Act of 2003.
| ||
"Integrated setting" means with respect to an employment | ||
outcome, a setting typically found in the community in which | ||
applicants or eligible individuals interact with non-disabled | ||
individuals, other than non-disabled individuals who are | ||
providing services to those applicants or eligible | ||
individuals, to the same extent that non-disabled individuals | ||
in comparable positions interact with other persons.
| ||
"State agency" means and includes all boards, commissions, | ||
agencies, institutions, authorities, and bodies politic and | ||
corporate of the State, created by or in accordance with the | ||
Illinois Constitution or State statute, of the executive branch | ||
of State government and does include colleges, universities,
| ||
public employee retirement systems, and institutions under the | ||
jurisdiction of the governing boards of the University of | ||
Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State | ||
University, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois | ||
University, Western Illinois University, Chicago State | ||
University, Governors State University, Northeastern Illinois | ||
University, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education. | ||
Section 15. Agency coordination. All State agencies shall | ||
coordinate efforts and shall collaborate within and among such | ||
agencies to ensure that State programs, policies, procedures, |
and funding support competitive and integrated employment of | ||
persons with disabilities. All State agencies shall, whenever | ||
feasible, share data and information across systems in order to | ||
track progress toward full implementation of this Act. State | ||
agencies are authorized to adopt rules to implement this Act. | ||
Section 20. Establishment of measurable goals and | ||
objectives. The Employment and Economic Opportunity for | ||
Persons with Disabilities Task Force established under the | ||
Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with | ||
Disabilities Task Force Act shall establish measurable goals | ||
and objectives for the State to ensure implementation of this | ||
Act and monitor the measured progress toward implementation of | ||
this Act. All State agencies shall fully cooperate with the | ||
Task Force and provide data and information to assist the Task | ||
Force in carrying out its responsibilities. The Task Force | ||
shall include in its annual report a progress report on the | ||
implementation of this Act and any recommendations with respect | ||
to the implementation of this Act.
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
|