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| Public Act 101-0368 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning persons with disabilities.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Customized Employment for Individuals with Disabilities Act. | ||||
Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to assist | ||||
individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or | ||||
similar conditions resulting in a most significant disability | ||||
who seek employment and require more individualized assistance | ||||
to achieve and maintain integrated employment at competitive | ||||
wages through a process of customized planning and negotiation. | ||||
Section 10. Customized Employment Pilot Program. The | ||||
Department of Human Services, through its Division of | ||||
Rehabilitation Services and in collaboration with the Division | ||||
of Developmental Disabilities, shall establish a 5-year | ||||
Customized Employment Pilot Program that serves a minimum of 25 | ||||
individuals by the second year of the Pilot Program. The Pilot | ||||
Program shall include the following components: | ||||
(1) An intensive discovery phase during which the | ||||
unique needs, abilities, and interests of the individual | ||||
will be explored by the individual at his or her direction | ||||
with assistance from family, friends, colleagues, | ||||
advocates, community-based service agencies, and others as | ||
determined by the individual. | ||
(2) A customized person-centered planning process | ||
based upon information gathered during the discovery phase | ||
that involves capturing, organizing, and presenting the | ||
information in a blueprint for the job search. | ||
(3) An employer negotiation process in which job duties | ||
and employee expectations are negotiated to align the | ||
skills and interests of the individual with the needs of an | ||
employer. The negotiation process may result in agreement | ||
on options such as (i) carving out a job for the | ||
individual, (ii) creating a new job description, (iii) | ||
creating a new job, (iv) job-sharing, and (v) agreeing on | ||
job supports, transportation needs, assistive technology, | ||
work hours, location, or supervision needs. | ||
(4) A flexible timeline for a comprehensive discovery, | ||
planning, and job placement process to accommodate the | ||
unique needs of the individual. | ||
The Customized Employment Pilot Program shall be | ||
implemented through an individualized plan for employment | ||
developed by the individual with a disability and the | ||
vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the Division | ||
of Rehabilitation Services. The individual with a disability | ||
may choose to have a personal representative participate in the | ||
development of the individualized plan for employment. | ||
Section 15. Selection of participants. Individuals shall | ||
be identified and referred to the Department to participate in | ||
the Pilot Program by community-based agencies serving persons | ||
with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A team of | ||
individuals identified during the discovery phase shall be | ||
created to work with the individual during the process. The | ||
team shall include at least one qualified staff person as | ||
described in Section 25. Selection preference shall be given to | ||
individuals who are currently working in a sheltered workshop | ||
setting for a subminimum wage and individuals for whom it is | ||
likely that their current employment options will be limited to | ||
working in a sheltered workshop for a subminimum wage. | ||
Section 20. Diversity. Participants in the Pilot Program | ||
shall reflect the geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and | ||
income-level diversity of the State. | ||
Section 25. Community-based agencies and staff | ||
qualifications. The Pilot Program shall utilize a minimum of 4 | ||
Illinois non-profit community-based agencies that must: | ||
(1) assign at least one staff member who has received a | ||
certificate of completion for training in community | ||
employment, with a specialization in customized | ||
employment, from a recognized and qualified training | ||
entity such as the Association of Community Rehabilitation | ||
Educators; and | ||
(2) have access to technical assistance on customized | ||
employment from a recognized and qualified training entity | ||
to work with each participant in the Pilot Program. | ||
Section 30. Data collection and reporting. The Department | ||
shall collect data regarding the successes and challenges of | ||
the Pilot Program and shall submit an annual report to the | ||
Governor and the General Assembly on March 1st of each year | ||
beginning in 2021 until the Pilot Program terminates. The | ||
reports shall: (i) make a recommendation as to whether the | ||
Pilot Program should continue or become a statewide program; | ||
(ii) provide cost estimates, including the average per person | ||
costs; and (iii) recommend ways in which the Pilot Program can | ||
be improved to better serve the needs of individuals with | ||
disabilities and employers. | ||
Section 35. Advice and recommendations. In the creation, | ||
operation, and administration of the Pilot Program, the | ||
Department shall seek the advice and recommendations of the | ||
State Rehabilitation Council, Illinois Council on | ||
Developmental Disabilities, the Illinois Task Force on | ||
Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with | ||
Disabilities, statewide disability advocacy groups, and | ||
organizations representing large, medium, and small | ||
businesses. | ||
Section 40. The Department may adopt administrative rules | ||
governing the Pilot Program; however, the Pilot Program shall | ||
not be delayed pending the adoption of rules.
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