ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1015

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 15, 2021

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1015.

     This bill establishes a public awareness campaign concerning persons with disabilities and employment.

     The bill requires the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in conjunction with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, to develop a Statewide public awareness campaign to increase successful employment and to influence the behavior and attitudes about the benefits of work for persons with disabilities.

     Under the bill, the public awareness campaign is required to target the general public, persons with disabilities, and employers in New Jersey, through a variety of media, including television, radio, print, and on the internet.  The bill requires the division to work with existing business groups as well as through mainstream workforce communication channels, including, but not limited to, the Governor’s Office of Economic Growth, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the State Employment and Training Commission.

     The bill requires the campaign to identify and profile successful participants who have attained employment from every type of program for persons with disabilities and to include examples of successful relationships between community based service providers and employers that have led to successful employment and employment retention outcomes for persons with disabilities.  The persons with disabilities profiled are to include workers across a range of disabilities.

     The bill requires the campaign to provide resources and information to employers through the website of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, including, but not limited to:

     (1)   information on best practices for employers hiring and employing persons with disabilities that showcase positive employer practices that lead to successful work experiences;

     (2)   resources for disability etiquette training for co-workers, supervisors, and managers of persons with disabilities;

     (3)   information addressing questions and concerns frequently raised by the business community, including, but not limited to, safety issues in the event of an emergency, legal issues, and accommodation issues;

     (4)   educational resources concerning adaptive technology available for persons with disabilities in the workplace; and

     (5)   a mechanism that makes it clear and easy for employers to find persons with disabilities looking for employment.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.