STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, Speight and Jasey
SYNOPSIS
Establishes public awareness campaign concerning persons with disabilities and employment.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Human Services Committee with technical review.
An Act establishing a public awareness campaign concerning persons with disabilities and employment and supplementing chapter 16 of Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. 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, shall 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.
b. The public awareness campaign shall 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 division shall 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.
c. The campaign shall identify and profile successful participants who have attained employment from every type of program for persons with disabilities and shall 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 shall include workers across a range of disabilities.
d. The campaign shall 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.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.