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Public Act 101-0368
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| SB2087 Enrolled | LRB101 08779 KTG 53866 b |
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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.
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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.
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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, |
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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.
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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.
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Section 20. Diversity. Participants in the Pilot Program |
shall reflect the geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, and |
income-level diversity of the State.
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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 |
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(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.
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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.
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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.
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