Resolve, To Create Improved Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1467
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: STRIMLING, SULLIVAN, CLARK, DRISCOLL, DUPREY, JACKSON, MILLETT, TUTTLE

Legislative Document 
No. 1467 
S.P.515 
March 16,2007 
Resolve, To Create Improved Employment Opportunities for People 
with Disabilities 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senator: SULLIVAN of York, Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, 
DRISCOLL of Westbrook, DUPREY of Hampden, JACKSON of Allagash, MILLETT of 
Waterford, TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Printed on recycled paper 
PART A 
Sec. A-I. Interdepartmental committee. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor shall establish an 
interdepartmental committee, referred to in this Part as "the committee," to develop a 
statewide transition plan to facilitate the implementation of a waiver allowing the 
expansion of supported employment as an alternative for people with developmental 
disabilities who are currently receiving freestanding day habilitation through MaineCare. 
I. The plan developed by the committee must include: 
A. 
An information campaign about employment and the changing practices and 
expectations for employment; 
II 
B. 
Instruction on how to pursue and maintain gainful employment in integrated 
settings in the community and how to seek employment supports, including but not 
limited to benefits counseling; 
C. Training for provider agencies on ways to build capacity to support individuals 
with developmental disabilities in competitive and gainful employment, including 
self-employment; and 
D. 
Training for the Department of Health and Human Services staff and the 
Department of Labor staff to implement the transition. 
2. The committee shall submit its plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor no 
later than January 15,2008; and be it further 
Sec. A-2. Stakeholder committee. Resolved: That the Department of Health 
and Human Services and the Department of Labor shall establish a stakeholder group, 
referred to in this Part as "the group," to design and implement a system of community 
services using existing resources that supports the attainment by persons with 
developmental disabilities of gainful employment in integrated settings in the community. 
1. 
The group must include representatives of employers, service providers, 
consumers, consumer advocates, educators, community advocacy organizations and the 
University of Maine's Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and 
representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of 
Labor and the Department of Education. 
2. The system designed by the group must include: 
A. 
A funding formula that provides incentives to providers to facilitate the 
attainment of employment by persons with developmental disabilities; 
B. A plan that invests in professional development and capacity building for provider 
agencies, including state agencies and case managers; and 
C. A tracking system that facilitates an annual report by the Department of Labor 
and the Department of Health and Human Services to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters regarding the number of 
Page I - 123LRlI62(Ol)-1 
individuals employed, the wages of individuals employed and the contributions in 
taxes resulting from such employment. 
3. 
The group shall propose guidelines for the best practices in supported 
employment, to be incorporated into contracts with provider agencies by July 1, 2008. 
4. The group shall submit its report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor no 
later than January 15, 2008. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1. Public and Private Sector Task Force; creation. Resolved: That, 
in order to facilitate the development and implementation of a media outreach campaign 
that increases awareness and promotes the employment of Maine residents with 
disabilities, the Maine Jobs Council shall convene the Public and Private Sector Task 
Force, referred to in this Part as "the task force," to oversee the development of a 
professional strategic marketing plan by marketing professionals and to identify resources 
for employer outreach. In establishing the task force, the Maine Jobs Council shall invite 
the participation of government agencies, public and private sector employers and people 
with disabilities and their advocates. The Maine Jobs Council shall submit a report 
summarizing the work of the task force to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor no 
later than January 15, 2008; and be it further 
Sec. B-2. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: 
That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Jobs Council 
Initiative: Provides funds to develop a strategic marketing plan and to identify resources 
for employer outreach. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2007-08 
$59,000 
$59,000 
2008-09 
$0 
$0 
I 
This resolve implements the recommendations of the report issued pursuant to Public 
Law 2005, chapter 570. 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
Department of Labor to create an interdepartmental committee to develop a statewide 
transition plan to facilitate the implementation of a waiver allowing the expansion of 
I 
supported employment as an alternative for people with developmental disabilities who 
are currently receiving freestanding day habilitation through MaineCare. 
This resolve also directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
Department of Labor to design and implement a system of community services using 
existing resources that supports the attainment by persons with developmental disabilities 
of gainful employment in integrated settings in the community. 
Finally, this resolve directs the Maine Jobs Council to convene a task force to oversee 
the development of a professional strategic marketing plan by marketing professionals 
and to identity resources for employer outreach. This bill also appropriates funds to 
accomplish this task.