“An Act relating to eliminating subminimum wage certificates for persons with disabilities; and adding a new section to chapter 49.46 RCW…
Beginning July 1, 2020, no state agency may employ an individual to work under a special certificate issued under RCW 49.12.110 and 49.46.060 for the employment of individuals with disabilities at less than the minimum wage. Any special certificate issued by the director to a state agency for the employment of an individual with a disability at less than minimum wage must expire by June 30, 2020. For the purposes of this section, “state agency” means any office, department, commission, or other unit of state government.”
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation believes that all people can do meaningful work. People with disabilities can work with DVR to get a job and learn about job options. DVR offers tools, services, and support. Jobs can lead to more independence and connect people to their communities. Success in a job can also improve quality of life. DVR has offices all over Washington state and has been a community partner for more than 80 years.”
WA HB 1688: Veterans Resident Student Status (2019)
“An Act relating to resident student status as applied to veterans; and amending RCW 28B.15.012…
“…A student who has separated from the uniformed services with any period of honorable service after at least ninety days of active duty service; is eligible for educational assistance benefits…
(o) A student who is entitled to federal vocational rehabilitation and employment services for veterans with service-connected disabilities under 38 U.S.C. Sec. 3102(a);…”
“An Act relating to eliminating subminimum wage certificates for persons with disabilities; and adding a new section to chapter 49.46 RCW…
Beginning July 1, 2020, no state agency may employ an individual to work under a special certificate issued under RCW 49.12.110 and 49.46.060 for the employment of individuals with disabilities at less than the minimum wage. Any special certificate issued by the director to a state agency for the employment of an individual with a disability at less than minimum wage must expire by June 30, 2020. For the purposes of this section, “state agency” means any office, department, commission, or other unit of state government.”
Washington HB 1199: Health care for working individuals with disabilities (2019)
“It is the intent of the legislature to remove barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities by providing medical assistance to working individuals with disabilities through a buy-in program in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the social security act and eligibility and cost-sharing requirements established by the authority.”
Washington HB 1651: Rights of Persons Receiving State Developmental Disability Service (2019)
“NEW SECTION.S etc. 3. (1) The administration must notify the individual and the individual’s legal representative or necessary supplemental accommodation representative of the rights set forth in this chapter upon determining the individual is an eligible person…
(4) The client has the right to participate in the administration’s service planning. This includes the client’s right to:…
(c) Have the client’s visions for a meaningful life and the client’s goals for education, employment, housing, relationships, and recreation included in the planning process;… (e) Have access to current and accurate information about recreation, education, and employment opportunities available in the client’s community.”
Washington Workforce Board Future of Work Task Force Policy Report (2019)
“Seeking to bring together diverging viewpoints and priorities on how to best foster shared prosperity for all stakeholders, Washington’s 2018 Legislature created and funded the Future of Work project. It’s the first of its kind in the United States, and puts Washington in the spotlight as a thought leader through the creation of a 16-member, tri-partite Task Force made up of legislators, business, and labor leaders. The Task Force was charged with developing a set of policy recommendations that will benefit both Washington’s workers and businesses, with the goal of shared gains for all of the state’s diverse populations and communities….
This report is intended as an outline detailing Washington’s efforts to proactively address the future of work. The report is written with a broad range of audiences in mind, including, but not limited to, policymakers, research institutes, public institutions, academics, and others with a vested interest in the future of work. The report provides an overview chronicling how the Task Force arrived at its final policy recommendations, supported by detailed information related to each policy recommendation and its relevance to the future of work.”
Washington Statewide Veteran Employment Program Report to the Legislature (2019)
“Washington, through executive orders, laws and policies, has expressed the goal of employing more veterans. However, a number of issues are in the way, including the complex application of veterans’ preference, outreach to all veterans, hiring practices, retention policies and other recruitment matters….
Today, Washington has an opportunity to develop an understanding of the uniqueness of veterans and how additional subcategories such as generation, gender, ethnicity, retirement, disabilities or length of service affect veterans’ employment after military service….
By allocating appropriate and enduring resources, Washington can take measured and deliberate steps to improve hiring practices, increase their transparency and be accountable for the results associated with increasing veteran representation in the executive branch workforce.”
“Roads to Community Living is a demonstration project designed to help people with complex, long-term care needs move back into the community. The project is Washington State’s part of a federally funded project called Money Follows the Person. Originally funded in 2007 for 5 years, the Affordable Care Act increased the duration of the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project through 2020.”
“Through this project, Washington State has an opportunity to explore what kinds of services and support help people with complex, long-term care needs successfully move from institutions (such as nursing homes, state hospitals, or ICF-IDs) back into the community.
Project participants have an opportunity to visit or re-visit their ability to live in the community and access additional person-centered services and supports.”
This case study looks at Washington state’s Money Follows the Person demonstration program, Roads to Community Living. The program is responsible for assisting over 2,400 Medicaid beneficiaries with complex long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs in transitioning out of institutions back to community-based care settings. Washington State has been a leader in Medicaid LTSS rebalancing efforts over the last two decades. According to the state, in the early 1990s, 82 percent of long-term care funding went toward institutional services, and by 2010, that percentage dropped to 37 percent.
