1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; providing vocational services for individuals with 
1.3 	disabilities; requiring reports.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. DIRECTION TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF HUMAN SERVICES, 
1.6 	EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; PLAN 
1.7 	TO EXPAND COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS 
1.8 	WITH DISABILITIES.
 1.9 		Subdivision 1.Plan for expanding competitive integrated employment for 
1.10 	Minnesotans with disabilities statewide. The commissioners of human services, education, 
1.11 	and employment and economic development, in consultation with local education agencies, 
1.12 	lead agencies in the seven-county metropolitan area and greater Minnesota, disability 
1.13 	advocacy organizations, employment service providers, private businesses, individuals with 
1.14 	disabilities, and other stakeholders and interested parties, shall develop a coordinated plan 
1.15 	to expand competitive integrated employment options for individuals with disabilities, 
1.16 	including but not limited to:
1.17 	(1) transition-age youth with disabilities between the ages of 14 and 24;
1.18 	(2) individuals with significant support needs;
1.19 	(3) individuals with mental illness;
1.20 	(4) individuals for whom competitive integrated employment has not traditionally 
1.21 	occurred;
2.1 	(5) individuals for whom competitive integrated employment has been interrupted or 
2.2 	intermittent as a result of the individual's disability;
2.3 	(6) individuals who selected competitive integrated employment in their most recent 
2.4 	career counseling and referral assessment;
2.5 	(7) individuals with an interest in engaging in a training or postsecondary program 
2.6 	leading to employment with or without supports; or
2.7 	(8) individuals with a demonstrated need for intensive ongoing support services or 
2.8 	extended services in order to perform competitive integrated work.
2.9 		Subd. 2.Plan requirements.  The plan must include recommendations to:
2.10 	(1) align funding to support informed decision-making and individualized employment 
2.11 	outcomes;
2.12 	(2) create incentives for competitive integrated employment services for people with 
2.13 	disabilities;
2.14 	(3) build capacity for increased demand on competitive integrated employment services 
2.15 	and supports, including customized employment and other individualized options;
2.16 	(4) provide equitable access to competitive integrated employment and employment 
2.17 	services for individuals with disabilities who experience unique barriers, including but not 
2.18 	limited to:
2.19 	(i) people of color and American Indians;
2.20 	(ii) residents of greater Minnesota;
2.21 	(iii) individuals with disabilities and mental illness who are not eligible for Medicaid 
2.22 	waivers; and
2.23 	(iv) other populations as identified by the commissioners and stakeholders;
2.24 	(5) create and expand partnership initiatives with private businesses to employ individuals 
2.25 	with disabilities and to help address labor shortages across industry segments;
2.26 	(6) educate employers about accommodations in the workplace and supports available 
2.27 	in implementing these accommodations;
2.28 	(7) support small businesses owned and actively operated by individuals with disabilities;
2.29 	(8) expand microgrants to support the employment of individuals with disabilities at 
2.30 	minimum wage or higher;
3.1 	(9) provide training and technical assistance for disability service providers transitioning 
3.2 	to support competitive integrated employment; and
3.3 	(10) identify best practice standards in community integration for day services that 
3.4 	support individuals with disabilities who do not choose paid employment.
3.5 		Subd. 3.Reports. By January 15, 2021, January 15, 2022, and January 15, 2023, the 
3.6 	commissioners shall jointly submit a report outlining the plan to the chairs and ranking 
3.7 	minority members of legislative committees with jurisdiction over employment services 
3.8 	for individuals with disabilities and to stakeholders engaged in the process of developing 
3.9 	the report. The report must include legislative recommendations for implementing the plan. 
3.10 	The report must also include summary data as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02, 
3.11 	subdivision 19, including:
3.12 	(1) the number of individuals with disabilities who have completed either career 
3.13 	counseling information and referrals or MnCHOICES assessments and indicated a preference 
3.14 	for competitive integrated employment:
3.15 	(i) by age;
3.16 	(ii) by county of residence; and
3.17 	(iii) by type of home and community-based services or vocational rehabilitation services 
3.18 	accessed;
3.19 	(2) the number of individuals with disabilities who have secured customized competitive 
3.20 	integrated employment:
3.21 	(i) by duration of employment in an integrated setting;
3.22 	(ii) by the number of hours per week worked in an integrated setting;
3.23 	(iii) by types of employer; and
3.24 	(iv) by hourly wage;
3.25 	(3) range, distribution, median, and average earnings of individuals with disabilities 
3.26 	prior to moving into competitive integrated employment;
3.27 	(4) the ability or inability of service providers to meet individuals' demand for competitive 
3.28 	integrated employment supports statewide, including through the use of customized 
3.29 	employment;
4.1 	(5) data from states that have phased out the use of 14c certificates and a subminimum 
4.2 	wage, showing the number of adults with disabilities employed, average hours worked, and 
4.3 	average hourly wages earned before and after subminimum wage was eliminated; and
4.4 	(6) other summary data as identified and agreed upon by the commissioners.