Bill > S729

Introduced Session

This bill would require the State Treasurer (who has the authority, under law, to establish training programs for State employees) to work in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services to: 1) develop a training program to inform all State employees about the laws, and the rules of etiquette, that are applicable to the treatment and accommodation of individuals with intellectual, developmental, or other mental or physical disabilities; and 2) regularly revise and update the training program in order to maintain consistency with current law and practice in this area. At a minimum, the bill would require the training program to include instruction on: 1) the import and substance of the "Americans with Disabilities Act," 42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.; 2) the methods and approaches that can be used to reasonably accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities; and 3) the proper etiquette that is to be used by State employees when working or otherwise interacting with individuals with disabilities. The training program is to be made available to, and implemented by, each State government employer no later than one year after the bill's effective date, and each State government employer is to administer the training program to all of its employees. Individuals who are employed prior to the implementation of the training program will be required to complete the training no later than 180 days after the training program is implemented, and biennially thereafter. Individuals who become employed after the training program is implemented will be required to complete the training no later than 180 days after hiring, and biennially thereafter. Each employee will be required to file a certification with the employer, stating that the employee has completed the training, and the employer will be required to retain those certifications and forward them to the State Treasurer or the Commissioner of Human Services, upon request.

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Fred Madden (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/11/2022)

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Official Document