Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

This bill addresses employment standards for individuals with disabilities.

The bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants to states and certain eligible entities to assist them in transforming their business and program models to support individuals with disabilities by

• providing competitive integrated employment,
• assisting disabled individuals in finding and retaining work in such employment,
• providing integrated employment and integrated community participation and wraparound services for such individuals, and
• ensuring that such services comply with federal regulations for individuals receiving home and community-based services.

The bill also prohibits the issuance of new special certificates that allow payment of subminimum wages to disabled individuals and phases out existing certificates over a four-year period.

The bill directs Labor's Office of Disability Employment to award grants to provide technical assistance and other strategic support to employers transitioning from special certificates to competitive integrated employment for disabled individuals.

Labor must contract with a nonprofit entity to conduct an evaluation of the impact of these transitions.