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A4435
ASSEMBLY, No. 4435
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes �Employment First Commission.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning competitive integrated employment and
supplementing P.L.1992, c.43 (C.34:15D-1 et seq.).
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� As used in this act:
���� �Commission� means the
�Employment First Commission.�
���� �Commissioner� means the
Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
���� �Competitive integrated
employment� means work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a
full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for which an employee
is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary
wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work
performed by individuals who are not disabled.
���� �Employment First� means the
policy which provides that competitive integrated employment is the first
consideration and preferred outcome of publicly funded education, training,
employment and related services, and long-term services and support for individuals
with a disability.
���� �Integrated setting� means a
work environment in which each employee with a disability has equal opportunity
to interact with co-workers without disabilities.
���� 2.��� There is established in
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the �Employment First
Commission.�
���� a.���� The commission shall
consist of 17 members, as follows:
���� (1)�� the Commissioner of
Labor and Workforce Development or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
���� (2)�� the Commissioner of
Education or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
���� (3)�� the Director of the
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
���� (4)�� the Director of the
Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, or
a designee, who shall serve ex officio;
���� (5)�� the Director of the
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human
Services, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio; and
���� (6)�� twelve members appointed
by the Governor, who shall include: one representative each from the State
Rehabilitation Council; the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities;
the State Centers for Independent Living; the Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired; Disability Rights New Jersey; the Brain Injury Alliance of New
Jersey; and six representatives who are not employed as professionals and who
are individuals with a disability, family members of an individual with a
disability, or advocates who are knowledgeable about the employment of
individuals with a disability.�
���� b.��� Members to the
commission shall be appointed within 60 days following the enactment of this
act.� The Governor shall designate one member to convene an organizational
meeting as soon as possible after the appointment of its members, at which the
commission shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson.� The chair may
appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission.� The
commission shall meet no less than once per month or at the call of the
chairperson.� A majority of all the authorized members shall constitute a
quorum.
���� c.���� Members of the
commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for
reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance
of official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the commission for its purposes.
���� d.
��� The
Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and
Their Families, or the ombudsman�s designee, shall serve as the executive
director of the commission, but shall not be a member of the commission or have
voting authority
.� The executive director shall be responsible for
coordinating the activities and effectuating the decisions of the commission.
���� 3.��� a.� It shall be the
responsibility of the commission to provide input prior to the implementation
of Employment First competitive integrated employment policies affecting
individuals with disabilities.�
���� b.��� The duties of the
commission shall include, but are not limited to:
���� (1)�� compiling and analyzing
available data regarding individuals with disabilities in New Jersey, including
data concerning their needs and the location, provision, and availability of
services and programs, and any other relevant information the commission deems
appropriate in order to assess service utilization, unmet needs, and gaps in
services or existing data, and to make recommendations to improve data
collection, coordination, and information-sharing across State agencies and
programs. �Data sources shall include, but not be limited to, the Department of
Education, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation Services, including the Business Outreach Team, the
State Rehabilitation Council, the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, and relevant advocacy groups;
���� (2)��
working
with the New Jersey Office of Information Technology to develop an Employment
First Internet webpage within the New Jersey Disability Information Hub
and
to determine the content and topics needed to provide employment information for
individuals with disabilities.� The commission shall ensure information on the Employment
First Internet webpage remains current and accessible to all users; and
���� (3)�� making recommendations
to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the potential implementation of
competitive integrated employment as the first option for individuals with
disabilities.� In making recommendations, the commission shall consider, but not
be limited to:
���� (a)�� reviewing available
employment support and services, including opportunities to align policies and
procedures to enhance access to employment supports and services;
���� (b)�� identifying policies and
procedures that create barriers or disincentives for the employment of
individuals with disabilities and ways to reduce or eliminate those barriers or
disincentives; and
���� (c)�� ensuring that the State
workforce development strategy provides for individuals with disabilities,
including strategies to maximize opportunities to hire individuals with
disabilities in the private sector, public sector, and in entities contracting
with the State.
���� c.���� The commission may
consider additional activities, including, but not limited to:
���� (1)�� the State as a Model
Employer of People with Disabilities (SAME) program established pursuant to
P.L.2021, c.466 (C.11A:7-13.6 et seq.); and
���� (2)�� evaluation of
reimbursement rates for direct support professionals who provide employment
support services to individuals with disabilities.
���� 4.��� In support of the
commission, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services shall:
���� a.���� report relevant
activity, news, and progress regarding the potential implementation of
Employment First competitive integrated employment policies to the State
Rehabilitation Council;
���� b.��� communicate with the
Business Outreach Team, within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Services, to develop strategies to engage with employers or industries that
further enhance career opportunities for individuals with disabilities; and
���� c.���� investigate and
determine future engagement with the business community of the State including,
but not limited to, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association and the
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
���� 5.��� The commission shall
issue a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the commission
organizes.� The report shall contain the commission�s findings and recommendations
regarding the implementation of competitive integrated employment policies
affecting individuals with disabilities.
���� 6.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill establishes the
�Employment First Commission.�� The commission will provide input prior to the
implementation of Employment First competitive integrated employment policies
affecting individuals with disabilities.�
���� The bill defines �competitive
integrated employment� as work in the competitive labor market that is
performed on a full-time or part-time basis in an integrated setting and for
which an employee is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than
the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or
similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled.� �Employment First�
is defined as the policy which provides that competitive integrated employment
is the first consideration and preferred outcome of publicly funded education,
training, employment and related services, and long-term services and support
for individuals with a disability.
���� The commission will consist of
17 members, as follows:� the heads of the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, the Department of Education, the Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation Services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Division
of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or their designees, who will serve ex
officio, and twelve members appointed by the Governor, who will include:� one
representative each from the State Rehabilitation Council; the New Jersey
Council on Developmental Disabilities; the State Centers for Independent
Living; the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Disability Rights
New Jersey; the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey; and six representatives
who are not employed as professionals and who are individuals with a
disability, family members of an individual with a disability, or advocates who
are knowledgeable about the employment of individuals with a disability.�
���� The Ombudsman for Individuals
with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, or the
ombudsman�s designee, will serve as the executive director of the commission,
but will not be a member of the commission or have voting authority.
���� The duties of the commission include,
but are not limited to, compiling and analyzing certain data regarding
individuals with disabilities; working with the New Jersey Office of
Information Technology to develop an Employment First webpage; and making
recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the potential
implementation of competitive integrated employment as the first option for
individuals with disabilities.�
���� In support of the commission,
the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services will:
���� (1)�� report relevant
activity, news, and progress regarding the potential implementation of
Employment First competitive integrated employment policies to the State
Rehabilitation Council;
���� (2)�� communicate with the
Business Outreach Team, within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Services, to further enhance career opportunities for individuals with
disabilities; and
���� (3)�� investigate and
determine future engagement with the business community of the State including,
but not limited to, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association and the
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
���� The commission may consider
other initiatives such as the� State as a Model Employer of People with
Disabilities (SAME) program; evaluation of reimbursement rates for direct
support professionals; and utilization of the Business Outreach Team in the
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development to engage with specific employers or industries.