AB 2840: Employment opportunities: persons with autism.
- Session Year: 2017-2018
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2018-04-03
Existing law establishes various programs for job training and employment development, including, among others, establishing the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment.
This bill would create a 3-year pilot program in the counties of Sacramento and Los Angeles for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill would provide that the pilot program be administered by the California Workforce Development Board and accomplish specified goals. The bill would require the board to submit a report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022, 2021, regarding information on the success of the program in accomplishing specified goals.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.Existing law establishes various programs for job training and employment development, including, among others, establishing the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a 5-year 3-year pilot program in the counties of Sacramento and Los Angeles for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill would also declare the intent of the Legislature provide that the pilot program be administered by the California Workforce Development Board and accomplish specified goals. The bill would require the board to submit a report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022, regarding information on the success of the program in accomplishing specified goals.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Existing law establishes various programs for job training and employment development, including, among others, establishing the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of Californias workforce investment.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a 5-year pilot program for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill would also declare the intent of the Legislature that the pilot program be administered by the California Workforce Development Board and accomplish specified goals.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.
(b)According to a 2013 report published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, unemployment and underemployment for young adults with ASD is estimated at 90 percent nationwide.
(c)Many employers are unfamiliar with the specific characteristics associated with ASD and thus are unaware of specific employment techniques and strategies that can be instituted with employees to help maximize productivity and increase opportunities for sustained employment.
(d)It is imperative that the state engage young adults with autism in outreach and education efforts so that they can directly help dispel myths, reduce stigma, educate employers, and break barriers to long-term employment. This will not only increase employment opportunities, it will also promote self-advocacy and leadership for this population.
SEC. 2.Article 4 (commencing with Section 14100) is added to Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:4.Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Pilot Program14100.For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1)(a)California Workforce Development Board or board means the California Workforce Development Board established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 14010) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(2)(b)Grant Pilot program means the Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Grant Pilot Program.
(3)(c)Targeted population means adults with autism.
14101.(a)This article establishes the Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Pilot Program to be administered by the California Workforce Development Board. The pilot program shall run for until January 1, 2022, in Sacramento and Los Angeles counties.
(b)The grant program shall be developed and implemented in accordance with the criteria set forth in Section 14102 for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism.
(c)The grant program shall be funded, funded upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(d)The outcomes from the grant program shall be reported pursuant to Section 14104.
14102.The board shall administer the pilot program as follows:
(a)Work with an experienced nonprofit organization on the outreach, selection, training, and compensation of young adults with autism to participate in the program.
(b)In collaboration with stakeholders, create a manual to train employers in building workplace capacity for the targeted population. Young adults selected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall participate in the stakeholder meetings and provide input on the content of the employer manual.
(c)Once the manual is developed pursuant to subdivision (b), implement free employer trainings in Sacramento and Los Angeles counties based on the manual. The trainings shall include participation and personal testimony from young adults selected and trained pursuant to subdivision (a).
14103.(a)The board may administer the pilot program through a contract with a private, non-profit nonprofit organization for coordination and staff support.
(b)Eligible uses of pilot program funds include, but are not limited to, stakeholder outreach, student trainings, employer trainings, administrative resources, and stipends for participating young adults.
14104.By December 31, 2022, 2021, the board shall submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall contain all the following information:
(a)The overall success of the pilot program.
(b)An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program for the targeted population.
(c)A recommendation on the long-term viability of workforce success for the targeted population.
14105.This article shall remain in effect until January 1, 2023, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 3.The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the existing resources available and the unique need to establish a pilot program to assist with the employment of adults with autism in the Counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.
(b)According to a 2013 report published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, unemployment and underemployment for young adults with ASD is estimated at 90 percent nationwide.
(c)Many employers are unfamiliar with the specific characteristics associated with ASD and thus are unaware of specific employment techniques and strategies that can be instituted with employees to help maximize productivity and increase opportunities for sustained employment.
(d)It is imperative that the state engage young adults with autism in outreach and education efforts so that they can directly help dispel myths, reduce stigma, educate employers, and break barriers to long-term employment. This will not only increase employment opportunities, it will also promote self-advocacy and leadership for this population.
SEC. 2.Article 4 (commencing with Section 14100) is added to Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:4.Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Program14100.For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1)California Workforce Development Board or board means the California Workforce Development Board established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 14010) of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(2)Grant program means the Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Grant Program.
(3)Targeted population means adults with autism.
14101.(a)This article establishes Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Pilot Program to be administered by the California Workforce Development Board. The pilot program shall run for until January 1, 2022, in Sacramento and Los Angeles counties.
(b)The grant program shall be developed and implemented in accordance with the criteria set forth in Section 14102 for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism.
(c)The grant program shall be funded, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(d)The outcomes from the grant program shall be reported pursuant to Section 14104.
14102.The board shall administer the pilot program as follows:
(a)Work with an experienced nonprofit organization on the outreach, selection, training, and compensation of young adults with autism to participate in the program.
(b)In collaboration with stakeholders, create a manual to train employers in building workplace capacity for the targeted population. Young adults selected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall participate in the stakeholder meetings and provide input on the content of the employer manual.
(c)Once the manual is developed pursuant to subdivision (b), implement free employer trainings in Sacramento and Los Angeles counties based on the manual. The trainings shall include participation and personal testimony from young adults selected and trained pursuant to subdivision (a).
14103.(a)The board may administer the pilot program through a contract with a private, non-profit organization for coordination and staff support.
(b)Eligible uses of pilot program funds include, but are not limited to, stakeholder outreach, student trainings, employer trainings, administrative resources, and stipends for participating young adults.
14104.By December 31, 2022, the board shall submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. The report shall contain all the following information:
(a)The overall success of the pilot program.
(b)An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program for the targeted population.
(c)A recommendation on the long-term viability of workforce success for the targeted population.
14105.This article shall remain in effect until January 1, 2023, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 3.The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the existing resources available and the unique need to establish a pilot program to assist with the employment of adults with autism in the Counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a five-year pilot program for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the pilot program would be administered by the California Workforce Development Board, and would accomplish all the following goals:(a)Create a curriculum to train employers in building workplace capacity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in collaboration with stakeholders and direct input from young adults with autism and other disabilities.(b)Implement free employer trainings to be led by young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in three counties in California, based on a developed curriculum.(c)Provide workforce and higher education stipends to participating young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a five-year pilot program for the purposes of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the pilot program would be administered by the California Workforce Development Board, and would accomplish all the following goals:
(a)Create a curriculum to train employers in building workplace capacity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in collaboration with stakeholders and direct input from young adults with autism and other disabilities.
(b)Implement free employer trainings to be led by young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in three counties in California, based on a developed curriculum.
(c)Provide workforce and higher education stipends to participating young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Date
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Status
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| May 25, 2018 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May 2, 2018 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 19, 2018 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 4, 2018 | Re-referred to Com. on L. & E. |
| Apr 3, 2018 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 2, 2018 | Re-referred to Com. on L. & E. |
| Mar 22, 2018 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 17, 2018 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 19. |
| Feb 16, 2018 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 18, 2018 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| Autism Speaks | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Center for Autism and Related Disorders | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Herself | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Herself | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Herself | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Herself | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Herself | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Meristem | ** Support | Apr 16, 2018 |
| R Marston | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
Date of Hearing: May 2, 2018
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2840
Author:(Rubio) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2018
Policy Committee: | Labor and Employment | Vote: | 7 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill creates the Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Pilot Program (Program) in the counties of Sacramento and Los Angeles to increase long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism. The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) will administer the three-year Program, which must meet specified goals, including the creation of a manual to train employers in a) building capacity for adults with autism and b) the contents of that manual. The bill states the Program will be funded by a yet-to-happen appropriation by the Legislature.
FISCAL EFFECT:
- Ongoing annual staffing costs in the range of $230,000 for CWDB to implement and manage the Program. The bill states costs will be covered by a General Fund (GF) appropriation; however, the Legislature has yet to make such an appropriation.
- Possible GF costs up to $160,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD) to administer grants. The EDD typically serves as the administrator for grants and contracts related to workforce development.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to supporters, AB 2840 will deviate from other workforce development efforts by preparing employers for workers with autism. The author notes that employers have misperceptions about adults with autism, including that they are not able to hold jobs. Unlike the variety of existing state programs focusing broadly on individuals with disabilities, AB 2840 intends to create a program specifically designed around the employment challenges for workers with autism.
- Background. The Labor and Workforce Development Agency provides workforce development services for persons with disabilities, including autism, through EDD and CWDB. EDD administers two federally-funded programs, the Disability Employment Accelerator and the Disability Employment Initiative, designed to enhance opportunities for people with disabilities. Moreover, CWDB and EDD fund projects through the Workforce Accelerator Fund that design, develop, and implement projects that accelerate employment and re-employment strategies for California job seekers. Recent projects include two tailored to workers with disabilities.
- Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). The CIE program is a partnership between the California Department of Rehabilitation, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Developmental Services, and stakeholders. Similar to the programs described above, CIE aims to provide additional opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities to participate in the California workforce development system.
Analysis Prepared by: Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 18, 2018
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Tony Thurmond, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2840 (
Author:Rubio) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2018
SUBJECT: Employment opportunities: persons with autism
SUMMARY: Creates a three year pilot program in the counties of Sacramento and Los Angeles for the purpose of increasing long-term employment opportunities for young adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. Specifically, this bill:
- Establishes the Breaking Barriers in Employment for Adults with Autism Pilot Program
- Provides that the pilot program be administered by the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) and accomplish specified goals.
- Requires the CWDB to submit a report the Legislature on or before December 31, 2022, regarding information on the success of the program in accomplishing specified goals.
- Makes finding and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento.
EXISTING LAW: Establishes various programs for job training and employment development, including, among others, establishing the California Workforce Development Board (LWDB) as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: The author states, “According to a 2013 report published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, unemployment and underemployment for young adults with autism is estimated at 90% nationwide. While multiple factors can be attributed to the low employment numbers for young adults with ASD, a fundamental component is a lack of understanding of ASD. For instance, many employers, and society at large, have a misperception that individuals with ASD are not able to hold careers – focusing on their social disabilities, rather than seeing their strong abilities for specialized tasks. Individuals with autism can possess extremely high intellect and be very valuable assets to companies when given the opportunity.”
The author continues, “Many employers are unfamiliar with the specific characteristics associated with ASD and thus are unaware of specific employment techniques and strategies that can be instituted with employees to help maximize productivity and increase opportunities for sustained employment. Proper education, outreach, and training of employers can help them take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain individuals with autism. Furthermore, it is critical that the state engage young adults with autism in outreach and education efforts with the employer community. These young adults can directly help dispel myths, reduce stigma, and educate employers. This will not only increase employment opportunities, it will also promote self-advocacy and leadership in these young adults – other critical components to long-term success.
Current Labor and Workforce Development Agency Services for Persons with Disabilities
The Labor and Workforce Development Agency currently provides workforce development services for persons with disabilities, including autism, through the Employment Development Department (EDD) and the CWDB.
The EDD provides assistance to job seekers with disabilities who need additional services to become qualified for employment including referrals to job openings or training, vocational counseling, job search assistance and workshops, testing, and referrals to supportive services in the community. EDD also administers two federally-funded programs designed to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities:
- Disability Employment Accelerator (DEA), which focuses on partnerships between the America’s Job Center of California locations and the business community to recognize the skills and abilities which meet the needs of California employers and accelerate employment and re-employment strategies for individuals with disabilities. The DEA program focuses on creating connections and engaging businesses to develop strategies for people with disabilities to become professionally successful. The DEA’s goal is to fund “ground up” solutions to some of the most difficult challenges that are keeping people with disabilities from achieving success in jobs and careers.
- The Disability Employment Initiative (DEI), which partners with employers to provide services to individuals with disabilities to place them on the path to permanent-secure jobs. The DEI goals are to: improve educational, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits; and to help individuals with disabilities find a path into the middle class through exemplary and model service delivery by the public workforce system.
Through the Workforce Accelerator Fund, the CWDB and EDD funded projects that design, develop, and implement projects that accelerate employment and re-employment strategies for California job seekers. The CWDB and EDD fund projects and partnerships to create and prototype innovative strategies that bridge education and workforce gaps for targeted populations, and initial implementation of promising models and practices in workforce system service delivery infrastructure. Projects accelerate skill development, employment, and reemployment for one or more of the target populations (long-term unemployed, returning veterans, individuals with disabilities, low-income workers, CalWORKS participants, disconnected youth, ex-offenders, and immigrant job seekers).
The Workforce Accelerator Fund goals are:
- Improve labor market and skills outcomes for the target groups through the development of strategies that fill gaps, accelerate processes, or customize services to ensure greater access to workforce services and employment opportunities.
- Implement, replicate and scale successful innovations that emerged from previous Accelerator projects.
- Create new modes for service delivery and funding alignment that can be replicated across the State and tailored to regional needs.
- Leverage State investment with commitments from industry, labor, public, and community partners.
Under Workforce Accelerator Fund two recent projects have focused specifically on workers with disabilities: the California Conservation Corps Foundation project titled The California Conservation Corps Welcomes Youth with Developmental Differences (C3YADD) and the Meristem project, titled Disability Vocational Training Demonstration Project: Innovation, Collaboration, and System Change. C3YADD is a paid public service employment opportunity for youth with developmental differences. The Meristem project is a “social enterprise” project, creating new businesses focused on employing young adults on the autism spectrum. Meristem is the sponsor of this bill.
In addition to these programs, eight California Local Workforce Development Areas (Local Areas) have Disability Resource Coordinators (DRC) to coordinate training and education for staff, organize and facilitate collaborations with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-local areas and organizations. The DRC develops strategies to create systemic change to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. They are located in the following Local Areas: City of Los Angeles, Golden Sierra, Madera County, Merced County, San Francisco, Sacramento Employment and Training Agency, Southeast Los Angeles County, and Verdugo Job Center.
Arguments in Support
Autism Speaks and the Center for Autism and Related Disorders write in support, “Employment is a core feature of living a productive and fulfilling adult life. Motivation, competitive skills and hard work can help adults achieve this goal. While these attributes may be in an individual’s control, the other part of the equation is not – the decision of employers. The unemployment created for individuals with autism is estimated to be as high as 85%. Adults with autism have been a virtually untapped labor pool due to the lac, of understanding and awareness on the part of employers of the employment skills that many of them possess. The majority of this community has skills and potential to succeed in the competitive job market, but employer are only beginning to understand the value they can bring to the work environment.”
Meristem, sponsor of this measure asserts the pilot program, “deviates from past and current workforce development efforts that primarily focus on preparing the individual for the workforce. Instead, this new program will focus on preparing the workforce for the individual – which is the next critical policy step in ensuring long term employment success for this targeted population.”
This bill has no known opposition.
Prior and Related Legislation
AB 1111 (E. Garcia), Chapter 824, Statutes of 2017. Established the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative for the purpose of assisting individuals who have multiple barriers to employment to receive the remedial education and work readiness skills to help them to successfully participate in training, apprenticeship, or employment opportunities that will lead to self-sufficiency and economic stability.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Autism Speaks
Center for Autism and Related Disorders
Meristem
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Richard / L. & E. /
Discussed in Hearing
8MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):