,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eji ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #e1 #bjac ,mr4 ,harper 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,mc,morris ,rodgers7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc to authorize grants for the transition of youths with significant disabilities to adulthood1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transition toward ,excellence1 ,achievement1 and ,mobility through ,employment ,act of #bjac or ,,team-,employment ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings and purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way should diminish the opportunity of citizens with disabilities1 including individuals with the most significant disabilities1 for full participation in society 7including school1 work1 family1 social engagement1 interpersonal relationships1 and community71 independent living1 and economic self sufficiency4 7#b7 ,self-determination and informed choice are essential elements in all program and service options4 7#c7 ,work for pay 7employment7 is a valued activity both for individuals and society4 ,employment provides both tangible and intangible benefits4 ,employment helps people achieve independence and economic self-sufficiency4 ,employment also gives people purpose1 dignity1 self-esteem1 and a sense of accomplishment and pride as well as an ability to contribute to society as a whole4 7#d7 ,individuals with disabilities1 including those with the most significant disabilities1 should enjoy a presumption that they can achieve integrated employment with appropriate services and supports4 7#e7 ,more than #cj years of research and experience demonstrates that all youth1 including youth with disabilities1 achieve better outcomes when they have access to-- 7,a7 high-quality standards-based education in an inclusive setting2 7,b7 information about career options and exposure to the world of work1 including structured internships2 7,c7 participation in post-secondary education2 7,d7 opportunities to develop social1 civic1 and leadership skills2 7,e7 strong connections to caring adults2 7,f7 safe places to interact with their peers2 and 7,g7 support services and specific accommodations to allow them to become independent adults4 7#f7 ,the diverse and complex needs of today's youth cannot be met by one's family1 school district1 government program1 or private organization acting alone4 ,the successful transition of all youth to adulthood and a productive1 independent1 self-sufficient life demands coordination and collaboration across agencies1 along with an integrated services approach to serving youth at the ,federal1 ,state1 and local levels4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are the following3 7#a7 ,to create a systemic focus on cultivating the high expectations for youth with significant disabilities to transition successfully into adulthood and be able to work in integrated employment1 earn a liveable wage1 and live independently in integrated communities through public policies that advance equality of opportunity1 informed choice1 employment first principles1 and economic self-sufficiency4 7#b7 ,to promote innovative strategies to foster academic1 professional1 and social inclusion1 and the solidification of long-term services and supports required to ensure full integration into the society 7including school1 work1 family1 social engagement1 interpersonal relationships1 and community living74 7#c7 ,to better define and coordinate specific services related to the effective transition of youth with significant disabilities4 7#d7 ,to eliminate barriers and provide incentives for multiple stakeholders to collaborate and improve transition services for youth with significant disabilities4 7#e7 ,to create a holistic system across multiple ,federal1 ,state1 and local public entities promoting employment first strategies and the successful transition of youth with significant disabilities into adulthood through strengthened coordination among and between public entities1 including the alignment of planning processes1 implementation systems1 and funding streams4 7#f7 ,to align1 enhance1 and improve performance and accountability measures among public entities involved in the transition of youth with significant disabilities into adulthood4 7#g7 ,to provide financial incentives to ,states to align their planning processes across and within public entities involved in transitioning1 strengthen and coordinate regulations to ensure cross-agency emphasis on the promotion of employment first policies and practices1 and rebalance resources toward an employment first paradigm to focus on the preferred outcomes of advancing integrated employment1 economic self-sufficiency1 independent living1 and community participation for youth and adults with significant disabilities4 7#h7 ,to ensure proper level of professional development training of publicly financed service delivery professionals involved in the transition of youth with significant disabilities into adulthood on evidence-based promising practices4 #c4 ,definitions 7a7 ,assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs ,section #g7b7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje7b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,b7-- 7,a7 in clause 7iii71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in clause 7iv71 by adding and at the end2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following new clause3 7v7 uses1 to the maximum extent possible1 information obtained from experiences in integrated employment settings in the community and other integrated community settings1 and does not include information from assessments of experiences in sheltered workshops and similar segregated settings2 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 ,such term shall be based on the presumption that the individual is capable of attaining post-secondary education1 integrated employment1 or both4 4 7b7 ,supported employment ,section #g7ce7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje7ce77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking 1 or employment in integrated work settings in which individuals are working toward competitive work and inserting or integrated employment2 and 7#b7 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting the following new subparagraph3 7,b7 ,minimum compensation and other requirements ,such term includes placement in individual integrated employment settings and not in enclave or segregated settings1 at the greater of minimum or competitive wages that are paid for by the employer1 with benefits comparable to benefits of other employees4 4 7c7 ,supported employment services ,section #g7cf7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje7cf77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,c7-- 7,a7 by striking #ah months and inserting #dh months2 and 7,b7 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs3 7,d7 maximize integration of the individual within the workplace1 with emphasis on facilitating the use of existing natural supports supplemented as necessary with staff supports paid for through funds authorized by the designated ,state unit2 and 7,e7 allow for activities related to customized employment1 or a set of activities implemented during the search for employment leading to an integrated employment outcome for an individual with a disability1 which includes a negotiated relationship with an employer that focuses on unmet needs and other specific value-added to employers rather than open1 demand job slots2 and a process of discovery1 job seeker exploration1 development of descriptive profile documents1 individualized employment planning1 development of innovative representation materials1 completion of an employer needs analysis1 job negotiation and representation by a job developer as determined by the individual4 4 7d7 ,transition services ,section #g7cg7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje7cg77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,the term and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,the term 2 7#b7 by inserting and customized employment after supported employment2 7#c7 by inserting 1 asset development services after adult services2 7#d7 by striking ,the coordinated set of activities and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,coordinated set of activities ,the coordinated set of activities 2 7#e7 by striking objectives1 and inserting the following3 objectives2 school-based preparatory experiences1 career preparation1 and integrated work-based learning experiences 7inclusive of in-school1 after school and work experiences outside the traditional school setting where other youth without disabilities are engaged in similar activities72 youth development and leadership2 connecting activities2 training in self-advocacy1 self-determination skills1 and peer mentoring2 family involvement and supports22 and 7#f7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,c7 ,rule of construction ,such term does not include the use of facility-based employment and activity settings1 such as sheltered workshops1 day habilitation centers1 and enclave work settings4 ,additionally1 the coordinated set of activities should lead to the attainment of at least one of the following outcomes3 post-secondary education1 long-term integrated employment 7including supported employment or customized employment71 asset development1 independent living1 and community participation4 4 7e7 ,other definitions ,section #g of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje7 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs3 7#dj7 ,asset development ,the term asset development means a strategy to assist low-income workers and job seekers1 including individuals with disabilities1 move toward economic security and greater financial self-sufficiency through income preservation1 effective money and credit management1 the pursuit of post-secondary education1 the purchase of a home1 business startup and growth1 and the setting aside of resources for longer-term needs and retirement4 7#da7 ,asset development services ,the term asset development services means services relating to asset development1 including services such as financial education1 tax filing assistance and access to beneficial tax credits and other provisions1 and use of social security work incentives and individual development accounts 7,i,d,as7 and coordination with other savings programs1 including family self-sufficiency programs1 college savings accounts1 and home and small business ownership assistance4 7#db7 ,integrated employment ,the term integrated employment means work compensated at the greater of minimum wage or competitive wages with related employment benefits1 occurring in a typical work setting where the employee with the disability interacts or has the opportunity to interact continuously with non-disabled co-workers1 has an opportunity for advancement and mobility1 and is preferably engaged in full-time employment4 4 #d4 ,demonstration and training programs 7a7 ,in general ,section #cjc7;b77#a7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ggc7;b77#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence3 ,the ,commissioner may provide up to #aj grants to or enter into #aj contracts with 7or a combination thereof1 not to exceed a total of #aj grants and contracts7 eligible entities under this subsection during a fiscal year4 ,a grant provided or contract entered into under this subsection shall be provided or entered into1 as the case may be1 for a period of five years4 ,an eligible entity may not receive more than one grant or enter into more than one contract during a five-year period44 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by subsection 7a7 takes effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act and applies with respect to grants provided under section #cjc7;b7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc for fiscal years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #e4 ,grants for transition of youths with significant disabilities to adulthood 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iii of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gga et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #cjg4 ,grants for transition of youths with significant disabilities to adulthood 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,braided funding ,the term braided funding means a resource utilization strategy to maximize the efficient access and use of existing resources through the coordination1 sequencing1 and integration of available funding from multiple public agencies and private sources4 7#b7 ,customized employment ,the term customized employment means a set of strategies implemented during the search for employment leading to an integrated employment outcome for an individual with a disability1 which includes the following components3 7,a7 ,a negotiated relationship with an employer that focuses on unmet needs and other specific value-added to the employer rather than open1 demand job slots4 7,b7 ,a process of discovery1 job seeker exploration1 development of descriptive profile documents1 individualized employment planning1 innovative representation materials1 employer needs analysis1 and representation by a job developer4 7#c7 ,employment first ,the term employment first-- 7,a7 means a delivery model of publicly financed supports for individuals with disabilities1 including individuals with significant disabilities and individuals with the most significant disabilities1 that effectuates on a systemic basis the presumption of integrated employment as the primary or preferred employment outcome of such individuals2 and 7,b7 includes policies1 practices1 and procedures promulgated through ,federal and ,state governmental entities1 including policies1 practices1 and procedures requiring that public systems have a statutory responsibility to provide services that align their priorities1 funding and reimbursement practices1 and policies and guidance to promote1 encourage1 incentivize1 and prioritize services and supports that lead to integrated employment outcomes4 7#d7 ,person-centered planning process ,the term person-centered planning process means a process that enables and assists a youth with a significant disability to identify and access a personalized mix of paid and non-paid services and supports that will assist such youth to achieve individually defined outcomes in the most integrated community setting4 7#e7 ,state ,intellectual and ,developmental ,disabilities ,agency ,the term ,state ,intellectual and ,developmental ,disabilities ,agency means the primary ,state agency or subdivision with administrative1 programmatic1 and operational responsibility for the full range of services and supports furnished to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities4 7#f7 ,youth with a significant disability ,in this subsection1 the term youth with a significant disability means an individual who-- 7,a7 is an individual with a significant disability or an individual with a most significant disability2 and 7,b7 has attained the age of #ad but has not attained the age of #bg4 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjah1 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,special ,education and ,rehabilitative ,services1 in cooperation with the officials specified in paragraph 7#b71 is authorized to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out the activities authorized under this section4 7#b7 ,officials specified ,the officials specified in this paragraph are the ,commissioner of the ,agency on ,developmental ,disabilities1 the ,director of ,medicaid ,operations at the ,centers for ,medicare and ,medicaid ,services1 and the ,assistant ,secretary of ,labor for ,disability ,employment ,policy4 7#c7 ,number of grants2 duration2 number of grants per eligible entity ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,special ,education and ,rehabilitative ,services may provide up to #aj grants under this subsection during a fiscal year4 ,a grant provided under this subsection shall be provided for a period of five years4 ,an eligible entity may not receive more than one grant during a five-year period4 7c7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a71 an entity shall be a consortium that-- 7#a7 consists of and is managed by1 at a minimum1 representatives from the ,state educational agency1 the ,state ,intellectual and ,developmental ,disabilities ,agency1 the ,state vocational rehabilitation agency1 the ,state ,medicaid agency1 the ,state department of labor and workforce investment board1 and the ,state department of higher education2 7#b7 includes stakeholders who will be involved in the planning and implementation of funds made available through the grant1 including-- 7,a7 representatives from local or regional ,university ,centers for ,excellence in ,developmental ,disabilities ,education1 ,research1 and ,service1 ,state protection advocacy and client assistance programs1 ,state councils on developmental disabilities1 and centers on independent living2 and 7,b7 representatives from self-advocacy organizations and family organizations2 and 7#c7 includes additional public and private individuals and entities with demonstrated expertise in providing transition services that result in post-secondary education1 integrated employment1 and economic advancement for individuals with significant disabilities and individuals with the most significant disabilities with expertise in the provision of supported employment services and customized employment strategies and that-- 7,a7 provide services resulting in integrated post-secondary education outcomes or integrated employment outcomes at the greater of minimum or competitive wages with access to related health and employment benefits2 7,b7 have expertise in person-centered planning processes2 or 7,c7 have experience operating mentoring or advocacy training programs for individuals with significant disabilities and individuals with the most significant disabilities in culturally and socioeconomically diverse communities4 7d7 ,application ,an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under subsection 7a7 shall submit to the ,assistant ,secretary for ,special ,education and ,rehabilitative ,services an application at such time1 in such manner1 and including such information as the ,assistant ,secretary may require4 ,each application shall include-- 7#a7 an implementation plan1 including the identification of the lead agency by the ,state1 describing the actions the entity intends to take to carry out the activities authorized under this subsection2 7#b7 assurances that a memorandum of understanding among the participating ,state agencies will be developed outlining key steps to be taken to collaborate and coordinate efforts to institute systemic change related to employment first1 including braided funding and a uniform focus on improving outcomes in post-secondary education1 integrated employment1 and economic advancement for youths with significant disabilities2 7#c7 a description of the means and mechanisms by which participating ,state agencies will coordinate efforts to evaluate and reform existing ,state laws1 regulations1 guidelines1 operational procedures1 and funding practices1 including braided funding1 to institute systemic change related to employment first1 focused on improving outcomes in post-secondary education1 integrated employment1 and economic advancement for youths with significant disabilities2 7#d7 an evaluation plan describing the strategy the entity will use to evaluate the use of funds made available through the grant1 with a specific focus on the collection of data 7by age1 race1 gender1 geographic area1 type of disability1 income level1 communication level1 and use of assistive technology7 tracking1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 the number of youths with significant disabilities who directly enter integrated employment opportunities paid at the greater of minimum wage or competitive wages with access to related employment and health benefits1 or a post-secondary educational or training program that is focused on leading to an integrated employment outcome1 upon exiting the school system2 7,b7 the wages and number of hours worked of youths per pay period2 7,c7 the impact of employment on any ,state and ,federal benefits received2 7,d7 indicators on the types of settings in which youths benefitting from the ,state grant primarily reside2 7,e7 indicators of improved economic status and self-sufficiency2 7,f7 data on those youths with significant disabilities for whom a post-secondary or integrated employment outcome has not yet occurred1 including information on why such outcome has not yet been attained1 and additional information such as the number of months an individual has not had a post-secondary education or integrated employment outcome1 and the progress made to date on efforts to ensure that an individual achieves a post-secondary education or integrated employment outcome2 and 7,g7 location and type of settings where youths who are receiving services through the grant are living2 7#e7 a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate information about the types of transition services and the impact of such services on the lives of youths with significant disabilities who are served by the project2 and 7#f7 a description of the approaches the eligible entity intends to use to coordinate activities with relevant service providers in the localities in which the activities of the grant will be focused4 7e7 ,authorized activities ,an entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds made available through the grant to carry out the following activities for youths with significant disabilities3 7#a7 ,the development of innovative and effective practices through person-centered planning processes for attaining integrated employment experiences1 including customized employment1 supported employment services1 and employment experiences after school1 on weekends1 and in the summer months4 7#b7 ,the development of objectives and activities based upon the highest expectations of youths with significant disabilities and related to the following areas3 7,a7 ,academic and school-based preparatory experiences1 including access to the general education curriculum in the least restrictive environment4 7,b7 ,work and career readiness4 7,c7 ,self-determination and leadership4 7,d7 ,comprehensive community connections4 7,e7 ,life-long learning4 7,f7 ,family involvement and engagement4 7#c7 ,the development of appropriate and effective curricula and the deployment of professionals with expertise to provide training to school personnel1 including transition coordinators1 and other personnel connected to the implementation of the implementation plan of the grantee to enable such school personnel to develop skills needed to assist such youths in actualizing their ability to obtain and maintain integrated employment at the greater of minimum or competitive wages4 ,such training shall be focused on developing the skills in personnel necessary to help such youths successfully identify and complete desired objectives in the following areas3 7,a7 ,academic and school-based preparatory experiences1 including access to the general education curriculum in the least restrictive environment4 7,b7 ,work and career readiness4 7,c7 ,youth development and leadership4 7,d7 ,comprehensive community connections4 7,e7 ,family involvement and engagement4 7,f7 ,integrated employment experiences1 including customized employment1 supported employment services1 and employment experiences after school1 on weekends1 and in the summer months4 7#d7 ,the provision of assistance to youths with significant disabilities and their families with respect to determining appropriate services under relevant ,federal and ,state programs1 to include the following3 7,a7 ,an informed decisionmaking process leading to an integrated employment or post-secondary education outcome and securing ongoing services required for sustaining the employment or post-secondary education outcome4 7,b7 ,a benefits planning process in order to educate youths with significant disabilities regarding strategies for identifying1 optimizing and managing available resources to support the youth4 7,c7 ,a series of individualized economic advancement strategies to advance the optimal self-sufficiency and economic security of a youth with a significant disability with specific goals for asset development1 including the use of favorable tax benefits1 work incentives1 matched savings plans1 and financial education4 7f7 ,prohibited activities 7#a7 ,in general ,funds made available through a grant under subsection 7a7 may not be used for activities that result in youths with significant disabilities being placed in facility-based segregated services as an employment outcome or post-secondary outcome4 ,in this paragraph1 the term facility-based segregated services means rehabilitation or employment services provided by segregated entities1 such as sheltered workshops1 day habilitation1 enclaves1 or any other similar settings4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any youth with a significant disability from having access to the general education curriculum during the pursuit of transition services or post-secondary education outcomes4 7g7 ,employment outcomes and evaluation 7#a7 ,outcomes ,an entity that receives a grant under this section shall collect data and report annually on1 at a minimum1 progress in achieving specific integrated employment outcomes outlined by the ,assistant ,secretary for ,special ,education and ,rehabilitative ,services4 ,such outcomes shall include the following3 7,a7 ,the number of youths with significant disabilities who directly enter integrated employment or post-secondary education upon exiting the school system4 7,b7 ,the types of positions and employment sectors the youths with significant disabilities are participating in1 as defined by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the ,department of ,labor4 7,c7 ,the wages of and number of hours worked by youths with significant disabilities monthly4 7,d7 ,the impact of employment on any ,federal and ,state benefits received4 7,e7 ,indicators of improved economic status and self-sufficiency4 7,f7 ,data on those youths with significant disabilities who have not yet entered post-secondary education or integrated employment1 outlining the reasons that such youths have not yet entered post-secondary education or integrated employment as well as the progress made to date in the acquisition of skills1 training1 and development necessary to attain an integrated employment outcome4 7#b7 ,center ,there is established a ,national ,coordination ,center on ,systems ,change and ,transformation in the ,transition of ,youths with ,significant ,disabilities into ,adulthood 7in this paragraph referred to as the ,center7 to coordinate personnel training and professional development in evidence-based best practices resulting in integrated employment or post-secondary education outcomes4 ,the ,center shall coordinate assistance with the ,state grantees and their leadership teams and support grantees in their systems change efforts through the provision of training1 professional development1 technical assistance1 data collection1 and research4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 7other than subsection 7g77#b77 #ej1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4 7#b7 ,center ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection 7g77#b7 #e1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents for the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cjf the following new item3 ,sec4 #cjg4 ,grants for transition of youths with significant disabilities to adulthood4 4