Public Act No. 23-137 Summary

• Establishes a Transitional Life Skills College program for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities age 22+ transitioning from school or parental care, with residential and non-residential components across multiple state campuses, including oversight and evaluation requirements by the Department of Developmental Services.

• Requires the Secretary of Policy and Management to analyze existing employment assistance programs for persons with disabilities, recommend business financial incentives, and create a workforce plan by January 1, 2025.

• Directs the Commissioner of Developmental Services to reduce waiting lists for Medicaid waiver program services and file annual reports on waiting list status starting January 1, 2024.

• Requires development of new state statutory definitions for intellectual disability and developmental disabilities, evaluation of assessment tools, and analysis of best practices in other states, with recommendations due by January 1, 2025.

• Expands the Medicaid waiver program for persons with autism spectrum disorder to reduce waiting lists and establishes a two-year pilot program with hospitals for nonresidential outpatient day services for persons with autism spectrum disorder.

• Creates tax incentives for businesses hiring individuals with intellectual disabilities, allows price preferences in state procurement for such businesses, and establishes a workforce development grant program for nonprofits employing persons with intellectual disabilities.

• Increases capacity limits for community residences housing persons with intellectual disabilities from six to eight persons and extends child support obligations to age 26 for children with disabilities.