HB 2419 Summary

• Establishes Employment First as official policy for the State and counties, prioritizing integrated competitive employment for persons with disabilities as the first employment option.

• Requires state and county agencies to implement Employment First principles in hiring practices and all programs and services they administer or fund.

• Mandates the Department of Human Services apply Employment First principles to Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs and require contracted service providers to follow the same principles.

• Defines key terms including "competitive employment" (full-time or part-time work in integrated settings at or above minimum wage), "Employment First," and "integrated setting" (workplaces where persons with disabilities interact with non-disabled coworkers).

• Clarifies that the policy does not require employers to give hiring preference to persons with disabilities and does not eliminate other supported employment services; takes effect December 31, 2059.