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Committee hears bill to expand state contracting opportunities for people with disabilities
Summary
Witnesses including Work Inc. told the committee that legislation modeled on the federal AbilityOne (Wagner-O'Day) program would create jobs for people with disabilities on state contracts and reduce reliance on public assistance, while supporters asked for updated cost estimates tied to recent federal benefit changes.
Workforce and nonprofit representatives urged the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to approve a bill that would encourage state agencies and municipalities to use qualified employers that hire people with significant disabilities for contracted services. Supporters described the measure as modeled on the federal Wagner-O'Day / AbilityOne program and said the Commonwealth could create thousands of jobs without raising service costs.
Andrea Cook, vice…
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