Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Developmental Disability Employment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House enshrines employment-first policies for developmental disability services
Summary
Senate Bill 810 codifies Oregon’s employment‑first approach for people with developmental disabilities, establishes an advisory committee and regional teams, requires annual outcome reporting, and bars use of state-funded services to support sheltered work settings.
The House passed Senate Bill 8 10, which codifies Oregon’s employment‑first policy for people with developmental disabilities, establishes a statewide advisory committee and regional teams, requires annual outcome tracking, and prohibits state-funded employment services from being used in sheltered or mock‑sheltered settings.
Representative Hartman, who carried the bill on the floor, said the measure builds on prior actions to phase out sheltered workshops and subminimum wages and to expand competitive, integrated employment opportunities. "Everyone deserves a chance to work, to earn a wage, and to be a part of their community, and that shouldn't change just because you have a disability," Hartman said.
SB 810 creates an employment‑first advisory structure that includes self-advocates with lived experience and mandates annual reports tracking employment outcomes, wages, and whether services are leading to competitive integrated employment. It also establishes regional teams to share best practices and identify barriers across agencies.
Supporters said the bill locks in past progress, strengthens accountability, and protects against backsliding. Opponents were not recorded on the floor during the final passage sequence. The House declared the bill passed; floor remarks emphasized an accountability and systems‑improvement focus rather than new large appropriations.
