Maryland hearing backs bill to create Office of Disability Employment to boost state hiring

House Bill 502 would establish an Office of Disability Employment within the Maryland Department of Disabilities to coordinate recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities across state agencies.

Supporters told the House Appropriations Committee that the state faces a labor shortage and that disability-inclusive hiring is underused. "Right now, only 45 percent of Marylanders with disabilities between the ages of 18 to 64 are employed compared to 79 percent of those without disabilities. That's not a gap. It's a missed opportunity," Lieutenant Governor Miller said while urging a favorable report on HB 502.

The bill would begin an "State as a Model Employer" initiative in FY 2027 and draw on policy lessons from the National Governors Association's disability-inclusive workforce collaborative, witnesses said. Carol Beatty, secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, told the committee the proposed office would build on 21 years of the department's coordination work and would rely on interagency partnerships already formed during bill planning.

Advocates emphasized both workforce and workplace benefits. Ronza Othman, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, said the office would provide training for supervisors, funding and support for assistive-technology assessments and outreach to encourage people with disabilities to apply for state jobs. "This program will get people with disabilities into the workforce," Othman said, adding that increased employment reduces reliance on social services.

Panelists gave specific examples of success from existing programs. Carol Beatty and speakers pointed to Project SEARCH at Montgomery County Department of Transportation: a program that trained and ultimately led to a long-term hire managers described as a clear workplace success story. Bong Del Rosario, director of transportation policy for the Maryland Department of Disabilities, described how recruitment and outreach changed his view of state government as a career option and how MDOD hires people who use paratransit to travel for work.

Supporters representing community providers — including Mary Manzoni of Maryland Works and Bruce Bariano of BISM — said the office would amplify existing provider work, increase employer capacity and could reduce costs by increasing employment and tax contributions.

No formal vote or amendment was recorded during the hearing. Committee members asked questions about budget and how the office would avoid reducing direct service funding; witnesses said the office would emphasize coordination and technical assistance and that many partner agencies had already committed to support implementation if the law passes.

The panel closed urging a favorable report to the committee; no formal committee action was recorded in the hearing transcript.

Ending: If enacted as written, HB 502 would create a staffed office in MDOD and begin a State as a Model Employer initiative in FY 2027 to promote the hiring and retention of workers with disabilities across Maryland state government.