Senate committee backs Kim Rutledge as California Department of Rehabilitation director

The California State Senate Rules Committee voted to advance the nomination of Kim Rutledge to be director of the Department of Rehabilitation, moving her confirmation to the full Senate after a committee roll call that ended 5-0.

Rutledge, who testified before the committee and described her personal and professional background, told members she wants to expand competitive integrated employment for Californians with disabilities and strengthen partnerships with other state agencies and community organizations.

The committee’s endorsement followed a short question-and-answer period. Senator Bill Laird asked for an update on implementation of Senate Bill 639, the law that ended subminimum wages for people with developmental disabilities effective Jan. 1, 2025; Rutledge said the Department of Rehabilitation has been working with the Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Education to move affected individuals into competitive integrated employment and described job counseling and college-to-career programs as part of that work. Rutledge provided program statistics to the committee, including that the department’s career counseling and information referral program has worked with thousands of individuals since 2016, and cited partnerships with 8 community colleges for college-to-career training.

Committee members also asked about lessons from the recent Los Angeles fires and the department’s disaster response for people with disabilities. Rutledge described coordination with independent living centers, Cal OES and other partners to secure evacuation transportation, equipment and personal care assistance for evacuees and said staff and volunteers helped connect people to needed medical equipment and shelters during the fires.

Members asked about potential federal funding changes. Rutledge said the department is monitoring proposals affecting the U.S. Department of Education and the Rehabilitation Services Administration and that discussions have included the possibility of moving RSA programs to the Department of Labor or Health and Human Services; she said she had seen only minor fiscal impacts so far and expressed optimism the vocational rehabilitation program would retain federal support.

The committee heard several brief public statements in support of Rutledge’s confirmation from disability and provider organizations, family members and prior department officials. Speakers included representatives of the California Association for Adult Day Services, the Statewide Disability Advisory Council, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Special Olympics, the California Commission on Aging, SEIU California and others.

Action: The committee approved a motion to confirm Kim Rutledge as director of the California Department of Rehabilitation (motion moved by the majority leader; final roll call recorded as Maguire: Aye; Grove: Aye; Gonzales: Aye; Jones: Aye; Laird: Aye). Outcome: approved, 5-0. The committee clerk said the nomination will move to the full Senate for final confirmation.

Rutledge’s remarks and the committee’s questions were limited in time by committee rules; she used her three-minute opening and took committee questions before the public-comment period that featured multiple endorsements. The committee chair and vice chair emphasized the schedule constraints of deadline week and noted members would be stepping in and out for other committee responsibilities.

Rutledge said she was honored to follow a line of Department of Rehabilitation directors and pledged to continue work to increase access to employment, education and independent living for Californians with disabilities.