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Senate panel hears broad support for Employment First office, sponsors to revise bill

INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE · March 28, 2023
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Senators heard extensive testimony supporting SB443, an Employment First initiative to increase competitive employment for Arkansans with disabilities. Sponsors agreed to pull the bill for revisions after members raised concerns about statutory specificity, board composition and rulemaking.

Senate Bill 443, which would establish an Arkansas Employment First office, drew lengthy testimony from advocates, providers and people with disabilities who said the office could increase competitive, integrated employment and reduce reliance on public funds.

Sponsor Senator Greg Letting described a policy office, advisory committee and business‑partner program housed in the Department of Commerce. He said the office would be policy‑focused (not a service…

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