SB 689

This bill requires the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities to

develop a program to provide coaching for the hiring of individuals with disabilities.

“Coaching,” under this bill, is providing specific, targeted supports to a business,

school district, or vocational agency that demonstrates how coworkers can provide

internal support to a coworker with a disability, eliminating the need for a job coach

or other individual from outside of the employer. BPDD is required to take certain

actions specified in the bill for the coaching program. BPDD is required to provide

the coaching to private and nonprofit businesses and to schools, care management

organizations that administer Family Care or the Family Care Partnership

Program, consultant agencies that assist enrollees in the self-directed services

option known as IRIS, and other employment services providers for the state's

long-term care programs.

The bill requires BPDD to request proposals from those businesses, schools,

care management organizations, consultant agencies, and employment services

providers to participate in a coaching program for the hiring of individuals with

disabilities. The bill then requires BPDD to provide coaching and award grants to

those entities that meet criteria specified in the bill.