2018 -- S 2860

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LC005451

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND

TRAINING, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RHODE ISLAND

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

AND HOSPITALS, RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, RHODE ISLAND

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND RHODE ISLAND

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO EMPLOY IT’S REAL PATHWAYS®

PROGRAM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SPECIFIC GOALS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Miller, Seveney, Coyne, and DaPonte

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, In 2013 and 2014 respectively, the State of Rhode Island entered into a

Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree with the United States Department of Justice; and

     WHEREAS, The agreements address findings that the State violated the Americans with

Disabilities Act by failing to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in

integrated settings, and by placing youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities at

serious risk of segregation; and

     WHEREAS, Under the terms of these agreements, the State is committed to transforming

the service system for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to meet the goals

and expectations of services outlined in the Consent Decree; and

     WHEREAS, The State is required to achieve certain goals each year, over a 10-year

period of time; and

     WHEREAS, The ultimate goal is to make available integrated employment and

integrated day services for Rhode Islanders living with developmental disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, A priority of the Rhode Island Senate has been to focus on ensuring all

individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) are provided Supported

Employment Placements and Integrated Day Services, as described in the Consent Decree

Sections V-VI, for individuals in the Rhode Island Sheltered Workshop, Rhode Island Day,

Rhode Island Youth Exit and Youth in Transition Target Populations; and

     WHEREAS, Sector-based workforce development strategies are national best practices,

Rhode Island's Real Jobs RI and Real Pathways RI are nationally recognized sector efforts, and

these initiatives show great promise for ensuring all Rhode Islanders have opportunities to

contribute to our community in manners that match their drive and talents; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT),

working in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare,

Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (RI-BHDDH), Rhode Island Department of Education

(RIDE), Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (RI-EOHHS), and Rhode

Island Department of Human Services (RI-DHS) shall employ it's Real Pathways® Program to

contribute to the accomplishment of the following goals:

     1. By June 30, 2019, secure an additional 100 job placements for individuals with I/DD;

     2. By June 30, 2020, secure an additional 125 job placements for individuals with I/DD;

and

     3. By June 30, 2021, secure an additional 225 job placements for individuals with I/DD;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that RI-DLT shall contribute to this effort

by forging the path to the public/private partnerships required in the Consent Decree, and

leverage their expertise to support the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

Disabilities and Hospitals and the Department of Human Services in implementation of the State's

Employment First Initiative, thereby expanding employment opportunities for Rhode Islanders

living with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment and training

partnerships; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that RI-DLT shall provide annual reports,

including the results of the effort and any lessons learned, on each of the following dates:

     1. On or before July 15, 2019, for the period ending June 30, 2019;

     2. On or before July 15, 2020, for the period ending June 30, 2020; and

     3. On or before July 15, 2021, for the period ending June 30, 2021; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

Labor and Training, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare,

Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of

Education, the Director of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and

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the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

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LC005451

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