2021 Policy Memorandum
Date: 92nd Legislature, 2021 session
Re: State Employment and Retention of Employees with Disabilities (ERED)
Task Force Report: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining State Employees with Disabilities
2021 Bills: SF 1570 (Westrom); HF (TBD) (Reyer)
Summary
The Advisory Task Force on State Employment and Retention of Employees with Disabilities was created by the 2019 Minnesota Legislature and charged with submitting a report on strategies for attracting and retaining state employees with disabilities, including proposed legislation. The legislation limited the task force’s scope to recommendations regarding hiring and retaining employees with disabilities.
This bill codifies these recommendations by revising Minnesota Statutes Chapter 43A, which governs the hiring and retention of employees. It would demonstrate the State of Minnesota’s commitment to hiring, retaining, and advancing people with disabilities by modernizing outdated and potentially discriminatory language, creating more clarity and consistency, and adding capacity for essential equity work.
This bill does the following:
- Codifies Executive Order 14-14 for and improves the implementation of the Connect 700
- Provides direction to MMB regarding disability policies and employment
- Codifies and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of ADA coordinators in state agencies
- Establishes a data collection and reporting structure
Disability Context
Minnesotans often face difficult or even insurmountable barriers in both finding and maintaining employment. These bills would help reduce those barriers and give people with disabilities more resources and tools to keep and grow in their careers in state employment. This bill is a “Nothing About Us Without Us” bill that would require more consultation with people with disabilities, and those are disability employment experts.
Partners
- Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing
- Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Minnesota Office of Accessibility
- Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Olmstead Implementation Office
- State Services for the Blind
- System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR)
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Opposition Considerations
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 43A governs Minnesota Management & Budget.
Goal of Policy
To improve the experience of Minnesotans with disabilities in state employment and the workforce.