CSG Regional Round-up: The West

AK • AZ • CA • CO • HI • ID • MT • NM • NV • OR • UT • WA • WY • AB • AS • BC • CNMI • GU

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

The Wyoming Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities will hold its annual conference in a virtual format in 2020. Speakers from Voices in Advocacy, the Georgetown Leadership Institute and The National Alliance for Direct Support Professional will lead live online presentations. The conference will include the Bright Star Awards that recognize and celebrate individuals with a disability who have made contributions in their community, and individuals within the state who have contributed to the disability sector will also be honored.

EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES

In 2019, Washington passed legislation designating a specified week as Disability Pride week. The same legislation — SB5210 (2019) — increases consumer awareness of benefits and uses of hearing instruments and technologies and develops educational materials to be distributed by hearing aid dispensers including audiologists. In 2020, HB1883 created the Office of Equity within the office of the governor for the purpose of promoting access to equitable opportunities and resources that reduce disparities and improve outcomes statewide across state government.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Through state statute, Arizona recognizes the need to improve accessibility of information and communications technology in order to “increase the successful employment and access to government services” for individuals with disabilities. In addition, SB1348 (2020) specifies that eligible business access expenditures include reasonable and necessary amounts paid or incurred relating to access for persons with disabilities. These include removing barriers that prevent a business from being accessible to or usable by individuals with disabilities as well as providing qualified interpreters or other methods of making audio materials available to hearing-impaired individuals.

SURVEY OF EMPLOYERS

In 2019, Alaska completed a new survey of employers regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Titled, “Alaskan Employer Perspectives on Hiring Individuals with Disabilities,” this summary report found 47% of the population with disabilities (including all disabilities) and 34% of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities are employed, compared to 74% of non-disabled Alaskans who are in the workforce. The survey results included overall positive experiences for those employers that had hired individuals with disabilities. However, federal contractors making up about a third of survey respondents were unsure or reported not meeting the 7% utilization goal stated in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

GOVERNORS APPROVE LEGISLATION

On a semi-annual basis, Western governors enact new policy resolutions as well as amending existing resolutions. In 2020, the Western Governors Association formally approved three policy resolutions on broadband connectivity, rural development and Western agriculture. The Western governors support an array of funding, trade, education, research and workforce development programs promoting agricultural contributions to the economies and quality of life in Western states. They also support policies and recommendations to strengthen rural communities and ensure programs delivering state and federal resources are efficient and accessible.

CALIFORNIA WORKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE

In recent years, California has worked to make its transportation industry more accessible. In 2018, the state Senate passed SB1376 requiring the commission, as part of its regulation of transportation network companies, to establish a program in a new or existing proceeding relating to accessibility for persons with disabilities including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle. In 2019, the legislature adopted additional measures to ensure that dial-a-ride and paratransit services are accessible to people with disabilities. Through this legislation, the state hopes that transportation services can be provided and accessible to everyone for the purposes of employment, education and medical and personal travel.

The state is also working toward ensuring access to technology including artificial intelligence and other measures to advance the future of the workforce for all individuals in the state. In 2018, California created an artificial intelligence roadmap, which includes policy recommendations intended to “grow the state’s economy, take advantage of AI to enhance services while protecting sensitive data and promote privacy, transparency and accountability in the development and use of AI.” In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order establishing the Future of Work Commission to study, understand, analyze and make recommendations regarding the impact of technology on work.

In late September 2019, California enacted legislation which presumes gig marketplace workers are employees and places the burden on the business to demonstrate that the workers are not employees, consistent with specified criteria. If workers are considered employees, then they are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If they are independent contractors, they are not protected by the ADA.

For more on CSG West, visit: csg.org and csgwest.org.