| R 234 |
| 2018 -- S 2860 Enacted 05/10/2018 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. |
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| LC005451 |
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