SB 577, as introduced, Pavley. Autism services: pilot program: employment.
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act authorizes the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism.
This bill would require the State Department of Developmental Services to establish a pilot program for young adults with autism to help them find pathways to financial independence through work. The bill would require the pilot program to develop and implement a new model for providing employment services to autistic individuals and to create financial incentives for employment service providers, as specified, among other requirements. The bill would also set forth related legislative findings and declarations.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
P2 1(a) One in three adults with autism do not have paid work
2experience or a college or technical education seven years after
3leaving the K-12 school system.
4(b) In order to increase the self-sufficiency of young adults with
5autism, including increased earning capacity and reduced
6government benefit support, it is important that the state implement
7a program to provide individualized skills assessment, social cue
8training, and specific support to ensure their academic and
9employment success.
10(c) The Governor and the Legislature must address the growing
11
need for new models of assessment, career training, and expanding
12employment opportunities and support options for young adults
13with autism between 18 and 30 years of age. If this population is
14left without purposefully designed pathways into employment,
15these young adults will remain at high risk of public dependency
16throughout the course of their lives.
Section 4868.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
18Code, to read:
(a) The State Department of Developmental Services
20shall establish a pilot program for young adults with autism to help
21them find pathways to financial independence through work. The
22program shall be developed and implemented to assist individuals
23with autism to obtain integrated employment outcomes that result
24in sufficient wages and benefits in order to decrease, over time,
25their dependency on public financial support.
26(b) The pilot program described in subdivision (a) shall do all
27of the following:
28(1) Develop and implement a new model for providing
29employment services to autistic individuals or modify an existing
30model for providing those services.
31(2) Identify existing support services that may be modified or
32combined with supplemental services to provide skills assessment,
33training, and transition services.
34(3) Utilize available federal and state incentive programs.
35(4) Create financial incentives for employment service providers
36who assist the individuals served by the pilot program to become
37successfully employed in jobs that pay wages that equal or exceed
38the Social Security Administration’s substantial gainful activity
39level or result in the individual obtaining employer-based health
40benefits.
P3 1(5) Develop and implement a protocol for collecting and
2evaluating data regarding the outcomes of autistic individuals who
3participate in the pilot program.
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