BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



          SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                             Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
                            2015 - 2016  Regular  Session

          SB 644 (Hancock) - Limited Examination and Appointment Program:   
          persons with developmental disabilities
          
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          |Version: April 7, 2015          |Policy Vote: P.E. & R. 5 - 0    |
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          |Urgency: No                     |Mandate: No                     |
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          |Hearing Date: May 28, 2015      |Consultant: Maureen Ortiz       |
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          SUSPENSE FILE. AS AMENDED.


          Bill  
          Summary:   SB 644 changes the method for an individual to  
          qualify under the Limited Examination and Appointment Program  
          (LEAP) from the current written exam or readiness evaluation, to  
          an internship with a state agency of at least 1,024 hours.


          Fiscal Impact (as approved on May 28, 2015):



            
           Unknown administrative costs to CalHR (General Fund)

           Unknown, potentially $150,000 annually for internship program  
            (various Special/General Funds)

          Administrative costs to CalHR are unknown at this time, however  
          there is currently one Staff Services Manager 1 position that is  







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          responsible for administering LEAP.  SB 644 establishes a new  
          internship program and may require additional PYs to CalHR.

          Exact costs for the internship program will depend on the number  
          of internships provided through the LEAP method of qualifying  
          applicants for civil service positions.  If 25 internships are  
          offered annually to applicants who would have otherwise not  
          passed the current written exam or readiness evaluation, costs  
          would be approximately $155,000 with monthly salaries of $2,074  
          (the entry level pay for Office Assistant) for three months.   
          Departments that provide internships to LEAP applicants will use  
          existing vacancies on a temporary basis.


          Background:   The existing LEAP provides an alternative to the traditional  
          civil service exam and appointment process in order to allow a  
          disabled individual to compete for a position in state service.   
          The LEAP program is administered by the Department of Human  
          Resources (CalHR) which has the responsibility of creating  
          eligibility criteria for participation in LEAP, examination  
          techniques, and appointment and appeal procedures.
          LEAP employees are appointed on a temporary and provisional  
          basis to allow them to demonstrate their abilities to perform  
          the duties of their positions during a period of time known as  
          the job examination period.  During this period, LEAP employees  
          do not acquire permanent civil service status but receive the  
          same salaries and benefits provided to other temporary state  
          employees.  


          To qualify for LEAP, first an individual must be certified as  
          disabled by the Department of Rehabilitation.  Next the  
          individual meets the minimum qualifications for the LEAP  
          position by successfully completing a written (often online)  
          exam or readiness evaluation.  Then the applicant's name is  
          placed on an unranked hiring list that is available to any state  
          agency that has positions available.  The hiring authority may  
          then contact individuals on the list for interviews and job  
          placements.


          LEAP candidates must serve on the job for an examination period  
          of at least 9 months after which the person may be appointed to  
          the permanent state position.  Lastly, the employee must service  








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          the traditional 6 months probationary period before becoming a  
          permanent state civil service employee.




          Proposed Law:  
            SB 644 does the following:
          1) Expands the definition of "disability" to include a person  
          with a developmental disability that the Department of  
          Developmental Services deems eligible for services pursuant to  
          the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and who is  
          a consumer of a regional center pursuant to the Lanterman Act. 


          2) Prohibits CalHR from requiring a person with a developmental  
          disability to take or pass a written examination or readiness  
          evaluation in order to qualify for service in a LEAP position.


          3) Provides that a LEAP exam consist of an internship with a  
          state agency of not less than 1,024 hours (approximately 6  
          months full time employment), followed by certification from the  
          employing agency that the individual has completed the  
          internship and has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and  
          ability necessary to successfully perform the duties of the  
          position.


          4)  Requires CalHR to refer the names of persons with  
          developmental disabilities to appointing powers for selection  
          for participation in an internship examination.


          5)  Authorizes state agencies that provide internships to  
          persons with a developmental disability to a position under LEAP  
          to finance the internship or position with personnel funds  
          assigned to a vacant or unfilled position.  The position will  
          not be eliminated, and funds may be returned or assigned to fill  
          the vacant positions after the completion of the internship.


          6)  Requires a state agency that provides an internship to a  
          person with a developmental disability to allow that person to  








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          receive on-the-job support consisting of time spent with a job  
          coach, as specified, but provides that the coach is not the  
          responsibility of the state agency.


          7)  Provides that internship hours may be used to apply toward  
          the qualifications of a permanent position.




          Staff  
          Comments:  SB 644 is intended to create increased access to  
          state employment for individuals with developmental disabilities  
          by allowing successful internship performance in lieu of a  
          written test.  A successful internship will serve as meeting the  
          minimum qualifications for consideration for hire into an  
          entry-level position with the State of California. To qualify  
          for  LEAP, an individual must be between 18 and 30 years of age  
          and be deemed eligible by the Department of Rehabilitation to  
          receive supported employment services. 
          Author Amendments (as adopted on May 28, 2015):  Clarifies that  
          the internship is an optional pathway for employment, allows it  
          to be paid or unpaid, and reduces the duration of the internship  
          to 512 hours.