SB 18-145

Senate Bill 18-145, titled "Implement Employment First Recommendations," aims to improve employment services for people with disabilities in Colorado. The bill requires service providers to obtain national certifications or training certificates within a five-year period and sets reimbursement rates for these costs. It also mandates the collection of annual employment data by county and includes provisions for alternative assessments for individuals with disabilities. Since it has been signed, this bill is now law and its requirements are in effect, impacting service providers who work with disabled individuals.

Official Summary

The bill requires the department of labor and employment and the state medical services board in the department of health care policy and financing to promulgate rules that require all providers of supported employment services for persons with disabilities to obtain a nationally recognized supported employment training certificate or earn a nationally recognized supported employment certification relating to supported employment services. The rules must specify time frames for completion of the training or certification. The time frames must provide for training to be completed over a 5-year period, subject to appropriations for reimbursement of vendors. The state medical services board shall adopt rules for administering the reimbursements to vendors, which must be $300 for each certification exam and $1,200 for each training program certificate, which includes reimbursement for both the cost of training and wages paid to employees during training. The bill requires that the department of labor and employment's fee schedule for rehabilitation services include the discovery process as an alternative comprehensive assessment if appropriate for persons with disabilities. The bill lists annual employment data, reported by county, that the department of health care policy and financing must collect. The bill corrects the repeal provision language for the employment first advisory partnership and its duties. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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