STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4511
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities
AN ACT in relation to establishing the task force to promote the employ-
ment of people with disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. (a) There is hereby established, in the department of
2 labor, a task force to promote competitive integrated employment for
3 people with disabilities. The task force shall consist of 16 members to
4 be appointed by the governor as follows:
5 (i) a representative from the department of civil service;
6 (ii) a representative from the department of education's office of
7 adult career and continuing education services;
8 (iii) a representative from the department of labor;
9 (iv) a representative from the office of the state comptroller;
10 (v) a representative from the office for people with developmental
11 disabilities;
12 (vi) a representative from the office of mental health;
13 (vii) a representative from the office of strategic workforce develop-
14 ment;
15 (viii) a representative from the office of the chief disability offi-
16 cer;
17 (ix) a representative of organized labor appointed upon recommendation
18 of the New York State American Federation of Labor-Congress of Indus-
19 trial Organizations;
20 (x) a representative of the business community appointed upon recom-
21 mendation of the Business Council of New York State, Incorporated;
22 (xi) an individual upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly;
23 (xii) an individual upon recommendation of the temporary president of
24 the senate;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00022-01-5
S. 4511 2
1 (xiii) two representatives of employment services providers for people
2 with disabilities; and
3 (xiv) two individuals with a disability.
4 (b) The representative from the department of labor shall serve as the
5 chair of the task force.
6 2. The appointed members of the task force shall serve for terms of 3
7 years. Vacancies in the membership of the appointed members of the task
8 force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
9 3. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but
10 shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance
11 of their duties as members of the task force.
12 4. The task force shall organize as soon as possible after the
13 appointments are made. The task force shall meet at least quarterly in a
14 calendar year, may hold meetings and hearings at places and times as it
15 designates, and may meet at any other times at the call of the chair-
16 person. No action shall be taken by the task force except by an affirma-
17 tive vote of a majority of the voting members.
18 § 2. 1. (a) The purpose of the task force is to study the problem of
19 unemployment and underemployment among individuals with disabilities,
20 and review relevant programs within New York and other states that
21 assist in the employment of individuals with disabilities in the public
22 and/or private sectors.
23 (b) The task force shall:
24 (i) examine strategies to increase competitive integrated employment
25 of people with disabilities;
26 (ii) support the goals of competitive integrated employment, equality
27 of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic
28 self-sufficiency for these individuals;
29 (iii) ensure that state government is a model employer of individuals
30 with disabilities;
31 (iv) promote state efforts to disseminate information to workers on
32 state and federal programs that assist individuals with disabilities in
33 seeking and maintaining employment;
34 (v) assist in the identification and implementation of strategies to
35 expand efforts of New York state and local government agencies to
36 recruit, hire, and retain in employment individuals with disabilities;
37 and
38 (vi) coordinate and provide leadership, as necessary, with regard to
39 efforts to increase inclusion in the workforce of individuals with disa-
40 bilities.
41 2. No later than two years after the appointment of its members, the
42 task force shall prepare and submit a report to the governor, the tempo-
43 rary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly. Such
44 report shall provide recommendations on the ways in which the state can
45 increase competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabil-
46 ities. Such recommendations shall address the topics set forth in this
47 section. Each annual report shall be made publicly accessible on the
48 websites of the state agencies represented on the task force.
49 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
