Bill
A 4435
Establishes the Employment First Commission to prioritize competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities across state agencies.
Purpose and core purpose
- Establishes the Employment First Commission within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
- Goal: promote “Employment First” policies, prioritizing competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities as the first option for publicly funded education, training, employment, and related services, including long-term supports.
- Defines key terms to clarify scope:
- Competitive integrated employment: work in the competitive labor market, full- or part-time, in an integrated setting, paid at least minimum wage and at least the customary wage/benefits for similar non-disabled workers.
- Employment First: policy that competitive integrated employment is the first consideration and preferred outcome for publicly funded services for individuals with disabilities.
- Integrated setting: work environment where employees with disabilities have equal opportunities to interact with coworkers without disabilities.
What the bill creates
- Establishes the Employment First Commission in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
- Commission size and composition (17 members total):
- Ex officio members (6):
- Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (or designee)
- Commissioner of Education (or designee)
- Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (or designee)
- Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (or designee)
- Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (or designee)
- Governor-appointed members (11 total), including:
- Representatives from: State Rehabilitation Council; New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities; State Centers for Independent Living; Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Disability Rights New Jersey; Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey; and six additional members who are not professionals but are individuals with disabilities, family members of individuals with disabilities, or advocates with expertise in disability employment.
- Terms and governance:
- Appointments to the commission must occur within 60 days of enactment.
- The Governor designates one member to convene an organizational meeting; commission elects a chair and vice-chair; may appoint a secretary.
- Meetings: at least monthly; quorum is a majority of the authorized members.
- Compensation: members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for ordinary expenses within available funds.
- Executive director: the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families (or designee) serves as executive director, without voting authority or membership on the commission.
Duties and activities of the commission
- Provide input before implementation of Employment First competitive integrated employment policies affecting individuals with disabilities.
- Key duties include:
- Data work: compile and analyze data on individuals with disabilities in New Jersey, including needs, service availability, utilization, gaps, and barriers; coordinate data across state agencies and programs (sources include DOE, DDD, DVR, Business Outreach Team, State Rehabilitation Council, LADWD, advocacy groups, etc.).
- Internet/information work: collaborate with the New Jersey Office of Information Technology to create an Employment First webpage within the Disability Information Hub; ensure content is current and accessible.
- Policy recommendations: advise the Governor and Legislature on implementing competitive integrated employment as the first option; consider:
- Aligning policies and procedures to improve access to employment supports and services.
- Identifying and reducing barriers or disincentives to disability employment.
- Ensuring the state workforce development strategy supports employment of individuals with disabilities in private, public, and contract sectors.
- Additional possible activities:
- Consider the State as a Model Employer of People with Disabilities (SAME) program (per 2021 law).
- Evaluate reimbursement rates for direct support professionals who provide employment-support services.
Supportive roles for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- DVR shall:
- Report relevant activity and progress related to Employment First to the State Rehabilitation Council.
- Coordinate with the Business Outreach Team to foster employer engagement and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- Explore future engagement with the broader business community (e.g., NJBIA, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce).
Reporting and timeline
- Legislative report: The commission must issue a report to the Governor and Legislature no later than one year after organization, outlining findings and recommendations on implementing competitive integrated employment policies for individuals with disabilities.
- Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
Impact and scope
- Targets public policy and administrative practice across multiple state agencies (Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and related divisions).
- Aims to shift toward prioritizing competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making, cross-agency collaboration, employer engagement, and accessible information.
- Potential implications for funding, program design, data sharing, and employer outreach initiatives, as the commission evaluates barriers and opportunities to implement Employment First.
Note on status
- Introduced February 2026; referred to Assembly Labor Committee. Co-sponsor: Lou Greenwald. As of the provided text, the bill has not yet advanced to final passage.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
