Committee on Disability & Employment

January 17, 2018: 9:00 AM
Frances Perkins rm, 45 Commerce Dr, Augusta

State Workforce Board COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT January 17, 2018 9:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Central Maine Commerce Center 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta Frances Perkins Room Call in: 877-455-0244, Conference code: 9218175360 AGENDA 9:00 Welcome, Review/approve November meeting?s minutes 9:15 SWB / Committees Update ? Garret 9:30 Share CDE Annual Report ? Jenn/Cheryl 9:45 Universal Access Committee update ? Peaches, Josh 10:00 Employment First Maine report to legislature 1/16? Jenn/Jeanie 10:45 Break 11:00 Discussion: - LD1361/PL Ch 261 ? Hiring and Retention of PWD in State Gov?t - LD765 ? MaineCare wage exemptions for PWD receiving waivers - CDE Plan for 2018 12:00 Adjourn REMINDER: Next Meeting: March 21, 2018 9:00 ? 12:00 Central Maine Commerce Center Frances Perkins Room


COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY & EMPLOYMENT MEETING January 17, 2018 Present: Jennifer Kimble (Chair), Peaches Bass, Gayla Dwyer (Phone), Karen Fraser (Phone), Rachel Dyer (Phone)

Staff: Garret Oswald, Cheryl Moran

Welcome, Review/approve November meeting?s minutes

Jennifer Kimble opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions and asked for approval of the 11/15/17 minutes. Gayla Dwyer motioned. Jennifer Kimble seconded. Minutes approved as written.

SWB/Committees Update ? Garret Oswald

Garret reported the Judge has ruled in favor of Coastal Counties. The Law states after receipt of funds, the state must disperse. The Judge has issued his Order for the Attorneys to work together on how to figure out dispersing the funds. Coastal Counties asked for 2 weeks. Filing for a stay of that Order means an appeal could be filed. If stay is granted, it could put a hold on the Order. Peaches Bass asked does funding only applies to Coastal Counties? Garret responded yes because the Lawsuit was filed by Coastal Counties even though there are 2 other Local Workforce Boards (LWBs). The ruling Order specifically states funds are to be released to Coastal Counties only. Jennifer Kimble asked how does this affect the State Workforce Board (SWB) staffing? Garret responded stating the SWB Staff have received 5 layoff notices. If the Judge grants the stay and money is not released, then Staff will exercise their bumping rights. If the money is released, then we will be okay. What needs to be transitioned and how to do this - sub-committees would be included. This would run by the Commissioner - the outcome will be up to the Commissioner. Garret then spoke briefly about the Gig Economy project. He stated the Gig Economy continues to move forward on the national scene. He stated they are working with Wingham Rowan and they are actively looking for funding to hopefully do that project with the Maine Hotel and Innkeepers Association (hospitality industry). Most important, you must have demand. They are looking for funding ? 1 year Project Manager. Final update: Garret spoke briefly about the Future of Service Delivery. He stated that a few members of the SWB are involved. They started conversation last summer. They knew this was important because of funding in general. Garret stated if anyone is interested, please let him know.
Jennifer Kimble stated she wants to follow the Future of Service Delivery topic. Degree Attainment Report (age 25 ? 64) ? Garret Oswald Garret stated he was notified last minute to put together a report. Senator Amy Volk stated this is something that the SWB needs to report. This is the first time we had to report this. He pointed out that no one is really reporting or capturing this data.

Share CDE Annual Report ? Jenn/Cheryl

Committee members reviewed the handout of the Report. Peaches Bass pointed out that she should not be included as a member ? correction; name removed. Karen Fraser asked since she was an Ex-Officio member, as designated by the Department of Labor Commissioner, is she able to vote as a member on this Committee? She asked Cheryl Moran to send her a copy of the Bylaws. Jennifer Kimble ? Paragraph titled Department of Health and Human Services contract requirements and public reporting, first line ?Humans? remove the ?s?. Next paragraph under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), delete the sentence that reads, ?This work is referenced elsewhere in this report?. There were no other corrections. Jennifer asked if Committee members will send their approval to Cheryl Moran no later than Tuesday, January 23rd.

Universal Access Committee Update ? Peaches, Josh

Peaches Bass stated that there is not much to report. They are still in the process of vetting the accessibility guide already on the BRS website and they want to move it to the Labor website. She stated that they will move forward pending the outcome of the WIOA Title 1B funding. She also stated if the outcome is good, they will be providing training.

Employment First Maine report to legislature 1/16 ? Jenn/Jeanie ? Handout was provided

Jennifer Kimble reported there was a last-minute request that went out last Thursday ? presentation to the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee (LCREDs).
There were approximately 10 people in the room. Only 6 were at the presentation. When it first started going, there were 30. Half of the 30 were State employees. Names of who were present in the room: Jenn Kimble, Jeanie Coltart, Elaine Ecker, Simonne Maline, Rick Langley, and Debbie Gilmer. Debbie and Elaine opened the presentation. Senator Volk was very engaged and was present in its entirety. Jennifer strongly pointed that there was nothing on the web page that mentioned about this ? the word was not out. However; the Report was delivered when due. Jennifer stated she will give the Report to Cheryl to distribute to Committee members. Senator Volk shared a story of someone she knows that did not want to work to jeopardize her Social Security benefits. Jennifer talked a lot about Social Security benefits and how they work to dispel the myths. The presentation was an overall success. The LCREDs talked about developing a fact sheet for their Constituents. Something that could be endorsed by both Parties. Peaches Bass stated she will be very curious on how the work requirement for Medicaid plays out if Maine elects to participate. How will able-bodied be defined and determined? Jennifer stated she?s guessing those people, SSI related (disabled eligibility category) will not be affected, and neither will Seniors. Peaches Bass stated she would like to know how this would affect TANF families. It would be nice to have some broad input.
Jennifer ? Snapshot of what the discussion really entailed: ? Recommendations (27) ? Culture of employers ? Provider agencies ? Data ? concrete employment (PWD) ? School to work transition ? Availability of providers and other employment services (reimbursement for these services are getting low ? they were very vocal on this) ? Provider of employment services ? Rates ? Conversation around employers and help to be more informed and open

The biggest concern is who?s going to watch what happens with these (27 recommendations)? This could be another list of recommendations that nothing happens. Peaches Bass ? A strategic plan now really needs to be developed ? strategy to action plan. She also stated that she is interested how the private sector fits into this. Jennifer ? In the lens of this committee, are there items on this list that are high priority that we can be more aggressive with? Peaches Bass suggested talking with SRC DBVI ? deaf or maybe talk to the other SWB committee Chairs including apprenticeship. Jennifer stated the annual report that has gone out for the past 3 years, no one has addressed cultural issues. She suggested maybe we as a committee should take this on. We need to convince employers that PWD can work and that there are barriers in order to get the outcome, but they are working. DHHS is part of this. Having some positive movement is something. How will we get these 27 items moved and who will be responsible? Maybe this commission can get involved.

Discussion: -LD1361/PL Ch 261 ? Hiring and Retention of PWD in State Gov?t -LD763 ? MaineCare wage exemptions for PWD receiving waivers -CDE Plan for 2018

LD 1361 ? An Act Regarding State Hiring and Retention for Persons with Disabilities This Bill is now a Law. Karen Fraser stated she tried to catch corrections before the Bill was passed and never happened. She stated this Bill will not be on the list for this Session but will need to be on the list for the next Session.
How can this Law actually be implemented? We want a broader pool. We really need our ducks in a row before the next Session. Jennifer Kimble asked Karen when is the next Session? Karen responded, the end of this calendar year. Peaches Bass stated it sounds like there?s a lot of technical corrections which does not seem too hard.

LD 763 ? An Act to Support Individuals with Disabilities by Exempting Certain Wages from Consideration for MaineCare Jennifer Kimble stated this Bill was in the last Session and is pretty limited in its language. She pointed out that this Bill specifically relates to benefits and work. This Bill was carried over into the current Session. Jennifer stated the experience of one person is what lead to this Bill. She stated this is definitely something to keep an eye on.

CDE Plan for 2018 Jennifer Kimble stated she feels they need more people to participate in this conversation. Peaches Bass suggested committee members put together a List prior to next meeting on what to work on in 2018. Jennifer stated she will invite Senator Amy Volk to the May meeting which will be after the Legislative Session.

Agenda for next meeting Members suggested to bring someone in from DHHS or VR including BLN. Karen Fraser stated choose a topic and we?ll have someone attend. Membership ? strategize about adding members to this group.

Meeting adjourned at Noon

Next Meeting will be held on March 21, 2018 from 9:00 ? Noon in the Frances Perkins room, CMCC Augusta.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran


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