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Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
(a) It is the policy of the state that earning a living wage through competitive employment in the general workforce is the priority and preferred outcome for working-age individuals with disabilities who receive public benefits.
(b) The commission, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly adopt and implement an employment-first policy in accordance with the state's policy under Subsection (a). The policy must:
(1) affirm that an individual with a disability is able to meet the same employment standards as an individual who does not have a disability;
(2) ensure that all working-age individuals with disabilities, including young adults, are offered factual information regarding employment as an individual with a disability, including the relationship between an individual's earned income and the individual's public benefits;
(3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given the opportunity to understand and explore options for education or training, including postsecondary, graduate, and postgraduate education, vocational or technical training, or other training, as pathways to employment;
(4) promote the availability and accessibility of individualized training designed to prepare an individual with a disability for the individual's preferred employment;
(5) promote partnerships with employers to overcome barriers to meeting workforce needs with the creative use of technology and innovation;
(6) ensure that the staff of public schools, vocational service programs, and community providers are trained and supported to assist in achieving the goal of competitive employment for all individuals with disabilities; and
(7) ensure that competitive employment, while being the priority and preferred outcome, is not required of an individual with a disability to secure or maintain public benefits for which the individual is otherwise eligible.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 531.02447. Employment-First Policy - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/government-code/gov-t-sect-531-02447/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
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