Bill Summary for Bill Number Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts

Date: 09/16/2015

Final
Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE BLIND

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Move to proceed with drafting a bill to create a s Move to proceed with drafting a bill to create an Move to proceed with drafting a bill to ensure you Move to proceed with drafting a bill to remove bar	PASS PASS Pass Without Objection

02:39 PM -- Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts

Ms. Chase and Ms. Ritter remained at the table during the committee bill request discussion.

Representative Danielson provided an overview of some of the legislative ideas the committee had heard about during the previous committee meetings, with themes involving agency structure, BEP, tax credits and business incentives, youth transition services, and best practices and guidelines.

Agency structure. Representative Danielson discussed two legislative options regarding agency structure:

creating a separate and independent agency to provide services for the blind, that would be housed within CDLE, and would include a separate state advisory council and seek federal funds separately from DVR; or
creating a separate administrative unit dedicated to serving the blind within the existing DVR structure.

Representative Primavera also spoke about the need to develop a technical resource center in the new agency or unit to help blind individuals learn how to use adaptive technologies, and also the need to focus on blind veterans.

Business Enterprise Program. Representative Danielson spoke about the following improvements that could be made to the BEP:

expand the BEP to include other types of businesses besides food service and vending;
expand the locations BEP vendors are allowed to operate; and
create partnerships with companies and BEP vendors through franchising opportunities.

The committee continued to discuss the topic of franchising opportunities, including the role of the state in this, the involvement of OEDIT, and possible grant opportunities. Representative Primavera also brought up the difficulty blind entrepreneurs have getting small business loans.

Tax credits and business incentives. Representative Danielson continued with a discussion of potential tax credits and business incentives, including:

creating a tax credit that provides an incentive for hiring people who are blind and/or who are receiving services from DVR;
creating a tax credit for blind-owned businesses; and
creating a tax credit to help businesses with the cost of accommodating blind employees.

The committee continued to discuss the issue of creating new tax credits.

Youth transition services. Representative Danielson spoke about several ideas related to youth transition, including:

stating that services are available through DVR beginning at age 16; and
defining best practices or providing recommendations that CDLE work to clearly define DVR's responsibilities for youth transition, or make adjustments to the requirements for participation in the Colorado Department of Education's School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP).

Senator Aguilar spoke about the federal requirement that 15 percent of DVR funding go towards providing youth transition services.

Best practices and guidelines. Finally, Representative Danielson discussed several other ideas related to best practices and guidelines, including:

changing or strengthening the current state law requiring state technology purchases to be compatible with blind assistive technology;
changing the fee and incentive structure for DVR vendors to encourage job placement and outcomes;
placing statutory guidelines for waitlist management;
establishing training guidelines or recommendations for DVR counselors who have blind individuals on their caseload; and
creating greater program accountability for DVR.

Representative Primavera questioned Ms. Chase about the inclusion of other vocational rehabilitation programs other than DVR, and how to ensure anyone with a disability may be eligible for any tax credits proposed by the committee. Ms. Chase spoke to the committee of the risk that the Legislative Council Committee may not approve proposed legislation that it deems to be outside the scope of the original charge of the committee.

The committee also discussed the interim committee process and the inclusion of a fiscal note for proposed legislation. The committee also discussed the number of draft bills the committee can request. Ms. Chase also responded to committee questions related to how tax credit programs are administered. Representative Primavera also asked Ms. Chase to look into the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit that formerly existed in Colorado.

03:05 PM -- Patrick Teegarden, CDLE, responded to some of the committee's previous concerns regarding the committee's previous requests to hear from OEDIT. Mr. Teegarden also spoke about CDLE's work during the DVR transition process, including the department's stakeholder outreach.

03:08 PM

Representative Primavera requested that legislation be drafted to create a separate administrative unit within the existing DVR structure that is dedicated to serving the blind. The unit would include personal adjustment training, orientation and mobility, and a well-developed technical resource center. Senator Aguilar voiced her support for this proposal, and also noted the request for a separate budget and management for this unit. Representative Primavera also requested to include a separate counseling staff for this unit with dedicated blind caseloads. Senator Balmer voiced his concern over this proposal, including the concern about providing separate services for the blind and not those with other disabilities, and also voiced concern over the potential cost of this proposal. The committee continued with a discussion of the potential cost impact of creating a separate unit.


BILL:	Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts
TIME:	03:18:08 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Move to proceed with drafting a bill to create an administrative unit within the existing Division of Vocational Rehabilitation structure that is dedicated to serving the blind, to include personal adjustment training staff, orientation and mobility, and a well-developed technical resource center. The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:	Aguilar
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Windholz	Excused
	Balmer	No
	Danielson	Yes

Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:19 PM

Representative Danielson discussed the proposed ideas discussed previously concerning the BEP. The committee continued with a discussion about the proposed ideas related to the BEP.

Representative Primavera requested that legislation be drafted to expand what types of businesses BEP vendors can operate and remove statutory restrictions currently in place regarding state owned locations where BEP vendors can operate. The committee discussed federal and state law regarding BEP restrictions, including federal funding implications.


BILL:	Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts
TIME:	03:30:08 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Move to proceed with drafting a bill to remove barriers regarding the types of businesses that Business Enterprise Program vendors can operate and to remove barriers regarding what state locations Business Enterprise Program vendors can operate in. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Lundberg
	Primavera
	Windholz	Excused
	Balmer
	Danielson

Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:31 PM

The committee continued with a discussion of the proposed ideas related to tax credits. Representative Primavera discussed the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit that previously existed, which encouraged employers to hire employees with disabilities. The committee continued discussing the proposed tax credit ideas, including the various types of tax credits that can be created and the need to limit the tax credit to new hires.


BILL:	Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts
TIME:	03:38:30 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Move to proceed with drafting a bill to create a state tax credit for employers who hire new blind employees, with certain parameters regarding length of employment and tax credit percentage. The motion passed on a vote of 4-1.
SECONDED:	Aguilar
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Windholz	Excused
	Balmer	Yes
	Danielson	Yes

Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:40 PM

Representative Danielson reminded the committee of the ideas previously discussed regarding youth transition services, and the committee discussed these ideas further. Representative Danielson moved to draft a bill to ensure DVR services beginning at the age of 16.

Senator Aguilar discussed how many of the ideas previously discussed are already required by federal or state law, but are just not being done by DVR. Ms. Chase responded to committee questions related to SWAP and requirements already in statute.

Representative Danielson withdrew her motion following the committee's discussion.


BILL:	Committee Discussion to Request Bill Drafts
TIME:	03:43:33 PM
MOVED:	Danielson
MOTION:	Move to proceed with drafting a bill to ensure youth beginning at the age of 16 are able to receive services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Lundberg
	Primavera
	Windholz	Excused
	Balmer
	Danielson

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Withdrawn

03:48 PM

Representative Danielson reviewed the ideas previously discussed related to best practices or guidelines. Senator Aguilar suggested requiring CDLE to provide a report back based on some of the committee's concerns following the transition. The committee also discussed in further detail the DVR vendor fees. Ms. Chase responded to several committee questions on the topic of DVR vendor fees and CDLE reporting requirements during the DVR transition. Senator Aguilar suggested sending a letter to the committees of reference that will be receiving the reports from CDLE on the DVR transition, bringing to their attention the issues raised by the committee.

03:55 PM -- Mr. Teegarden, CDLE, returned to the table to respond to questions from the committee and spoke about CDLE's reporting requirements. The committee requested that CDLE examine the current structure of DVR vendor fees.

03:59 PM

The committee requested that a letter be drafted on behalf of the committee for the relevant committees of reference to have during the SMART Act hearings. The committee discussed potential items to cover in the letter.

04:01 PM

The committee adjourned.