Maine § 23001. - Duties of State

§ 23001.. Duties of State

In order to provide equal opportunity in all aspects of State Government to qualified individuals with disabilities, each department, agency and instrumentality of the State shall:   [PL 2005, c. 570, Pt. A, §1 (NEW).]

1.  Periodic review.  Review, on a periodic basis, the adequacy of hiring, placement and advancement practices within that department, agency or instrumentality of the State with respect to individuals with disabilities;

2.  Plan.  Develop by January 1, 2007 and update annually thereafter a plan to increase the opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be employed by that department, agency or instrumentality of the State. This plan must include a description of the extent to which the special needs of employees who are individuals with disabilities are being met. Beginning with the plans updated in 2009, each department, agency and instrumentality of the State shall submit the plans to the State Human Resources Officer within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services;

2-A.  Report to committees.  Submit a biennial report beginning March 1, 2009, compiled by the State Human Resources Officer within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, on the plans developed pursuant to subsection 2 to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters and over labor matters and to the Governor's office. The report must include any changes made to the plans, an assessment made by the officer of the effectiveness of the plans and any recommendations for legislative action pertaining to the report. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters may submit legislation pertaining to the report to the first regular session of each Legislature;

3.  Outsourcing; leases.  In its contracts governing functions and duties that are outsourced and in its contracts governing leased space, include provisions that encourage the employment of individuals with disabilities;

4.  Outreach.  Expand its outreach efforts, using both traditional and nontraditional methods, to make qualified individuals with disabilities aware of available employment opportunities within that department, agency or instrumentality of the State; and

5.  Accommodate.  Increase its efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities.