KRS 151B.212: Employment First Council -- Membership -- Length of terms -- Officers -

- Meetings.

(1) For the purposes of KRS 151B.211 to 151B.214, "competitive integrated

employment" means work that is performed on a full -time or part -time basis for

which an individual is:

(a) Earning compensation at or above minimum wage and comparable to the

customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities

performing similar duties and with similar training and experience;

(b) Receiving the same level of benefits provided to other employees without

disabilities in similar positions;

(c) Working at a location where the employee interacts with other individuals

without disabilities; and

(d) Receiving opportunities for advancement when appropriate si milar to other

employees without disabilities in similar positions.

(2) The Employment First Council is hereby established within the Office of

Vocational Rehabilitation as an advisory council to the executive and legislative

branches of government on matt ers pertaining to increasing meaningful

opportunities for competitive integrated employment for citizens with a disability

seeking employment, regardless of their level of disability.

(3) The Employment First Council shall be composed of twenty -eight (28) members.

Members of the council shall be appointed by the Governor in a manner that is

geographically and culturally representative of the population of the

Commonwealth and shall include:

(a) One (1) representative from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;

(b) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board;

(c) One (1) representative from the Department of Education;

(d) One (1) representative from the Office of Career and Technical Education;

(e) One (1) representative from the Department for Medicaid Services;

(f) One (1) representative from the Department for Behavioral Health,

Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities;

(g) One (1) representative from the Commonwealth Council on Developmental

Disabilities;

(h) One (1) representative from Kentucky Protection and Advocacy;

(i) One (1) representative from the Education and Labor Cabinet, Disability

Determination Services;

(j) One (1) representative from the Division of Behavioral Health;

(k) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Autism Training Center;

(l) One (1) representative from the Department for Behavioral Health,

Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Office of Autism;

(m) One (1) representative from the University of Kentucky Human Development

Institute;

(n) Two (2) representatives from a state vocational rehabilitation provider

agency;

(o) One (1) representative from the Statewide Council for Vocational

Rehabilitation;

(p) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce;

(q) One (1) representative from the Council of State Governments;

(r) Four (4) representatives each having at least one (1) of the following

qualifications:

1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one (1) or

more major life activity;

2. A history or record of such an impairment; or

3. A person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment;

(s) Two (2) representatives who have an immediate family member with a

disability; and

(t) Four (4) representatives of business, industry, and labor.

(4) After the initial appointments, members of the Employment First Council shall

serve terms of three (3) years. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves a nd

shall serve until their successor is appointed.

(5) Members of the Employment First Council shall not be paid for their service as

council members, and shall not be reimbursed for any expenses involved in

attending council meetings.

(6) The Employment F irst Council shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a legislative

liaison from its council members who shall serve in those capacities until replaced.

The legislative liaison shall communicate with the legislative and executive branch

about the council's p rogress and ensure that the work of the council is separate and

distinct from the work of the Statewide Council for Vocational Rehabilitation.

(7) A majority of council members shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of

conducting business. The council shall be subject to the provisions of the Kentucky

Open Records Act, as set forth in KRS 61.870 to 61.884.

(8) The Employment First Council shall meet quarterly, upon the call of the chair, or at

the request of the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabi net. The council shall

receive assistance in carrying out its administrative functions from the Department

of Workforce Development and shall be attached to the Education and Labor

Cabinet for administrative purposes.