{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-151b.212","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 151B.212","heading":"Employment First Council -- Membership -- Length of terms -- Officers -","body":"- Meetings.\n(1) For the purposes of KRS 151B.211 to 151B.214, \"competitive integrated\nemployment\" means work that is performed on a full -time or part -time basis for\nwhich an individual is:\n(a) Earning compensation at or above minimum wage and comparable to the\ncustomary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities\nperforming similar duties and with similar training and experience;\n(b) Receiving the same level of benefits provided to other employees without\ndisabilities in similar positions;\n(c) Working at a location where the employee interacts with other individuals\nwithout disabilities; and\n(d) Receiving opportunities for advancement when appropriate si milar to other\nemployees without disabilities in similar positions.\n(2) The Employment First Council is hereby established within the Office of\nVocational Rehabilitation as an advisory council to the executive and legislative\nbranches of government on matt ers pertaining to increasing meaningful\nopportunities for competitive integrated employment for citizens with a disability\nseeking employment, regardless of their level of disability.\n(3) The Employment First Council shall be composed of twenty -eight (28) members.\nMembers of the council shall be appointed by the Governor in a manner that is\ngeographically and culturally representative of the population of the\nCommonwealth and shall include:\n(a) One (1) representative from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;\n(b) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board;\n(c) One (1) representative from the Department of Education;\n(d) One (1) representative from the Office of Career and Technical Education;\n(e) One (1) representative from the Department for Medicaid Services;\n(f) One (1) representative from the Department for Behavioral Health,\nDevelopmental and Intellectual Disabilities;\n(g) One (1) representative from the Commonwealth Council on Developmental\nDisabilities;\n(h)  One (1) representative from Kentucky Protection and Advocacy;\n(i) One (1) representative from the Education and Labor Cabinet, Disability\nDetermination Services;\n(j) One (1) representative from the Division of Behavioral Health;\n(k) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Autism Training Center;\n(l) One (1) representative from the Department for Behavioral Health,\nDevelopmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Office of Autism;\n(m) One (1) representative from the University of Kentucky Human Development\nInstitute;\n(n) Two (2) representatives from a state vocational rehabilitation provider\nagency;\n(o) One (1) representative from the Statewide Council for Vocational\nRehabilitation;\n(p) One (1) representative from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce;\n(q) One (1) representative from the Council of State Governments;\n(r) Four (4) representatives each having at least one (1) of the following\nqualifications:\n1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one (1) or\nmore major life activity;\n2. A history or record of such an impairment; or\n3. A person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment;\n(s) Two (2) representatives who have an immediate family member with a\ndisability; and\n(t) Four (4) representatives of business, industry, and labor.\n(4) After the initial appointments, members of the Employment First Council shall\nserve terms of three (3) years. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves a nd\nshall serve until their successor is appointed.\n(5) Members of the Employment First Council shall not be paid for their service as\ncouncil members, and shall not be reimbursed for any expenses involved in\nattending council meetings.\n(6) The Employment F irst Council shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a legislative\nliaison from its council members who shall serve in those capacities until replaced.\nThe legislative liaison shall communicate with the legislative and executive branch\nabout the council's p rogress and ensure that the work of the council is separate and\ndistinct from the work of the Statewide Council for Vocational Rehabilitation.\n(7) A majority of council members shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of\nconducting business. The council shall be subject to the provisions of the Kentucky\nOpen Records Act, as set forth in KRS 61.870 to 61.884.\n(8) The Employment First Council shall meet quarterly, upon the call of the chair, or at\nthe request of the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabi net. The council shall\nreceive assistance in carrying out its administrative functions from the Department\nof Workforce Development and shall be attached to the Education and Labor\nCabinet for administrative purposes.","path":["KRS Chapter 151B"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54255","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:50:47Z","sha256":"bb9647581ef77c2f2f7033dbd70dfd07ddc76b23859d7ff5d939f97e5468a6e6","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-151b.211","next":"us-ky/krs-151b.213"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}