HB285 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Marcel BlackCraig FordMark TuggleMary MooreRichard J. LairdMike MillicanDexter GrimsleyMary Sue McClurkinChad FincherBarbara Bigsby BoydRandy WoodAlan HarperRod ScottDarrio MeltonJuandalynn GivanCharles O. NewtonMicky HammonAlan BakerWayne JohnsonHarry ShiverThomas JacksonBerry ForteJim PattersonDuwayne BridgesRon JohnsonMerika ColemanAlan BootheAdline ClarkeGreg BurdineJohn RobinsonOliver RobinsonNapoleon BracyJohnny Mack Morrow

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Individuals with disabilities, promotion of employment by state programs and services, Jeff Ridgeway Alabama Employment First Initiative Act

Summary

HB285 creates the Jeff Ridgeway Alabama Employment First Initiative to promote competitive, integrated employment for youth and adults with disabilities through cross‑agency coordination and rulemaking.

What This Bill Does

It requires state programs and services to promote employment for people with disabilities by coordinating across agencies to ensure policies, procedures, and funding support competitive, integrated employment. It authorizes state agencies to adopt rules to implement the act. It sets a policy that competitive and integrated employment should be the first option for working-age people with disabilities served by state programs, and requires cross-agency data sharing to track progress. It designates the Alabama Department of Mental Health as the lead agency and clarifies that employers are not required to give hiring preference to people with disabilities.

Who It Affects

• Youth and adults with disabilities who use state programs and services aimed at helping them obtain employment, by being the focus of the initiative and policy shift toward integrated employment
• State government agencies, which must coordinate, collaborate, and implement rules to promote competitive, integrated employment and share data across systems
• Employers, who are not required to give hiring preference to people with disabilities; the policy may influence expectations and program funding but does not mandate hiring preferences

Key Provisions

• Defines Competitive Employment as work in the competitive labor market, paid at least minimum wage with benefits for similar work by non-disabled workers
• Defines Integrated Setting as a community-based work environment where people with and without disabilities interact in typical ways
• Declares that competitive and integrated employment should be the first option when serving working-age individuals with disabilities
• Requires all state agencies to coordinate and collaborate to promote competitive and integrated employment and to share data across systems when feasible
• Authorizes state agencies to adopt rules to implement the act
• Designates the Alabama Department of Mental Health as the lead agency for coordinating the initiative among state agencies
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Individuals with Disabilities