(1) The employment first advisory partnership is hereby established as a partnership of existing entities including the state rehabilitation council, established by the department, the state work force development council, created in article 46.3 of title 24, C.R.S., and the employment first state leadership mentoring program core state advisory group, established by the department. The partnership shall also consult with the state leadership employment network for best practices in developing employment first policies and increasing competitive integrated employment for persons with disabilities. The state rehabilitation council shall serve as the lead agency to coordinate cross-departmental and inter-agency collaboration within the department and among the agency partners and to make recommendations to the general assembly and agency partners relating to employment first policies.

(2) On or before December 30, 2016, each agency partner shall identify the staff member or members within the agency charged with providing agency input and assistance relating to the memorandum of understanding pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and the duties of the partnership set forth in section 8-84-304.

(3) On or before January 30, 2017, the state rehabilitation council shall convene a meeting or meetings of the partnership and agency partners to develop a memorandum of understanding for the partnership relating to the duties of the partnership set forth in section 8-84-304. At a minimum, the memorandum of understanding shall include the responsibilities of each member of the partnership and each agency partner and a plan for completing the work of the partnership, including time frames.

(4) It is the intent of the general assembly that, through the employment first advisory partnership, employment first policies are considered and recommended that reflect not only the perspective of the agency partners but also persons with disabilities, advocates, service providers, employers, and members of the community. Therefore, unless provided through the membership of the partnership, the partnership shall seek stakeholder participation from, at a minimum:

(a) Representatives of a national association of persons supporting the implementation of employment first policies;

(b) Advocates for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

(c) Persons with disabilities who have secured or are seeking competitive integrated employment; and

(d) Members of the community who are not connected to any service agency.

(5) At its discretion, the partnership may form subgroups comprised of members and stakeholders to consider specific issues relating to the strategic plan and the recommendations of the partnership.

(6) The partnership shall meet as often as necessary to complete its duties but shall meet at least once every quarter.

(7) (a) The agency partners shall present the initial report of the strategic plan and recommendations developed pursuant to section 8-84-304 to the legislative committees of reference for the agency partners as part of each agency's annual presentation made pursuant to section 2-7-203 during the interim between November 1, 2017, and the start of the 2018 regular legislative session. Thereafter, each agency partner shall inform the legislative committee of reference of revisions to the strategic plan and the implementation of employment first policies as part of the agency's annual presentation made pursuant to section 2-7-203.

(b) After the presentation of the initial report of the strategic plan, the employment first advisory partnership shall continue to meet, as necessary, to work on the duties set forth in section 8-84-304; to consider revisions to the plan; and to provide advice and expertise relating to the subsequent implementation of the plan.

(8) (a) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2021.

(b) Prior to repeal of the employment first advisory partnership, the department of regulatory agencies shall conduct a sunset review pursuant to the provisions of section 2-3-1203, C.R.S.