(a) The Department of Rehabilitation Services may receive state and federal funds to administer, within available appropriations, an employment opportunities program to serve individuals with the most significant disabilities who do not meet the eligibility requirements of supported employment programs administered by the Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services. For the purposes of this section, “individuals with the most significant disabilities” means those individuals who (1) have serious employment limitations in a total of three or more functional areas including, but not limited to, mobility, communication, self-care, interpersonal skills, work tolerance or work skills, or (2) will require significant ongoing disability-related services on the job in order to maintain employment.

(b) The employment opportunities program shall provide extended services, as defined in 34 CFR 361.5(b)(19), that are necessary for individuals with the most significant disabilities to maintain supported employment. Such services shall include coaching and other related services that allow participants to obtain and maintain employment and maximize economic self-sufficiency.

(c) The Department of Rehabilitation Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.

(P.A. 01-61, S. 1, 2; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a); P.A. 11-44, S. 67; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 81; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 60.)

History: P.A. 01-61 effective July 1, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 “Department of Mental Retardation” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Developmental Services”, effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 11-44 replaced “Bureau of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Social Services” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” in Subsec. (a) and made a conforming change in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “, Social Services”, effective July 1, 2016.