With almost two weeks of the 2021 session still to go, the disability community can celebrate several significant accomplishments, especially in the area of employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
HB 1848 was approved by the House of Delegates, by the Senate Committee on General Laws, and has been read twice in the Senate. We expect final passage early next week. The administration supports the bill, so we anticipate that the Governor will sign it quickly. The bill, from Delegate Sickles, extends state protections against employment discrimination to individuals with disabilities. In 2020, the legislature passed sweeping protections against discrimination for many classifications, but neglected to include people with disabilities. HB 1848 corrects that oversight.
HB 2140, from Delegate Guzman, establishes an alternate application process in state employment for people with disabilities and creates a program to hire and train such employees. The bill was approved by the House, by the Senate Committee on General Laws, and has been read twice in the Senate. We expect final passage early next week. The Administration supports the program, so the Governor ought to quickly sign the new law.
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia’s mission is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.
We are available to educate policy makers about the potential impact of legislative proposals. Please let us know of any legislative proposals or budget issues that you think we should be following. Contact us at info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 804-225-2042.