A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign the review and study of enhancing employment and training opportunities for Indiana's citizens with disabilities through studying the feasibility of establishing a non-profit business enterprises preference program for contracting or subcontracting with prime contractors for products and services provided by reviewing and making recommendations of how to maximize employment opportunities through IC 16-32-2 and IC 5-22-13.

     , read first time and referred to Committee on

    A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council to assign the review and study of enhancing employment and training opportunities for Indiana's citizens with disabilities through studying the feasibility of establishing a non-profit business enterprises preference program for contracting or subcontracting with prime contractors for products and services provided by reviewing and making recommendations of how to maximize employment opportunities through IC 16-32-2 and IC 5-22-13.

    Whereas, There is a significantly higher unemployment rate among persons with disabilities;

    Whereas, Experts in the field testify to the increased self- worth and independence gained when a person with a disability is employed;

    Whereas, Studies have shown that when a person with a disability earns income, that displaces public assistance and reduces the burden on state and federal programs;

    Whereas, Non-profit work centers provide employment and training opportunities for Hoosiers with disabilities;

    Whereas, Persons with disabilities produce high-quality, fairly-priced products and services;

    Whereas, State agencies and other units of government purchase products and services that may be provided by entities

employing predominately persons with disabilities; and

    Whereas, Maximizing the opportunities for non-profit entities that employ predominantly persons with disabilities to participate as contractors and subcontractors in state agency purchases of goods and services makes good fiscal sense, good business sense, and good social sense: Therefore,

    SECTION 1. The Indiana General Assembly urges the Legislative Council to assign to the State Budget Committee or the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy the 2011 interim study of the establishment of a non-profit business enterprises preference program and to determine recommendations to improve and maximize employment opportunities through Indiana's State Use Program, IC 16- 32-2.
    SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Legislative Council through the Executive Director of the Legislative Services Agency.