REFERENCE TITLE: persons with disabilities; employment; support |
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015
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HCR 2029 |
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Introduced by Representatives Lawrence, Cardenas, Carter, Coleman, Hale, Mach, Steele, Senator Hobbs: Representatives Ackerley, Allen J, Benally, Bolding, Borrelli, Boyer, Campbell, Clark, Cobb, Espinoza, Fernandez, Finchem, Friese, Kern, Larkin, Leach, Livingston, McCune Davis, Meyer, Mitchell, Otondo, Petersen, Rios, Saldate, Shope, Townsend, Velasquez, Weninger, Wheeler, Senator Farnsworth D
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
supporting the employment of persons with disabilities and encouraging Arizona businesses to hire persons with disabilities.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, every day, Americans with disabilities enrich our communities and businesses as leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators with unique talents to contribute and points of view to express; and
Whereas, currently, only 20.3% of Americans with disabilities, including veterans who develop disabilities while serving our country, participate in the labor force; and
Whereas, the unemployment rate among persons with disabilities is 11.2%, which is more than double the unemployment rate among persons without disabilities; and
Whereas, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination in employment against qualified individuals on the basis of disability, which the ADA defines as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning or working; and
Whereas, an employer is required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee with a disability unless the accommodation would be an undue hardship that would require significant difficultly or expense; and
Whereas, twenty-five years after the passage of the ADA, the employment rate of people with disabilities remains unacceptably low; and
Whereas, employment opportunity means economic self-sufficiency, independence and a chance at the American dream; and
Whereas, many unemployed individuals with disabilities are ready, able and willing to work.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:
That the Members of the Legislature support the employment of persons with disabilities and encourage Arizona businesses to hire persons with disabilities.