Colorado APSE

Established in October of 1992

Colorado APSE website

Rocky Mountain

In 2019, the Colorado legislature approved an initial budget appropriation to establish the Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF). In early 2020, COEF launched its efforts in leading Colorado toward equitable employment for all people with disabilities through collaboration, systems innovation, and training excellence.

State Employment First Efforts:

SB21-039 (2021 – enacted): Colorado Elimination of Subminimum Wage Employment passed into law in June 2021, phasing out subminimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor authorizing them to pay employees less than minimum wage if their earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental disability, or injury.
SB 18-145 (2018 – enacted): Implemented recommendations of Colorado Employment First Advisory Partnership including staff training/credentialing, data collection, and supporting Discovery as a distinct service.
SB 16-077 (2016 – enacted): Colorado’s cross-disability Employment First law.
CO Policy on Integrated Employment (1995): Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing – Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Rule 8.609.9 (former Division for Developmental Disabilities rule 16.626) stating that integrated employment is considered the primary service option for adult day habilitation services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; this was a long-standing policy prior to passage of legislation (policy is on page 63).

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