The bill makes changes to current law regarding individuals to whom the department of labor and employment provides vocational rehabilitation services:
House Bill 25-1018, titled "Vocational Rehabilitation Services Eligibility," was introduced on January 8, 2025, by Representatives Rydin and Gilchrist, with Senator Danielson as the Senate sponsor.
Key Provisions:
Financial Assistance Requirement Eliminated:
The bill removes the previous requirement that individuals with disabilities must require financial assistance to participate in vocational rehabilitation services.
Consideration of Financial Need:
The Department of Labor and Employment may consider financial need before providing services during periods of cost containment to manage waitlists due to insufficient financial resources.
Contribution Toward Service Costs:
The bill eliminates the requirement for individuals with disabilities, or their legally and financially responsible relatives, to contribute toward the cost of services to the extent they are financially able.
Alignment with Federal Law:
The bill aligns Colorado law with federal law by removing the requirement that the department provide services only to individuals who are present in the state at the time of filing an application and can satisfactorily achieve rehabilitation.
Summary
The bill makes the following changes to current law regarding
individuals to whom the department of labor and employment (department) provides vocational rehabilitation services (services):
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Eliminates the requirement that an individual with a disability require financial assistance to participate;
•
Allows the department to consider financial need before providing services during a period of cost containment to prevent or manage a wait list for services due to insufficient financial resources;
•
Eliminates the requirement that an individual with a disability, or the individual's legally and financially responsible relative, must contribute toward the cost of their services to the extent that they are financially able; and
•
To align Colorado law with federal law, eliminates the requirement that the department provide services only to individuals who are present in the state at the time of filing an application for the services and can satisfactorily achieve rehabilitation.
