Hartford- State Senator Donald J. DeFronzo (D-New Britain) and Sen. Cathy Cook (R-Mystic) today met with the Disabled and Disadvantaged Employment Security working group and unveiled S.B. 623, the result of the group’s meetings throughout the summer and fall last year, including the creation of an innovative pilot program. During the 2005 legislative session, legislation was passed creating the working group which dealt with the ongoing conflict between for-profit and non-profit custodial workers at state facilities.

“The working group came to the table last year ready to try to find a solution for those workers in our state who may be disadvantaged or disabled,” Sen. DeFronzo explained. “The pilot program that resulted will help defuse the conflict between two deserving groups of Connecticut residents while promoting employment and income security among populations that have traditionally faced impediments to work.”

“It has been a joy to work with Sen. DeFronzo on an emotional and difficult issue, but together we crafted a solution that will be a national model to create new, inclusive, job opportunities for a merged workforce of people with disabilities and disadvantages with barriers to employment. I take great satisfaction in leading Connecticut to this new horizon," said Sen. Cook.

Under the bill, the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will create and expand janitorial jobs for people with disabilities (except blindness) or an economic disadvantage through a four-year pilot program. It gives a super preference to ‘qualified partnerships’ between non-profit agencies – often employing the disabled – and for-profit custodial companies – often employing economically disadvantaged workers. A ‘qualified partnership’ is defined as a contractor that employs one-third people with disabilities and one-third people who are economically disadvantaged, while employing one-third other workers. The contractor must also employ at least 200 in-state janitors. It requires DAS to award contracts to create four projects for janitorial work needed by state agencies. The bill also requires the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee to study the pilot program and determine if it should be made permanent. The bill also provides protection to individuals currently working in janitorial jobs as well as those involved in the pilot.

“While the working group only began meeting less than a year ago, the effort to reach a compromise between these two groups of workers has been afoot at the General Assembly for some time,” Sen. DeFronzo said. “I believe this pilot program will help foster an environment that will lead to a truly integrated workforce where people with disabilities will be valued and work along side other employees who need and deserve permanent employment.”