Establishes a preference under the procurement code for employers who pledge to hire persons with disabilities when contracting for goods, services, or construction.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part X to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§103D-   Preference to bidders employing persons with disabilities. (a) When a governmental body contracts for goods, services, or construction, a preference shall be given to a responsible and responsive bidder who pledges to hire individuals with disabilities on or before the starting date of the contract; provided that the new employment shall continue at least for the duration of the contract. The preference, in an amount equal to the percentage of individuals with disabilities employed by the bidder, shall be subtracted from the offer for purposes of source selection only; provided that the preference shall not exceed twenty-five per cent of the bid price. When determining the percentage of persons with disabilities employed by the bidder, part-time employees will be counted in proportion to the number of hours worked in a forty hour week.

(b) The department of human services shall establish a registry of individuals with disabilities who are work-ready who responsible and responsive bidders may use in fulfilling their pledges to hire individuals with disabilities under subsection (a).

(c) For purposes of this section, "individual with disabilities" means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including an individual who has been determined to be disabled or suffer disability by the department of human services, the department of health, the vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind division, or a private physician."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.