NISH Regulatory Assistance Update

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NISH Regulatory AssistanceUpdate

• Tamara Balenger
• Senior Regulatory Specialist
• tbalenger_at_nish.org
• 571-226-4542

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Ratio Requirements

• FY08 YTD
• NISH North Central Region
• 1 agency below 75 Agency Ratio
• 5 Agencies below 75 AbilityOne Ratio
• In January the Committee rescinded its policy
  that the aggregate of AbilityOne work should be
  at least 75.
• The Committee is currently working on a new
  policy that would then be implemented by a
  regulation change.

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Federal Minimum Wage

• Changed to 6.55 an hour on
• July 24, 2008

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Minimum Wage Changes

• Prevailing Wage Surveys
• See Minimum Wage Increase Guide

5
Competitive Employment Evaluations

• Capability for normal competitive employment
  shall be determined from information developed by
  an ongoing evaluation program conducted by or for
  the nonprofit agency and shall include as a
  minimum, a preadmission evaluation and a
  reevaluation at least annually, of each
  individual's capability for normal competitive
  employment.

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Competitive Employment Evaluations

• Committee Staff Nonprofit Agency Review Manual
  released June 29, 2007.
• Manuals sent to all Producing Agencies.
• Available on NISH website.
• Training by Committee for Purchase from People
  who are Blind or Severely Disabled supported by
  NISH was given in each region.
• Information covered in Pre-Conference Sessions of
  Compliance Symposium

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Competitive Employment Evaluations

• Most nonprofit agencies have other state and
  community requirements, such as annual Individual
  Service Plans.
• The Committee has long held that the Committees
  requirements can and should be made part of these
  assessments.
• If done correctly, there is no requirement for
  individual forms or documentation just to meet
  the Committees requirements. The document need
  only contain information on functional
  limitations and competitive employability.

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NISH Training Program

• DOL Compliance Symposium is
• Coming to your back yard!
• Chicago
• October 21, 22, 23, 2008
• Web registration

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NISH Training Program

• 2009 Tentative Trainings
• dates and locations pending
• 5 Commensurate Wage Trainings
• Back to Back dates for Piece Rates and Hourly
• 3 Federal Compliance Symposiums
• New for 2009 OSHA Training

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NISH Training Program

• Occupational Safety and Health for People with
  Disabilities
• This session will provide an overview to employer
  responsibilities and employee rights under the
  Occupational Safety and Health Act. Participants
  will also learn what OSHA standards and
  requirements may apply to their workplaces and
  how to get free compliance assistance. The
  session will also introduce a new basic
  occupational safety and health course for workers
  with disabilities that utilizes highly visual,
  interactive activities which can be taught by CRP
  staff and others serving or employing this
  population.

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Questions?

• Tamara Balenger
• Senior Regulatory Specialist
• tbalenger_at_nish.org
• 571-226-4542