Georgia As a Model Employer for Individuals with Disabilities
Georgia Senate Bill 384 , signed into law this year, establishes the State of Georgia as a Model Employer (the “GAME”) Program. 1 The GAME Program regulates labor practices of public offices related to the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities. 2 In creating the GAME Program, Georgia joins at least 19 other states that have enacted similar legislation. 3 While the GAME Program applies only to state agencies and not private employers, the Program is designed as a model for private sector employers in the state to follow in advancing the interests of qualified individuals with disabilities. The GAME Program: Core Elements and Compliance Requirements The GAME Program is designed to implement proactive hiring practices and annual evaluation procedures to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities by Georgia’s state agencies. 4 The core features of the GAME Program are: Providin...