Employment First

Overview

The Employment First Oversight Commission was established during the 2011 Kansas Legislative Session and became law on July 1, 2011. The Employment First law (K.S.A. 44-1136-38) details the duties and responsibilities of the oversight commission, sets as the official policy of the State of Kansas that competitive and integrated employment is the first option when serving people with disabilities, established definitions of "competitive" and "integrated" employment, and details the requirements of state agencies to conform to the law. This is a seven member commission appointed by leaders of the House and Senate and the Governor.

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Commissioners

Rocky Nichols, Chair - Topeka
Appointed by Senate Minority Leader
11/18/2022 - 11/17/2025

Nikki Heiman
Appointed by the Governor
7/1/2019 - 6/30/2023

Sara Hart Weir - Overland Park
Appointed by Senate President
2/14/2023 - 2/13/2026

Shelia Nelson-Stout - Salina
Appointed by House Minority Leader
1/25/2023 - 1/24/2026

Bradley Linnenkamp - Topeka
Appointed by Governor
7/1/2022 - 6/30/2026

Joe Scarlett
Appointed by Governor
7/1/2022 - 6/30/2025

Steve Gieber - Topeka
Appointed by Speaker of the House
1/31/2023 - 1/30/2026

Statute

Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 44-1136 - 1138 enact the Employment First Oversight Commission.  It was amended in 2013.  Here is the statute. 

Meetings

2024 Meetings

All of the Employment First Oversight Commission meetings are virtual. Please contact Martha Gabehart for the links to the meetings. 

November 18 1:00 pm (meeting has past and no recording was made)

November 22 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

November 25 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

December 2 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

December 9 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

December 10 1:00 pm 3:00 pm

2023 Meetings

These meetings are virtual. Please contact Martha Gabehart to receive the meeting invitations that include the meeting link.

The Disability Employment Review by Allied Global Services report is referenced in the 2023 recommendations to the Governor, Legislature and state agencies.

December 1, 2023

December 8, 2023 at 3:30pm

December 12, 2023 at 9:00am

December 12, 2023 Draft Minutes

December 18, 2023 at 9:00am

2021 Meetings

• September 21, 2021
  • September 21, 2021 Meeting Minutes (Draft not available)

2019 Meetings

• March 28, 2019 at 1:00 - 2:00 pm
  900 SW Jackson, Room 560, Topeka
  • March 28, 2019 Draft Meeting Minutes

2018 Meetings

• January 3, 2018 at 9:00 - 10:00 am
  900 SW Jackson, Room 560, Topeka
• December 18, 2018 at 1:30 - 3:30 pm
  900 SW Jackson, Room 450, Topeka
  • December 18, 2018 Meeting Agenda
  • 2018 Starting Point
  • 2018 Starting Point Mayse Revision
  • ESCC Project Final 2018
  • KS Disability Employment Survey Results ESC Coal (10-02-2018)
  • 2018 Gaps and Solutions Document by Transition Transformers Coalition
  • Accessibility Guidelines
  • Accessibility Guidelines Presentation
  • December 18, 2018 Draft Meeting Minutes

2017 Meetings

• January 5, 2017 at Noon - 3:00 pm
  Lt. Governor's Meeting Room 281-S in the Statehouse
  Public entrance on North end of building, on 8th street in Topeka

2016 Meetings

• February 29, 2016 at 10:00 am
  Handouts:
  • Great Expectations Narrative
  • Great Expectations PowerPoint
• October 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  Room 560, Landon State Office Building
  900 SW Jackson, Topeka
  Handouts:
  • October 9, 2016 Agenda
  • July 17, 2014 Draft Minutes
  • Employer Resources Committee Report
  • Employer Resources Links
  • Employment 1st Stakeholder Group Report
  • SSI Employment Support Pilot
  • InterHab Employment Services Recommendations
  • Data Committee Report
• July 17, 2016 at 2:30 - 5:00
  Room 560, Landon State Office Building
  900 SW Jackson, Topeka
  Handouts:
  • April 11, 2014 Draft Minutes
  • DCF Update on Implementation of Employment First
  • July 17, 2014 Agenda
  • Good for Business Brochure
  • June 4, 2014 Subcabinet on Disability Minutes

Minutes

• January 7, 2016, Approved Minutes
• July 27, 2015 Approved Minutes
• July 17, 2014 Approved Minutes
• November 18, 2014 Approved Minutes
• December 3, 2014 Approved Minutes
• December 16, 2014 Approved Minutes
• April 11, 2014 Minutes
• February 26, 2014 Minutes
• January 24, 2014 Minutes
• December 12, 2013 Minutes
• December 2, 2013 Minutes
• November 14, 2013 Minutes
• September 26, 2013 Minutes
• June 27, 2013 Minutes
• April 15, 2013 Minutes
• March 22, 2013 Minutes
• February 15, 2013 Minutes
• January 22, 2013 Minutes
• January 11, 2013 Minutes
• December 19, 2012 Minutes
• December 13, 2012 Minutes
• November 28, 2012 Minutes
• November 6, 2012 Minutes
• October 10, 2012 Minutes
• September 7, 2012 Minutes
• July 30, 2012 Minutes
• May 31, 2012 Minutes
• April 20, 2012 Minutes
• April 5, 2012 Minutes

Annual Reports and Recommendations

• 2023 Recommendations 
• 2022 Recommendations
• 2021 Recommendations
• 2020 Recommendations
• 2019 Recommendations
• 2018 Recommendations
• 2017 Recommendations
• 2016 Recommendations
• 2015 Recommendations
• 2014 Recommendation Executive Summary
• 2014 Full Recommendations
• 2014 Minority Report
• 2013 EF Goals and Objectives with Strategies and Barriers
• 2012 EF Annual Report
• 2012 EF Goals and Objectives with Strategies and Barriers
• 2011 EF Annual Report

Resources

• 2014 Employment First Workgroup Recommendations
• Kansas Employment First website - stories on employment and people with disabilities.
• Alliance for Full Participation Scorecard

Data Resources

• 2015 Disability Statistics Annual Compendium
• U.S. Disability Statistics by Cornell University
• Policy Research Brief - University of Minnesota; "A Review of Commonly-Used State Employment Measures in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services"