Substitute House Bill No. 7187 aims to implement the recommendations from a December 2024 report by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The bill mandates the Secretary of OPM to assess the feasibility of a pilot program that would provide one-time grants to mid-sized businesses for accommodating employees with disabilities. It also calls for increased transitional services for youth with disabilities, the potential introduction of a tax credit for jobs created for individuals with disabilities, and the creation of a disability employment toolkit for businesses. Additionally, the bill requires the analysis of data related to the demand for employment services for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a reporting requirement for the Secretary of OPM to update the General Assembly on the implementation of these recommendations by September 1, 2025. The fiscal impact of the bill is estimated to cost the OPM approximately $772,500 in FY 26 and $742,500 in FY 27, primarily for consultant and vendor services related to the pilot program, transitional services, and data analysis. The bill also includes a one-time cost of about $30,000 for creating and distributing the disability employment toolkit.