Kansas Statutes § 75-5748 Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund created; administration by secretary; purpose; provision of matching grants to sheltered workshop employers; application; transition plan required; subsequent additional grants; information to be provided to the secretary; reports to legislature; transfer of moneys to fund.

75-5748. Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund created; administration by secretary; purpose; provision of matching grants to sheltered workshop employers; application; transition plan required; subsequent additional grants; information to be provided to the secretary; reports to legislature; transfer of moneys to fund. (a) There is hereby created in the state treasury the Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund. The secretary of labor shall administer the fund. All expenditures from the fund shall be for the purpose of facilitating transitions by Kansas sheltered workshop employers away from employing individuals with disabilities under a certificate issued by the United States secretary of labor under 29 U.S.C. § 214(c) and toward paying all such employees at least the minimum wage. Such purpose shall be achieved by providing matching grants from fund moneys to Kansas sheltered workshop employers that commit to paying at least the minimum wage to all employees. A grant shall be matched on a $1-to-$1 basis by the Kansas sheltered workshop employer from nonstate sources. (b) Applications for matching grants shall be made by Kansas sheltered workshop employers to the secretary in the form and manner required by the secretary. In determining whether applicants should be approved and receive a grant, the secretary shall seek the assistance of the secretary for children and families, the secretary for aging and disability services or any other appropriate state agency. The secretary for children and families, secretary for aging and disability services or other state agency shall provide such assistance to the secretary as requested by the secretary. The applicant shall provide a transition plan to the secretary demonstrating how the applicant will use the grant and other funding to transition away from use of a certificate issued by the United States secretary of labor under 29 U.S.C. § 214(c). The Kansas sheltered workshop shall commit to completing the plan to receive a grant. If the secretary approves the transition plan, finds that the Kansas sheltered workshop has sufficient nonstate funding to match the grant with nonstate funds on a $1-to-$1 basis and approves the application, the secretary shall award the Kansas sheltered workshop a matching grant in the amount determined by the secretary. The secretary may award subsequent additional grants to the same Kansas sheltered workshop employer upon satisfactory progress shown by such workshop employer pursuant to the workshop employer's transition plan. (c) Kansas sheltered workshop employers that receive a matching grant shall provide such information to the secretary as requested, excluding any information prohibited from disclosure under state or federal law, regarding the use of grant funds, use of associated nonstate funds and progress made toward achievement of the transition plan as developed pursuant to subsection (b). Such information shall be utilized by the secretary to analyze and monitor the use of grant funds and compliance with and progress toward completion of the transition plan by workshop employers and to develop best uses of grant funds and transition methods to attain the goal of K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 75-5747 through 75-5749, and amendments thereto. (d) On or before January 31, 2025, and annually on or before January 31 thereafter, the secretary shall report to the house of representatives standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development or its successor committee and the senate standing committee on commerce or its successor committee on the amount and uses of grant funding by each Kansas sheltered workshop employer that has received a matching grant and the progress made by each Kansas sheltered workshop employer toward the goal of K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 75-5747 through 75-5749, and amendments thereto. (e) All expenditures from the Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund shall be for the purpose described in subsection (a) and shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the secretary of labor or the secretary's designee. (f) On July 1, 2024, and each July 1 thereafter, or as soon thereafter as moneys may be available, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer $1,000,000 from the state economic development initiatives fund established by K.S.A. 79-4804, and amendments thereto, to the Kansas sheltered workshop transition fund. History: L. 2024, ch. 1, § 2; February 15.