CHAPTER 5. Employment Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired [11000. - 11006.]

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC 5.
in effect

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 11000. Section 11000.

The Legislature finds that over 1.5 million persons in California are deaf or significantly hard of hearing. Private and public employment agencies are not routinely adapted to meet the communication needs of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing and, therefore, the services they receive may be less than those provided to other persons. The Legislature also finds that employment opportunities for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing are increased when specialized counseling, interpretive, job placement, and followup services supplement conventional employment services. In addition, the limited programs that provide these specialized employment services to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing have recently been subject to significant local funding reductions. Therefore, the Legislature finds that a more stable funding source, as provided by this chapter, is necessary to ensure the continuance of these programs.

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 11001. Section 11001.

(a) The department shall contract with public agencies or private nonprofit corporations for a period not to exceed one year to provide employment services for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. These employment services shall be provided onsite at the department’s offices which are selected pursuant to Section 11004. (b) At the end of each contract year, the department may renegotiate the terms of each contract in accordance with allowable increases or decreases in the contractor’s costs and the contractor’s demonstrated ability to provide the specified services. (c) If a contractor is a private nonprofit corporation, it shall submit a complete financial statement audited by a certified public accountant prior to a renewal of the contract.

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 11002. Section 11002.

Employment services for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Complete communication services for all preparatory, job placement, and followup activities. The communication services shall include interpreter services by a professional interpreter for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing possessing the comprehensive skills certification of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the equivalent, telecommunications, and, when necessary, training in communication skills. (b) Advocacy to assure that persons who are deaf and hard of hearing receive equal access to public and private employment services. (c) Job development and job placement. (d) Employment counseling, including peer counseling by persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. (e) Followup counseling and problemsolving after placement.

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 11003. Section 11003.

(a) The department, with the advice of persons knowledgeable about providing employment services to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing, shall establish the criteria for choosing contractors. (b) The criteria shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) The ability to provide services to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing in the person’s preferred mode of communication. (2) The ability to secure community support, including written endorsements of local officials, employers, the workforce investment board of the local workforce investment area, and organizations of and for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. (3) The existence of funding from one or more public or private sources. (c) Preference shall be given in the selection of a contractor to those proposals which demonstrate all of the following: (1) Participation of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing on the potential contractor’s employment services staff, and in the case of a private nonprofit corporation, on the board of directors. (2) A commitment to the development and maintenance of self-determination for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 11004. Section 11004.

The department shall do all of the following: (a) Determine the number and location of its offices within the state providing employment services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and decide which offices shall be served by contractors given the resources available under this chapter. The department shall give priority to offices where contracts are necessary in order to prevent or minimize the disruption or the discontinuance of employment services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing which have been provided in conjunction with the department before July 1, 1984. (b) Coordinate the provision of employment services for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing with the State Department of Social Services and the Department of Rehabilitation so that employment services provided by this chapter supplement or provide alternatives to services provided or funded by the departments. (c) Establish uniform accounting procedures and contracts for use with regard to this chapter. (d) Promulgate requests for proposals and conduct bidders’ conferences, and evaluate proposals according to the criteria established pursuant to Section 11003. (e) Use the definitions of deafness and significantly hard of hearing that have been used or established by regulation by the State Department of Social Services. (f) Conduct a management or fiscal audit of a contract whenever it is necessary for proper supervision of that contract. (g) Annually consider incorporation of the services described in this chapter in the job service plan required by Section 8 of the federal Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 49g). (h) Assist contractors in maintaining all of the following information: (1) The number of persons receiving services. (2) A description of the services provided. (3) The cost of the services provided. (4) The number of persons placed in jobs. (5) The number of persons assisted by followup activities. (6) The number and qualifications of staff providing the services.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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