Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established

SB 433 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland’s Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative" to improve hiring, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities in state government. The office will develop employment strategies, collect data from state agencies on disability workforce outcomes, and oversee the initiative, which requires agencies to set hiring/retention goals and implement best practices. State agencies must report annually on progress and barriers to employment for people with disabilities starting in 2026. The bill does not create new benefits or entitlements but mandates policy coordination and transparency for state government employment practices.