(1) No less frequently than once each year, the governor's committee on disability issues and employment shall determine whether entities seeking to qualify as vendors in good standing, pursuant to this section and RCW 43.19.531, have achieved, or continue to work towards, the goal of enhancing opportunities for persons of disabilities to maximize their employment and career advancement, and increase the number employed and their wages.

     (2) In making the determination provided for in subsection (1) of this section, the governor's committee on disability issues and employment shall appoint and, except in the case of malfeasance or misfeasance, shall rely upon the conclusions of an advisory subcommittee consisting of: (a) Three members chosen from among those current or former clients of a community rehabilitation program who have nominated themselves, at least one of whom must be a person with a developmental disability; (b) one member chosen from among those guardians, parents, or other relatives of a current client or employee of a community rehabilitation program who have nominated themselves; (c) one member chosen from among those who have been nominated by a community rehabilitation program; (d) one member chosen from among those owners of a business owned and operated by persons with disabilities who have nominated themselves; (e) one member who is designated by the developmental disabilities council; (f) one member who is a member of and selected by the governor's committee on disability issues and employment; (g) one member who is designated by the secretary of the department of social and health services; and (h) one member who is designated by the director of the department of services for the blind.

     (3) The advisory subcommittee appointed by the governor's committee on disability issues and employment shall conclude that entities seeking to qualify, pursuant to this section and RCW 43.19.531, as vendors in good standing, have achieved, or continue to work towards, the goal of enhancing opportunities for persons of disabilities to maximize their employment and career advancement, and increase the number employed and their wages if, and only if, the entity provides reasonably conclusive evidence that, during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the entity's application, at least one-half of the following measurement categories applicable to the entity have been either achieved, pursuant to rules established under subsection (4) of this section, or have been improved as compared to the entity's condition with respect to that measurement category one year ago:

     (a) The number of people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are working in integrated settings;

     (b) The percentage of the people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are working in integrated settings;

     (c) The number of people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are working in individual supported employment settings;

     (d) The percentage of the people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are working in individual supported employment settings;

     (e) The number of people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who, during the last twelve months, have transitioned to less restrictive employment settings either within the entity or with other community employers;

     (f) The number of people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are earning at least the state minimum wage;

     (g) The percentage of the people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce who are earning at least the state minimum wage;

     (h) The number of people with disabilities serving in supervisory capacities within the entity;

     (i) The percentage of supervisory positions within the entity that are occupied by people with disabilities;

     (j) The number of people with disabilities serving in an ownership capacity or on the governing board of the entity;

     (k) The ratio of the total amount paid by the entity in wages, salaries, and related employment benefits to people with disabilities, as compared to the amount paid by the entity in wages, salaries, and related employment benefits paid by the entity to persons without disabilities during the previous year; and

     (l) The percentage of people with disabilities in the entity's total workforce for whom the entity has developed a reasonable, achievable, and written career plan.

     (4) The commissioner shall consult with the advisory subcommittee established in subsection (2) of this section to develop and adopt rules establishing the measurement at which it is deemed that the measurement categories identified in subsection (3)(b), (d), (e), (g), (h), (j), (k), and (l) of this section have been achieved.

     (5) This section expires December 31, 2009.

[2005 c 204 § 6; 2003 c 136 § 7.]