Set goals and timetables for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act

Labor Department puts disability provision on its to-do list

Updated: Thursday, December 10th, 2009 | By Louis Jacobson

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama pledged to provide stricter enforcement of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires the federal government and federal contractors to "take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities." Obama said that without goals and timetables, which are provided for people of color and women by executive order, the provision for people with disabilities "is largely ineffective."

Obama said he would direct the Labor Department to make the implementation of Section 503 more like the executive orders addressing affirmative action for minorities and women.

On Dec. 7, 2009, the Labor Department published its revised regulatory agenda, and an overhaul of Section 503 was included.

According to that agenda, the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs "is highlighting three regulatory initiatives that reflect [Labor Secretary Hilda Solis'] vision of good jobs for everyone. The Evaluation of Recruitment and Placement Results under Section 503 [Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making] will invite the public to provide input on how the Department can strengthen affirmative action requirements by requiring Federal contractors and subcontractors to conduct more substantive analyses and monitoring of their recruitment and placement efforts targeted to individuals with disabilities."

This action only represents the first step of fulfilling this promise, so we rate it In the Works.

Sources: Labor Department, " Statement of Regulatory and Deregulatory Priorities ," Dec. 7, 2009