Bill Overview
Title: AID Local Government Leadership Act
Description: This bill establishes a community grant program for local elected or appointed officials who have disabilities. Specifically, the Department of Labor must award grants to eligible entities in a state or associated with an Indian tribe to provide to local elected or appointed officials with disabilities reasonable accommodations needed to enable them to carry out their official work duties. To be eligible to receive a grant an entity shall be a local government that has a local elected or appointed official with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation to carry out official work duties for a jurisdiction that (1) is in a rural area; (2) has a population of less than 10,000; or (3) has a population of 10,000 to less than 200,000 and a poverty rate of 18% or greater. The reasonable accommodations may include physical adaptations, specialized software, communication supports, certain devices, and transportation services. Labor must annually report on the program's impact.
Sponsors: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Target Audience
Population: Local elected or appointed officials with disabilities in jurisdictions with specified demographics
Estimated Size: 3000
- The bill focuses on elected or appointed officials with disabilities, specifically those needing accommodations to perform their duties.
- The legislation targets local government officials within rural areas or areas with small populations, particularly those with high poverty rates, which are less likely to have resources for accommodations.
- The provision of reasonable accommodations such as physical adaptations and specialized software will have a direct impact on these individuals' ability to perform their job responsibilities safely and effectively.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is already quite specific: elected or appointed officials with disabilities in small or rural local governments, particularly those with high poverty rates. This narrows the pool significantly but ensures the program reaches those in most dire need of support.
- With a budget of $17.5 million in year 1, the program can begin impacting these officials almost immediately, likely allowing for 1000 or more individuals to receive assistance, based on average accommodation costs.
- The policy is expected to improve self-reported wellbeing significantly for those directly impacted, as having necessary accommodations can transform an individual's ability to engage fully in their roles.
- Some individuals, especially those who already have accommodations in place, might not feel a dramatic change, leading to low or no impact.
- The diversity in representation brought on by this policy could have deeper systemic effects, potentially shifting the inclusivity of local governance structures in the long term.
Simulated Interviews
City Council Member (rural area, South Dakota)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often struggle with accessing documents in Council meetings.
- If provided with the right tools, I could better serve my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Mayor (small town, West Virginia)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Without transportation, it's daunting to fulfill my role as Mayor effectively.
- Transport services would greatly enhance my ability to interact with my constituents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
County Commissioner (small city, Mississippi)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I sometimes miss vital parts of discussions in meetings.
- Access to accommodations would boost not only my effectiveness but also my confidence in my role.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Board Member (town, Missouri)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reading large documents is incredibly time-consuming for me.
- I believe the policy would significantly ease my workload and improve my efficacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Town Treasurer (small village, Maine)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sitting for long hours affects my health and work productivity.
- The policy could support my needs and enhance my contribution to our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Tribal Council Member (reservation, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My role requires constant communication, something my condition limits.
- Aid from the policy would lift a significant barrier in my daily tasks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Town Clerk (small town, Georgia)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The inability to independently operate office software limits my role considerably.
- With the right tools, I could drastically improve my contributions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
City Planner (small city, Utah)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With assistive hearing, I could participate more actively in pivotal discussions.
- The policy will bring significant positive changes for those in similar situations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Selectboard Member (village, Vermont)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Physical barriers in the office prevent me from fully attending to my duties.
- Changes could facilitate an inclusive work environment enabling me to be more productive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
City Manager (holiday town, Colorado)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Adjustments in work schedule would tremendously improve my efficiency.
- I see this policy as necessary for people like me to fulfill our roles adequately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $17500000 (Low: $12500000, High: $22500000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $23000000)
Year 3: $18400000 (Low: $13200000, High: $23500000)
Year 5: $19000000 (Low: $13500000, High: $24000000)
Year 10: $20000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $25000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- The program targets support for local officials with disabilities, crucial in ensuring equitable community leadership and inclusion.
- Implementation will require coordination with local entities to ascertain specific needs and adjust funding levels accordingly.
- Costs will need to reflect variabilities in the cost of accommodation and population served.
- An annual review process may refine budgeting needs and ensure appropriate fiscal management.