INDIANAPOLIS – On Tuesday Gov. Eric Holcomb signed State Rep. Bob Heaton’s (R-Terre Haute) bill into law enhancing employment opportunities for Hoosier workers with disabilities.

Ability Indiana, also known as the State Use Program, is a nonprofit, central coordinating agency that helps facilitate state and local agencies with purchasing products and services from employment centers around the state that hire individuals with disabilities. Currently, there are 33 approved employment centers throughout the state. Heaton said through the program, quality goods and services are provided at reasonable prices, while the state pursues its established policy of promoting competitive wage employment for individuals with disabilities.

Under House Enrolled Act 1257, qualifying nonprofits for the State Use Program will need to be incorporated in Indiana. It also modernizes sensitive terminology concerning individuals with disabilities and brings several program requirements in line with recently changed federal regulations, Heaton said.

This law goes into effect July 1.