The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on December 9, 2011, proposing significant substantive changes to the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including the establishment of hiring goals for individuals with a disability.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis hails the proposed rule as "one of the most significant advances in protecting the civil rights of workers with disabilities since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Patricia Shiu, Director of the OFCCP, said, "For nearly 40 years, the rules have said the contractors simply need to make a 'good faith' effort to recruit and hire people with disabilities. Clearly, that is not working. Our proposal would define specific goals, require real accountability, and provide the clearest possible guidance for employers seeking to comply with the law."