§348-8  State rehabilitation council. (a)  There is established within the department a state rehabilitationcouncil.  The council shall consist of twenty-one members appointed by thegovernor as provided in section 26-34 and without regard to section 78-4.  Themembers shall include:

(1)  At least one representative of the statewidecouncil on independent living;

(2)  At least one representative of a parent trainingand information center;

(3)  At least one representative of the clientassistance program;

(4)  At least one qualified vocational rehabilitationcounselor with knowledge of and experience with vocational rehabilitationprograms, who shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member if employed by thevocational rehabilitation division of the department;

(5)  At least one representative of communityrehabilitation program service providers;

(6)  Four representatives of business, industry, andlabor;

(7)  Representatives of disability advocacy groupsrepresenting a cross section of individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory,and mental disabilities, and parents, family members, guardians, advocates, orauthorized representatives of individuals with disabilities who have difficultyin representing themselves or are unable due to their disabilities to representthemselves;

(8)  Current or former applicants for or recipients ofvocational rehabilitation services;

(9)  At least one representative of the stateeducational agency responsible for the public education of students withdisabilities;

(10)  At least one representative of the stateworkforce development council; and

(11)  The administrator of the vocationalrehabilitation division of the department, who shall be an ex officio,nonvoting member;

provided that the council shall include at least onemember from each county; and provided further that a majority of the councilmembers shall be persons who have disabilities and are not employed by thevocational rehabilitation division of the department.  The council membersshall elect a chairperson from the membership.  Each member of the councilshall serve a three-year term but may not serve more than two consecutive fullterms.  Any vacancy occurring in the council membership shall be filled in thesame manner as the original appointment, except that the governor may delegatethe authority to fill such a vacancy to the remaining members of the councilafter making the original appointment.

(b)  The council members shall serve withoutcompensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travelexpenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(c)  The council, after consulting with thestate workforce development council, shall advise the vocational rehabilitationdivision of the department on eligibility, order of selection, extent, scope,and effectiveness of services provided, and performance of state agencies thataffect or that potentially affect the ability of individuals with disabilitiesin achieving employment outcomes.  The council shall develop, agree to, and reviewstate goals and priorities, advise the vocational rehabilitation division ofthe department regarding authorized activities, and assist in the preparationof the state plan and amendments to the plan, applications, reports, needsassessment, and evaluations.  The council shall conduct a review and analysisof the effectiveness of, and consumer satisfaction with, the performance by thevocational rehabilitation division of the department, vocational rehabilitationservices provided by state agencies, and other public and private entities, andemployment outcomes achieved by eligible individuals receiving services,including the availability of health and other employment benefits inconnection with employment outcomes.  The council shall prepare and submit anannual report to the governor on the status of vocational rehabilitationprograms within the State and make the report available to the public.

(d)  The council shall coordinate with othercouncils within the State including the statewide independent living council,the state council on developmental disabilities, the state council on mentalhealth, the advisory panel of individuals with disabilities in education, andthe state workforce development council.  The council shall establish workingrelationships between the vocational rehabilitation division of the departmentand other councils and coordinate other functions as deemed appropriate underfederal law.

(e)  If there is a disagreement between thecouncil and the vocational rehabilitation division of the department, thedisagreement shall be resolved by the governor. [L 1993, c 197, pt of §1; am L1994, c 126, §§1, 2; am L 1999, c 154, §1; am L 2000, c 4, §3; am L 2001, c175, §8]

 

Note

 

  The statewide council on independent living referred to insubsections (a)(1) and (d), is repealed.