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



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



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



(3)  At least one representative of the client
assistance program;



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



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



(6)  Four representatives of business, industry, and
labor;



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



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



(9)  At least one representative of the state
educational agency responsible for the public education of students with
disabilities;



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



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



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



(b)  The council members shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel
expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.



(c)  The council, after consulting with the
state workforce development council, shall advise the vocational rehabilitation
division of the department on eligibility, order of selection, extent, scope,
and effectiveness of services provided, and performance of state agencies that
affect or that potentially affect the ability of individuals with disabilities
in achieving employment outcomes.  The council shall develop, agree to, and review
state goals and priorities, advise the vocational rehabilitation division of
the department regarding authorized activities, and assist in the preparation
of the state plan and amendments to the plan, applications, reports, needs
assessment, and evaluations.  The council shall conduct a review and analysis
of the effectiveness of, and consumer satisfaction with, the performance by the
vocational rehabilitation division of the department, vocational rehabilitation
services provided by state agencies, and other public and private entities, and
employment outcomes achieved by eligible individuals receiving services,
including the availability of health and other employment benefits in
connection with employment outcomes.  The council shall prepare and submit an
annual report to the governor on the status of vocational rehabilitation
programs within the State and make the report available to the public.



(d)  The council shall coordinate with other
councils within the State including the statewide independent living council,
the state council on developmental disabilities, the state council on mental
health, the advisory panel of individuals with disabilities in education, and
the state workforce development council.  The council shall establish working
relationships between the vocational rehabilitation division of the department
and other councils and coordinate other functions as deemed appropriate under
federal law.



(e)  If there is a disagreement between the
council and the vocational rehabilitation division of the department, the
disagreement shall be resolved by the governor. [L 1993, c 197, pt of §1; am L
1994, c 126, §§1, 2; am L 1999, c 154, §1; am L 2000, c 4, §3; am L 2001, c
175, §8]



 



Note



 



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