CHAPTER 1. REHABILITATION SERVICES BUREAU
IC 12-12
ARTICLE 12. REHABILITATION SERVICES
IC 12-12-1
Chapter 1. Rehabilitation Services Bureau
IC 12-12-1-1
Establishment
Sec. 1. The rehabilitation services bureau is established within thedivision.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-2
Organization of bureau
Sec. 2. The director shall organize the bureau in the mannernecessary to carry out the bureau's duties. However, the bureau mustinclude the following:
(1) The unit of services for individuals who are blind andindividuals who are visually impaired.
(2) The unit of vocational rehabilitation.
(3) The unit of services for individuals who are deaf andindividuals who are hard of hearing.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.87.
IC 12-12-1-3
Mandatory duties of bureau
Sec. 3. The bureau shall do the following:
(1) Plan, establish, and operate programs, facilities, and servicesrelating to vocational rehabilitation.
(2) Design all necessary state plans for rehabilitation servicesrequired for the receipt and disbursement of any moneyavailable to the state from the federal government.
(3) Direct the disbursement and administer the use of moneyfrom all sources for vocational rehabilitation programs.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-4
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.64-2002, SEC.8.)
IC 12-12-1-4.1
Additional duties of bureau
Sec. 4.1. (a) The bureau may do the following:
(1) Establish vocational rehabilitation centers separately or inconjunction with community rehabilitation centers.
(2) Contract with governmental units and other public or privateorganizations to provide any of the vocational rehabilitationservices permitted or required by this article, IC 12-8-1-11,IC 12-9-6, and IC 12-11-6.
(3) Provide or contract for the provision of other services that
are consistent with the purposes of this article, IC 12-8-1-11,IC 12-9-6, and IC 12-11-6.
(b) When entering into contracts for job development, placement,or retention services, the bureau shall contract with governmentalunits and other public or private organizations or individuals that areaccredited by one (1) of the following organizations:
(1) The Commission on Accreditation of RehabilitationFacilities (CARF), or its successor.
(2) The Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports forPeople with Disabilities, or its successor.
(3) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of HealthcareOrganizations (JCAHO), or its successor.
(4) The National Commission on Quality Assurance, or itssuccessor.
(5) An independent national accreditation organizationapproved by the secretary.
(c) To the extent that the accreditation requirements of anaccrediting organization listed in subsection (b) do not cover aspecific requirement determined by the bureau to be necessary for acontracted service under subsection (a), the bureau shall includethese specific requirements as part of the bureau's contract for jobdevelopment, placement, or retention services.
As added by P.L.64-2002, SEC.3.
IC 12-12-1-5
Job placement of blind, visually impaired, and persons withdisabilities; supported employment
Sec. 5. (a) The bureau shall provide job placement services,including supported employment (as defined in 34 CFR 363.6), ona consistent statewide basis for qualified blind, visually impaired,and other persons with disabilities.
(b) The bureau shall increase employment opportunities forpersons with disabilities by encouraging and authorizing direct jobplacements into any job that is chosen by the vocationalrehabilitation client, including a job provided by any organizationthat has a contract with the bureau to provide vocationalrehabilitation services.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-1993, SEC.48;P.L.104-1996, SEC.2.
IC 12-12-1-6
Applicants for state service; eligibility for certification underIC 4-15-2-19.5(b)
Sec. 6. The bureau shall, upon request of an applicant for stateservice (as defined in IC 4-15-2-3.8), determine whether theapplicant is an individual with a disability (as defined inIC 4-15-2-19.5) who is eligible to be certified underIC 4-15-2-19.5(b).
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-7
Research and demonstration projects
Sec. 7. The bureau may conduct research and demonstrationprojects, including inquiries into the causes of blindness and otherdisabilities and their prevention.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-8
Receipt of property; conveyance and use of gifts and bequests
Sec. 8. (a) The bureau may receive property from any source if thedirector determines that receipt of the property is consistent with thisarticle.
(b) The bureau may, subject to the terms of the gift or bequest,sell, convey, or authorize the use of the gift or bequest.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-9
Rehabilitation services fund
Sec. 9. (a) The rehabilitation services fund is established.
(b) The fund consists of gifts and bequests, and the proceeds ofthe sale of gifts and bequests, received by the bureau.
(c) The balance remaining in the fund at the end of a state fiscalyear remains in the fund and does not revert to the state general fund.
(d) The interest earned from investment of money in the fundshall be credited to the fund.
(e) The fund shall be used to defray the expenses of rehabilitationor other services in cases for which money is not available fromother sources.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-10
State and federal higher education awards; direct payment toapproved institution; award not considered income
Sec. 10. If an individual receives a state or federal highereducation award that is paid directly to an approved postsecondaryeducational institution for the individual's benefit:
(1) the individual is not required to report the award as incomeor as a resource of the individual when applying for services,facilities, programs, or other assistance from the bureau; and
(2) the award may not be considered as income or a resource ofthe individual in determining initial or continuing eligibility forservices, facilities, programs, or other assistance from thebureau.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.155.