REPORT TITLE:
Rehabilitation council


DESCRIPTION:
Revises the composition of the Rehabilitation Council to conform
to federal mandates. (SB1057 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1057
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON REHABILITATION.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Section 348-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended to read as follows:
 
 3      "§348-8  State [advisory] rehabilitation council [on
 
 4 rehabilitation].(a)  There is established within the department
 
 5 [of human services] a state [advisory] rehabilitation council [on
 
 6 rehabilitation].  The council shall consist of [nineteen] twenty-
 
 7 one members appointed by the governor as provided in section
 
 8 26-34 and without regard to section 78-4.  The members shall
 
 9 include:
 
10      (1)  At least one representative of the statewide council on
 
11           independent living;
 
12      (2)  At least one representative of a parent training and
 
13           information center;
 
14      (3)  At least one representative of the client assistance
 
15           program;
 
16      (4)  At least one qualified vocational rehabilitation
 
17           counselor with knowledge of and experience with
 
18           vocational rehabilitation programs, who shall serve as
 
19           an ex officio, nonvoting member if employed by the
 
20           vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind
 
21           division [of the department];
 
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 1      (5)  At least one representative of community rehabilitation
 
 2           program service providers;
 
 3      (6)  [At least four] Four representatives of business,
 
 4           industry, and labor;
 
 5      (7)  Representatives of disability advocacy groups
 
 6           representing a cross section of individuals with
 
 7           physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental disabilities,
 
 8           and parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or
 
 9           authorized representatives of individuals with
 
10           disabilities who have difficulty in representing
 
11           themselves or are unable due to their disabilities to
 
12           represent themselves;
 
13      (8)  Current or former applicants for or recipients of
 
14           vocational rehabilitation services; [and
 
15      (9)  The director of human services, who shall be an ex
 
16           officio member;]
 
17      (9)  At least one representative from the department of
 
18           education who is responsible for the public education
 
19           of students with disabilities;
 
20     (10)  At least one representative of the state workforce
 
21           development council; and
 
22     (11)  The administrator of the vocational rehabilitation and
 
23           services for the blind division, who shall be an ex
 
24           officio, non-voting member;
 

 
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 1 provided that the council shall include at least one member from
 
 2 each county; and provided further that a majority of the council
 
 3 members shall be persons who have disabilities and are not
 
 4 employed by the [department.] vocational rehabilitation and
 
 5 services for the blind division.  The council members shall elect
 
 6 a chairperson from the membership.  Each member of the council
 
 7 shall serve a three-year term but may not serve more than two
 
 8 consecutive full terms.  Any vacancy occurring in the council
 
 9 membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original
 
10 appointment, except that the governor may delegate the authority
 
11 to fill such a vacancy to the remaining members of the council
 
12 after making the original appointment.
 
13      (b)  The council members shall serve without compensation
 
14 but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel
 
15 expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.
 
16      (c)  The council shall, after consulting with the state
 
17 workforce development council, advise the [department]
 
18 vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind division on
 
19 eligibility, order of selection, extent, scope, and effectiveness
 
20 of services provided, and performance of [the department in
 
21 providing services, and review] state agencies that affect or
 
22 that potentially affect the ability of individuals with
 
23 disabilities in achieving employment outcomes.  The council
 
24 shall:
 

 
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 1      (1)  Develop, agree to, and review state goals and
 
 2           priorities;
 
 3      (2)  Advise the vocational rehabilitation and services for
 
 4           the blind division regarding authorized activities; and
 
 5      (3)  Assist in the preparation of the state plan and
 
 6           amendments to the plan, applications, reports, needs
 
 7           assessment, and evaluations.
 
 8      The council shall conduct a review and analysis of the
 
 9 effectiveness of, and consumer satisfaction with, the performance
 
10 [of the department] by:
 
11      (1)  The vocational rehabilitation and services for the
 
12           blind division;
 
13      (2)  Vocational rehabilitation services provided by state
 
14           agencies and other public and private entities[.]; and
 
15      (3)  Employment outcomes achieved by eligible individuals
 
16           receiving services, including the availability of
 
17           health and other employment benefits in connection with
 
18           such employment outcomes.
 
19      The council shall prepare and submit an annual report to the
 
20 governor on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs
 
21 within the State and make the report available to the public.
 
22      (d)  The council shall coordinate with other councils within
 
23 the State including [the]:
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  The statewide independent living council[, the];
 
 2      (2)  The state planning council on developmental
 
 3           disabilities[, the];
 
 4      (3)  The state council on mental health and substance
 
 5           abuse[, and the];
 
 6      (4)  The advisory panel of individuals with disabilities in
 
 7           education[.]; and
 
 8      (5)  The state workforce development council.
 
 9      The council shall establish working relationships between
 
10 the [department] vocational rehabilitation and services for the
 
11 blind division and such councils and coordinate other functions
 
12 as deemed appropriate under federal law.
 
13      (e)  If there is a disagreement between the council and the
 
14 [department] vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind
 
15 division, the disagreement shall be resolved by the governor."
 
16      SECTION 2.  Section 348-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
17 amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
 
18      "(c)  The council shall:
 
19      (1)  Develop and submit jointly with the department a state
 
20           plan;
 
21      (2)  Monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the
 
22           state plan;
 

 
 
 
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 1      (3)  Coordinate activities with the state [advisory]
 
 2           rehabilitation council [on rehabilitation]; and
 
 3      (4)  Submit to the commissioner of the rehabilitation
 
 4           services administration such periodic reports as are
 
 5           requested."
 
 6      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
 7 New statutory material is underscored.
 
 8      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.