Source: https://ncbvi.nebraska.gov/about/state-statutes
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 11:25:11+00:00

Document:
Sections 71-8601 to 71-8616 shall be known and may be cited as the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act.
The purposes of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act are to assist blind persons in gaining remunerative employment, to enlarge economic opportunities for blind persons, to increase the available occupational range and diversity for blind persons, and to stimulate other efforts that aid blind persons in becoming self-supporting.
Vocational rehabilitation counseling for the blind means the process implemented by a person who operates a comprehensive and coordinated program designed to assist blind persons to gain remunerative employment, to enlarge economic opportunities for blind persons, to increase the available occupational range and diversity for blind persons, and to stimulate other efforts that aid blind persons in becoming self-supporting.
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; created; per diem; expenses.
The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is created. The governing board of the commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor with the approval of a majority of the members of the Legislature. All board members shall have reasonable knowledge or experience in issues related to blindness which may include, but is not limited to, reasonable knowledge or experience acquired through membership in consumer organizations of the blind. No board member or his or her immediate family shall be a current employee of the commission. At least three board members shall be blind persons: One member shall be a member or designee of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska; one member shall be a member or designee of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska; and one member may be a member of another consumer organization of the blind.
Board members shall be appointed for staggered terms with the initial members appointed for terms as follows: Two members for terms ending on December 31, 2001, and three members for terms ending December 31, 2003. Subsequent appointments shall be for terms of four years with no board member appointed to more than two consecutive terms. Board members whose terms have expired shall continue to serve until their successors have been appointed. In the case of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint a successor for the unexpired term. Board members may be removed for cause.
A majority of the board members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall annually elect a chairperson from its membership.
Board members shall receive a per diem of seventy dollars for each day spent in the performance of their official duties and shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177. Aside from the provisions of this subsection, a board member shall not receive other compensation, perquisites, or allowances for the performance of official duties.
The commission shall employ a director who is the administrative officer of the commission. The director shall hire employees as necessary for the efficient operation of the commission. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.
to employ necessary field agents, teachers, and other personnel in accordance with such standards and fix their compensation. All employees of the commission, except the director, shall be included within the State Personnel System.
Repealed. Laws 2002, LB 93, § 27.
Perform other duties necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act.
The commission may perform educational services relating to blindness and may cooperate and consult with other public and private agencies relating to educational issues.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 7.
Promotion of self-support; powers and duties.
Develop recommendations for state contract preferences.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 8.
Blindness-related services; qualifications; commission; duties.
a person who is experiencing a deteriorating condition which is expected to result in blindness. A person seeking to qualify for blindness-related services may obtain an eye examination from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist of his or her choice or provide other certifying evidence of existing or potential visual impairment as required by the rules and regulations of the commission.
The commission shall maintain a list of all ophthalmologists and optometrists currently licensed in Nebraska and establish procedures for a person to obtain evidence to verify that he or she qualifies for blindness-related services.
When an eye examination is required for a person seeking to qualify for blindness-related services, the commission shall pay the cost pursuant to its rules and regulations. The commission may assist any person seeking to qualify for blindness-related services under the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act in arranging an eye examination or obtaining other evidence pursuant to this section.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 9.
The commission is authorized to accept the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 701 et seq., and to cooperate with the United States Government in any way necessary to enable the commission to receive federal funds for the vocational rehabilitation of blind persons as provided in such act and the provisions of Titles II and XVI of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.
The commission shall provide vocational rehabilitation services for blind persons, including, but not limited to, prevocational training, maintenance during training, transportation, occupational tools and equipment, vocational training, medical and surgical care and hospitalization, and prosthetic appliances.
Certified vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind; duties.
Complete referral activities which evaluate data to identify which blind persons or groups of blind persons may be served in conjunction with or by other counselors.
71-8610.02. Vocational rehabilitation counseling for the blind; certified vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind; certification required; qualifications; continuing competency requirements.
No person shall engage in vocational rehabilitation counseling for the blind or hold himself or herself out as a certified vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind in the state unless he or she is certified for such purpose by the commission.
A certified vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind is not a mental health practitioner.
Completion of appropriate training as approved by the executive director.
Each certified vocational rehabilitation counselor for the blind shall, in the period since his or her certificate was issued or last renewed, complete continuing competency requirements as set forth by the commission under the executive director's approval.
The commission may waive some or all of the requirements of subsection (3) of this section for any person engaged in rehabilitation counseling for the blind on or before September 1, 2007.
For the purpose of providing blind persons with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities of blind persons, and stimulating blind persons to greater efforts in striving to make themselves self-supporting, the commission shall administer and operate vending facilities programs pursuant to the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 107 et seq. Blind persons licensed by the commission pursuant to its rules and regulations are authorized to operate vending facilities in any federally owned building or on any federally owned or controlled property, in any state-owned building or on any property owned or controlled by the state, or on any property owned or controlled by any county, city, or municipality with the approval of the local governing body, when, in the judgment of the director of the commission, such vending facilities may be properly and satisfactorily operated by blind persons. With respect to vending facilities in any state-owned building or on any property owned or controlled by the state, priority shall be given to blind persons, except that this shall not apply to the Game and Parks Commission or the University of Nebraska. This priority shall only be given if the bid submitted is comparable in price to the other bids submitted and the qualifications and capabilities of the vendors bidding for a contract are found to be similar to the other bidders.
71-8612. Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Cash Fund; created; use; investment.
The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Cash Fund is created. The fund shall contain money received pursuant to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act and shall include a percentage of the net proceeds derived from the operation of vending facilities. The net proceeds from the operation of vending facilities shall accrue to the blind vending facility operator, except for the percentage of the net proceeds that shall revert to the cash fund. Such fund shall be used for supervision and other administrative purposes as necessary. The commission, in consultation with the Committee of Blind Vendors, shall determine the percentage of the net proceeds that reverts to the fund after an investigation to reveal the gross proceeds, cost of operation, amount necessary to replenish the stock of merchandise, and the business needs of the blind vending facility operator. All equipment purchased from the fund is the property of the state and shall be disposed of only by sale at a fair market price. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.
The commission shall file an annual report with the Governor and the Clerk of the Legislature, prior to each regular session of the Legislature, which details the activities and expenditures of the commission and shall include separately information related to the activities and expenditures of the vending facility program as well as estimates of anticipated expenditures and anticipated revenue available to the vending facility program from all sources.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 13.
71-8614 Hearing authorized. The commission shall provide an opportunity for a fair hearing to any person applying for or receiving services who is dissatisfied with any action or failure to act arising from the operation or administration of any service or program authorized under the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 14.
The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement the purposes of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Act.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 15.
71-8616 Transfer of property to commission; contracts and agreements; effect.
All property, equipment, supplies, and personnel which belonged to, were allocated to, or were used to support the Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Impaired within the Department of Health and Human Services prior to July 1, 2000, are transferred to the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
All existing contracts and agreements in effect on July 1, 2000, as to the Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Impaired within the Department of Health and Human Services are binding and effective upon the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Laws 2000, LB 352, § 16.
Sec. 20. 63-105.Digital voice newspaper delivery system; legislative findings.
The state should maintain a system by which blind and other print-reading-impaired persons can access the information newspapers provide.
The purpose of this section and section 63-106 is to provide a digital voice newspaper delivery system to enable blind and other print-reading-impaired persons to access newspapers in a timely and comprehensive manner.
63-106. Digital voice newspaper delivery system; Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; duties; limit on charges.
Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section and section 63-105.
Any certified user of the system shall not be charged for access to the system other than instate and out-of-state long-distance charges incurred while accessing the system.

References: § 27
 § 7
 § 8
 § 9
 § 13
 § 14
 § 15
 § 16