NY Educ L § 1004-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws EDN - Education Title 1 - General Provisions Article 21 - Vocational Rehabilitation 1004-A - Sheltered Workshops for the Mentally Retarded, Mentally Ill and Severely Physically Handicapped.

§ 1004-a. Sheltered  workshops for the mentally retarded, mentally ill   and severely physically handicapped.  1. Declaration of  purpose.    The   conditions  of  mental  retardation,  mental illness and severe physical   handicap are such that many young people, after  laborious  training  in   the schools and otherwise, reach the point in their lives where they can   and  should,  under  proper  and continued guidance, engage in sheltered   employment. The effects of such employment are salutary  in  many  ways.   The  affected  individual  is  helped to become a contributing member of   society. The state is saved the expense of his  institutionalization  in   already  overcrowded  state  schools  and facilities. The family retains   closer contact with him and is spared the anxieties naturally  attaching   to  separation  and institutionalization. All of these factors have also   been shown to reflect  tangible  benefit  upon  the  mentally  retarded,   mentally ill and severely physically handicapped person in improving his   overall  condition.  The  purpose  of  this  measure  is to specifically   encourage the development, improvement and expansion of  such  sheltered   employment  facilities  by  non-profit  agencies,  so  that the salutary   effects mentioned can be expediently accomplished.2. Special provisions relating to mentally retarded, mentally ill  and   severely physically handicapped persons in extended sheltered employment   in  workshops. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, when   it shall appear to the satisfaction of the department  that  a  mentally   retarded,  mentally  ill  or severely physically handicapped person over   the chronological age of seventeen years can reasonably be  expected  to   benefit  from,  or  in  his  best interests reasonably requires extended   sheltered employment in a workshop as defined  in  section  ten  hundred   two,  subdivision eight of article twenty-one of this chapter, furnished   by an approved non-profit organization, the department is authorized  to   contract  with  such  organization  for the furnishing of such sheltered   employment  to  such  mentally  retarded,  mentally  ill   or   severely   physically  handicapped person; and the department is further authorized   to expend for such purpose a sum or sums not less than one thousand five   hundred dollars per annum for each such mentally retarded, mentally  ill   or  severely  physically  handicapped person, for or towards the cost of   providing such sheltered employment for  each  such  mentally  retarded,   mentally ill or severely physically handicapped person.The  department  shall  pay at least quarterly during the state fiscal   year such  sums  as  are  authorized  to  such  organizations  for  such   sheltered  employment  immediately upon the completion of evaluation and   personal adjustment services under the sponsorship of the department.3.  The  department  shall  maintain  a  register  of  such  nonprofit   organizations  which,  after  inspection of the facilities for sheltered   employment provided by them, it deems qualified to  meet  the  needs  of   such mentally retarded, mentally ill and severely physically handicapped   persons.  Such  inspection  shall also determine the eligibility of such   organization to receive the funds hereinbefore specified.4. The department  is  authorized  to  contract  with  such  nonprofit   organizations  for  the  provision of vocational rehabilitation services   which lead to sheltered employment.5. The department shall assure that individuals in long-term sheltered   employment operated by not-for-profit agencies are periodically reviewed   to determine the  feasibility  of  their  employment,  or  training  for   employment,  in integrated work settings and that maximum efforts toward   such employment occur, whenever it is determined to be feasible.6. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate such reasonable  rules   and  regulations  as  he  may  deem necessary or proper to carry out the   provisions of this section.