Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 33 - CIVILIAN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (§§ 37-33-1 — 37-33-263) › FUNDING OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED (§§ 37-33-121 — 37-33-133) › Section 37-33-129 - Community rehabilitation program board of directors

(1)
Every city, county, nonprofit corporation, state-supported institution, or combination thereof establishing a community rehabilitation program shall appoint a community rehabilitation program board of directors of not less than nine (9) members before becoming eligible for the assistance provided by Sections
37-33-121
through
37-33-131
. When any city or county singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the board shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the city or county. When any combination of cities, counties, state-supported institutions, or nonprofit corporations establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the governing authorities of the county, city, or nonprofit corporations and directors of state-supported institutions shall appoint the board. If a nonprofit corporation singly establishes such a community rehabilitation program, the corporation shall appoint the board of directors. Membership on a board shall be representative of the community served and shall include an individual with a disability. One-third (1/3) to one-half (1/2) of the board shall be representative of lay associations for individuals with disabilities, labor, the general public and education, welfare, medical and health professions. Nothing in Sections
37-33-121
through
37-33-131
shall be construed to preclude the appointment of elected or appointed public officials or members of the board of directors of the sponsoring nonprofit corporation to the board, so long as representation described above is preserved.
(2)
The term of office of each member of the community rehabilitation program board shall be for four (4) years, measured from the first day of the year of appointment, except as follows: Of the members first appointed, at least three (3) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, at least three (3) for a term of three (3) years, and at least three (3) for a term of four (4) years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Any member of a board may be removed by the appointing authority for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after being given written statement of charges and an opportunity to be heard on the charges.
(3)
Subject to the provisions of Sections
37-33-121
through
37-33-131
and the rules and regulations of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, each community rehabilitation program board shall:
(a)
Review and evaluate the need for a community rehabilitation program provided by Sections
37-33-121
through
37-33-131
and report thereon to the Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the administrator of the local program, and, when indicated, the public, together with recommendations for additional services and facilities;
(b)
Recruit and promote local financial support for the program from private sources such as united funds, business, industrial and private foundations, voluntary agencies and other lawful sources and promote public support for municipal and county appropriations;
(c)
Promote, arrange and implement working agreements with other educational and social service agencies both public and private and any other allied agencies;
(d)
Advise the local administrator of the community rehabilitation program on the adoption and implementation of policies to stimulate effective community relations;
(e)
Review the annual plan and budget and make recommendations thereon;
(f)
When so determined by the authority establishing the program, act as the local administrator of the program.
Laws, 1975, ch. 509, § 5; Laws, 1983, ch. 521, § 18; Laws, 1989, ch. 544, § 80; Laws, 1990, ch. 522, § 11; Laws, 1991, ch. 608, § 14, eff. 7/1/1991 (became law without the Governor's signature); Laws, 2002, ch. 463, § 36, eff. 7/1/2002.