Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 33 - CIVILIAN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (§§ 37-33-1 — 37-33-263) › VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION FOR THE BLIND (§§ 37-33-51 — 37-33-75) › Section 37-33-55 - General powers and duties of director of Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind established by Section
37-33-153
shall be administered by the director under supervision of the executive director and the state board, in conformity with federal policies adopted by the department. The director shall be selected by the executive director in accordance with established personnel standards and on the basis of his or her education, training, experience and administrative ability. The director shall devote his or her full time to the administration of vocational rehabilitation. In carrying out his or her duties under the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law, the director:
(a)
Shall, with the approval of the executive director, make regulations in conformity with the most recent amendment of the federal Rehabilitation Act and its associated regulations governing the protection of records and confidential information, the manner and form of filing applications, eligibility and investigations and determinations thereof for vocational rehabilitation services, procedures for fair hearings, and such other regulations as are found necessary to carry out the purposes of that law;
(b)
Shall, with the approval of the executive director, establish appropriate subordinate administrative units within the office for providing vocational rehabilitation, independent living, supported employment, rehabilitation engineering and other services to children, adolescents and adults under federal and state regulatory guidelines;
(c)
Shall, with the approval of the executive director, recommend for appointment of such personnel as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the functions of the office;
(d)
Shall prepare and submit to the state board through the executive director annual reports of activities and expenditures and, before each regular session of the Legislature, shall submit estimates of sums required for carrying out the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law and estimates of the amounts to be made available for this purpose from all sources;
(e)
Shall, if the executive director so authorizes, make certifications on behalf of the executive director for the disbursement of funds available for vocational rehabilitation for individuals who are blind;
(f)
Shall, with the approval of the executive director and the state board, take such other action as he or she deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law;
(g)
May, with the approval of the executive director and the state board, delegate to any officer or employee of the office such of his or her powers and duties, except the making of regulations and the making of recommendations for appointment of personnel, as he or she finds necessary to carry out the purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Law;
(h)
Shall, with the approval of the executive director and the state board, appoint committees to serve as the governing authority for independent living centers or other entities as required by federal law.
Codes, 1942, § 6508.5-03; Laws, 1948, ch. 303, § 3; Laws, 1975, ch. 434, § 2; Laws, 1989, ch. 467, § 2; Laws, 1989, ch. 544, § 92; Laws, 1990, ch. 522, § 8; Laws, 1991, ch. 608, § 30, eff. 7/1/1991 (became law without the Governor's signature); Laws, 2002, ch. 463, § 15, eff. 7/1/2002.