2023 Tennessee Code › Title 49 - EDUCATION (§§ 49-1-NEW — 49-50-1703) › Chapter 11 - VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (§§ 49-11-101 — 49-11-909) › Part 7 - REHABILITATION CENTERS (§§ 49-11-701 — 49-11-709) › Section 49-11-703 - Community-based vocational rehabilitation services

(a)
The commissioner is authorized to establish a system of community-based vocational rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities based on the specific needs within the local community.
(b)
The system must include community-based vocational rehabilitation services established wholly or in part by the department as determined by the commissioner, to support federally authorized rehabilitation services to eligible members of the community in response to local business or community needs.
(c)
A program established to deliver community-based vocational rehabilitation services pursuant to this part is designated as the "Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Program at _____" (name of community where located).
(d)
(1)
The department shall appoint a local advisory board for each community in which the department establishes community-based vocational rehabilitation services.
(2)
The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall appoint the members of each local advisory board from among the citizens of the community where the services are provided.
(3)
The boards must be composed of twelve (12) members, who must serve for staggered terms of four (4) years and must receive no compensation for their services.
(4)
Wherever possible, each advisory board must include among its members representation from the professional fields of education, vocational rehabilitation, human services, employment security, psychology, law, and medicine. To achieve such representation, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may appoint to such board state personnel from a field enumerated in this subdivision (d)(4) who are employed in or reside in a community where community-based vocational rehabilitation services are provided. When appointing members to the advisory board pursuant to this subsection (d), the commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall consider diversity.
(5)
No more than two (2) members of a local advisory board may be parents of an individual with a disability.
(e)
Each local advisory board has the following responsibilities:
(1)
Provide advice, in cooperation with vocational rehabilitation program staff and the department, regarding the operation of the rehabilitation services program and the customers served in the board's community;
(2)
Assist, in coordination with the public school system, the provision of services for students with disabilities in preparation for post-secondary education or employment after high school;
(3)
Promote community support and education concerning persons with disabilities and their employment;
(4)
Provide placement coordination in the local community for the development of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; and
(5)
Assist vocational rehabilitation program staff in presenting the proposed local operating budget to the proper local officials for certification.
(f)
Customers of community-based vocational services established pursuant to this part are not considered state employees. Funds paid to these customers for employment must be paid in accordance with all federal vocational rehabilitation program requirements.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 558,s 3, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 720, s 4, eff. 4/12/2018.
Acts 1965, ch. 332, § 2; T.C.A., § 49-2817; Acts 1985, ch. 227, § 1; 1989, ch. 4, § 3; 2001, ch. 174, § 6.