Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 32 - Rehabilitation And Disabilities › Part 10 - MDRS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL › Sec2 32-10-1-1 - MDRS General Policies › Section 32-10-1-1.5 - Public Hearing Proceedings On Proposed Policy Changes That Substantially Impact Services To Clients

Current through June 25, 2024
1. Scope:
Public hearings will be held for the purpose of providing the
				  public with an opportunity to make oral presentations on proposed new policies
				  and amendments to existing policies that substantially impact services to
				  clients.
2. Public Hearing
				Proceedings Timeline:
OVR/OVRB will conduct a public hearing proceeding within
				  thirty (30) days after the first notice of public hearing is run in select
				  regional and statewide newspapers on proposed policy or amendment to existing
				  policies that substantially impact services to clients.
3. Requested Format:
Each request to comment must be printed or typewritten, or
				  must be in legible handwriting. Each request to comment must be submitted on
				  standard business letter-size paper (8-1/2 inches by 11 inches). Requests to
				  comment may be in the form of a letter addressed to the MDRS Executive Director
				  and signed by the requestor(s).
4. Notification of Public Hearing
				Proceedings:
The date, time and place of all public hearing proceedings
				  will be announced via notice in certain regional and statewide newspapers,
				  public service announcements via Mississippi Public Radio, notice on the agency
				  website, and press releases to numerous consumer organizations who represent or
				  serve people with disabilities. The public hearing proceeding will be scheduled
				  within thirty (30) days after the first notice of public hearing is run in
				  certain regional and statewide newspapers.
5. Presiding Officer:
The Executive Director, or his/her designee, who is familiar
				  with the substance of the proposed policy, shall preside at the public hearing
				  proceeding on a proposed policy.
6. Public Presentations and Participation:
(a) At a public hearing proceeding on a
				proposed policy, persons may make oral statements and make documentary and
				physical submissions, which may include data, views, comments, or arguments
				concerning the proposed policy.
(b)
				Persons wishing to make oral presentations at such a proceeding shall notify
				OVR/OVRB at least one business day prior to the proceeding and indicate the
				general subject of their presentations. The presiding officer, at his or her
				discretion, may allow individuals to participate that have not previously
				contacted the agency.
(c) At the
				proceeding, those who participate shall indicate their names and addresses,
				identify any persons or organizations they may represent, and provide any other
				information relating to their participation deemed appropriate by the presiding
				officer.
(d) The presiding officer
				may place time limitations on individual oral presentations when necessary to
				assure the orderly and expeditious conduct of the public hearing proceeding. To
				encourage joint oral presentations and to avoid repetition, additional time may
				be provided for persons whose presentations represent the views of other
				individuals as well as their own views.
(e) Persons making oral presentations are
				encouraged to avoid restating matters that have already been submitted in
				writing.
(f) There shall be no
				interruption of a participant who has been given the floor by the presiding
				officer, except that the presiding officer, may in his or her discretion,
				interrupt or end the participant's time where the orderly conduct of the
				proceeding so requires.