Washington Administrative Code › Title 67 - Blind, Department of Services for the › Chapter 67-10 - Public records - Disclosure › Section 67-10-025 - State rehabilitation council for the blind

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The purpose of the state rehabilitation
					council for the blind is to:
* Review, analyze, and advise the department of its
						responsibilities under The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 including, vocational
						rehabilitation, business enterprise program, and independent living
						services;
* Partner with the department in the development and review of
						the VR state plan goals and priorities, the DSB strategic plan, reports, needs
						assessments, and program evaluation;
* Conduct a review and analysis of consumer satisfaction as it
						relates to the functions performed by the department, the services delivered,
						and outcomes achieved;
* Prepare and submit an annual report to the governor and the
						RSA commissioner, and make the report available to the public;
* Coordinate with other councils, as specified by The
						Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including, the state independent living council and
						centers for independent living;
* Advocate for people who are blind by making recommendations
						to the governor and the legislature on issues related to the department, other
						state agencies, or state laws which have a significant effect on the
						opportunities, services, or rights of blind persons;
* Advise and make recommendations to the governor on the
						criteria and qualifications pertinent to the selection of the department
						director;
* Perform other functions consistent with The Rehabilitation
						Act of 1973, comparable to other functions performed by the council, determined
						by the council.
(2) Members
					of the state rehabilitation council for the blind shall be appointed by the
					governor considering geographic representation, gender, ethnicity and other
					unique characteristics. Individuals who are blind must constitute a majority of
					the council.
Membership must also include the following represented
						groups:
* A consumer organization of the blind; two current or former
						recipients of vocational rehabilitation services;
* Four representatives of business, labor and industry;
* The state workforce investment board;
* The client assistance program;
* The parent information and training center;
* A current or former qualified vocational rehabilitation
						counselor who shall be a nonvoting member if currently employed by the
						department;
* A community rehabilitation program;
* The tribal vocational rehabilitation program;
* The office of the superintendent of public
						instruction;
* A representative of individuals who are blind who have
						difficulty representing themselves or are unable, due to their disabilities, to
						represent themselves;
* The Washington state independent living council;
* The executive director of the department who shall be a
						nonvoting member.
(3)
					Members are appointed to the state rehabilitation council for the blind for a
					term of three years. Members may seek reappointment for a second term. No
					member may serve more than two consecutive full terms, except for the CAP and
					tribal representative positions, or unless the governor finds it necessary to
					extend a position for a specified time in order to achieve required
					representation. If a vacancy occurs due to resignation or withdrawal prior to
					the end date of the term, the governor may appoint a new member who will serve
					out the remainder of the position's term to its scheduled end date. A member's
					term may be ended at any time by the governor.