SECTIONS 19095-19098.5 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 19095-19098.5

19095. (a) (1) There is hereby established in the Department of
Rehabilitation a Division of Specialized Services for the Blind and
Visually Impaired and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
(2) For purposes of this chapter "division" means the division
established pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) The purposes of the division shall be as follows:
(1) To assist persons who are blind and visually impaired and deaf
and hard of hearing in gaining competitive employment.
(2) To enlarge economic opportunities for persons who are blind or
visually impaired and deaf and hard of hearing.
(3) To enhance the independence and self-sufficiency of blind and
visually impaired and deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.

19095.5. (a) The division shall be under the direction of a deputy
director, who shall be appointed by the Governor.
(b) The deputy director shall have extensive background in, or
knowledge of, services to the blind and visually impaired and the
deaf and hard of hearing.
(c) The deputy director shall report directly to the directorate
of the Department of Rehabilitation and shall be a member of the
department's executive management, taking part in all departmental
planning and decisionmaking.

19096. (a) Commencing July 1, 2003, the division shall be charged
with the administration of the following programs and services:
(1) All staff within the division, including rehabilitation
counselors, rehabilitation counselors for the blind, staff of the
orientation center, and staff of the business enterprises program.
(2) Orientation centers for the blind, provided for pursuant to
Article 1 (commencing with Section 19500) of Chapter 6 of Part 2.
(3) The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind, provided
pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 19625) of Chapter 6 of
Part 2.
(4) Contracts for services with organizations serving the blind
and visually impaired and the deaf and hard of hearing.
(5) Programs for the blind under Subchapter 7 (commencing with
Section 796) of Chapter 16 of Title 29 of the United States Code.
(b) The division shall also provide additional rehabilitation
services to its blind and visually impaired and deaf and
hard-of-hearing clients, to the extent that funds are available.
(c) The program managers shall report to the deputy director of
the division established pursuant to this chapter.
(d) The division shall be responsible for administrative
functions, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Develop, implement, and oversee policies related to blind and
visually impaired and deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers, including
timely provision of assistive technology services.
(2) Develop and implement mandatory orientation training programs
for new rehabilitation counselors for the blind, rehabilitation
counselors for the deaf, and counselor teachers.
(3) Develop and implement ongoing mandatory training for
rehabilitation supervisors of blind-designated units.
(4) Establish minimum professional competencies for rehabilitation
counselors for the blind, rehabilitation counselors for the deaf,
and counselor teachers, and provide continuing in-service education
to rehabilitation counselors for the blind, rehabilitation counselors
for the deaf, and counselor teachers.
(5) Provide support and assistance to field staff on issues
related to the cases of blind and visually impaired and deaf and
hard-of-hearing consumers.
(6) Provide technical assistance to the department related to the
assistive technology needs of blind and visually impaired and deaf
and hard-of-hearing employees and consumers.
(7) Establish and maintain within the department's Internet Web
site, a communications system for staff serving blind and visually
impaired and deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers for the purpose of
sharing resource information, effective practices, and problem
solving.
(e) Any program administered in whole or in part by the State
Department of Education relative to the transition from school to
work for blind and visually impaired and deaf and hard-of-hearing
secondary education students shall be conducted in partnership with
the division.

19097. (a) Subject to the control of the director, all employees of
the department providing services to persons who are blind and
visually impaired administered by the division pursuant to this
chapter shall be under the exclusive direction and supervision of the
deputy director of the division.
(b) The division shall establish criteria and train counselors and
supervisors working with persons who are blind and visually impaired
and deaf and hard of hearing to ensure they have the specialized
knowledge and skills to meet the needs of these persons.

19097.5. The department shall report annually in the fourth quarter
of each calendar year to the Blind Advisory Committee on the amount
of state and federal funds allocated to direct services governed by
this chapter.

19098. The Director of Rehabilitation shall, on or before July 1,
2005, and every other year thereafter, report to the Legislature and
the Governor on the programs administered by the division. The report
shall include statistics on competitive employment placements of
persons who are blind or visually impaired.

19098.5. The Director of Rehabilitation shall establish the Blind
Advisory Committee to advise the Director of Rehabilitation on means
to increase competitive employment, enlarge economic opportunities,
enhance independence and self-sufficiency, and otherwise improve
services for persons who are blind and visually impaired. A majority
of the members shall be blind or visually impaired. Members of the
committee who are not blind or visually impaired shall have
experience in services to the blind. The committee shall develop, in
conjunction with stakeholders, an annual work plan to identify and
address areas for improvement in services provided by the division to
persons who are blind and visually impaired.