An Act To Clarify the Laws Governing the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1821,  as enacted by PL 1973, c. 198, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §1822,  as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §4, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §1823,  as enacted by PL 1973, c. 198, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §1824,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 708, Pt. J, §4, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 26 MRSA §1411-A, sub-§4,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

Sec. 6. 26 MRSA §1411-A, sub-§6, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

Sec. 7. 26 MRSA §1411-C,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1411-C. Authority

The department is the designated and state agency established as the sole state agency to provide rehabilitation services, including but not limited to vocational rehabilitation services, and to provide evaluation and vocational services for purposes of the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and acts amendatory and additional to the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The commissioner shall make those rules that the commissioner finds necessary and appropriate for the administration of a program of rehabilitation services and shall organize such a program within the department in a manner that is consistent with existing federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

Sec. 8. 26 MRSA §1411-D, sub-§8,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

Sec. 9. 26 MRSA §1411-D, sub-§9,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 348, §8, is further amended to read:

Sec. 10. 26 MRSA §1411-E, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

Sec. 11. 26 MRSA §1411-F,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1411-F. Receipt and disbursement of funds

The Treasurer of State is the appropriate officer of the State to receive and administer federal grants for rehabilitation programs, as contemplated by the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and acts amendatory and additional to the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the State Controller shall authorize expenditures as approved by the department.

Sec. 12. 26 MRSA §1411-H,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1411-H. Maintenance not assignable

The right of a handicapped or disadvantaged individual person with a disability to maintenance under this article is not transferable or assignable at law or in equity and none of the money paid or payable or rights existing under this article are subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process or to the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency law.

Sec. 13. 26 MRSA §1412-C,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1412-C. Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

The commissioner shall establish within the department the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services , which . Within the bureau, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, as the designated state unit under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall administer that group of rehabilitation services to nonblind and nonvisually impaired individuals specifically related to the federal vocational rehabilitation programs.

Sec. 14. 26 MRSA §1412-E,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1412-E. Rules

The department is authorized to establish rules required for the proper administration of a vocational rehabilitation program under the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and acts amendatory and additional to the Federal federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These rules must include procedures for ensuring access to records by the protection and advocacy agencies designated under Title 5, Part 24 pursuant to an investigation of alleged rights violations.

Sec. 15. 26 MRSA §1413-C, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 652, Pt. A, §40, is further amended to read:

Within the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened department, the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened , as established under Title 5, section 12004-J, subsection 17, consists of 24 up to 23 members and 3 members-at-large appointed by the Governor and representing equally consumers, professionals and the public. Members serve 3-year terms and may serve multiple terms without limit. Members are entitled to compensation in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379.

Sec. 16. 26 MRSA §1418-C,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. F, §13, is amended to read:

§ 1418-C. Program established; Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The division, as the designated state unit under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall administer services related to blind and visually impaired individuals. The division shall provide a program of services for the blind persons, including prevention of blindness, locating of blind persons, vocational guidance and training of the blind persons, placement of blind persons in employment, assistance to local schools in meeting the special needs of blind students, instruction of adult blind persons in their homes and other social services to the blind persons.

SUMMARY

This bill changes the laws governing the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services by:

1. Repealing the laws governing the blind-made products program, a program that no longer exists;

2. Changing references to the Federal Rehabilitation Act to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

3. Specifying the Department of Labor as the designated state agency to provide rehabilitation services under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and naming the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired as the designated state units;

4. Defining "gainful employment" as it pertains to the different standards within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired;

5. Changing the phrase "handicapped or disadvantaged individual" to "person with a disability"; and

6. Reducing the number of members on the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened from 24 members and 3 at large members to up to 23 members to reflect the bylaws voted on by the commission. It also provides that members serve 3-year terms and may serve multiple terms without limit.