05 LC 33
0520
Senate
Bill 23
By:
Senators Butler of the 55th, Henson of the 41st, Weber of the 40th, Miles of the
43rd, Adelman of the 42nd and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
establish the "DeKalb County Commission on Disability"; to provide for
appointment of members of the commission; to provide for other matters relative
thereto; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds that full access to employment, program facilities, and
services is vitally important to the residents of DeKalb County, whether
disabled or not disabled, and that the establishment in DeKalb County of a
commission on disability recognizes the importance of such access. The intent
of this Act is to bring about full inclusion of all DeKalb County residents,
whether disabled or not disabled, into all aspects of community life in DeKalb
County through collaborative partnership among residents, local government,
nonprofit organizations, and other entities and through strategic management,
education, advocacy, training, research, and improved service
delivery.
SECTION
2.
(a)
There is hereby created and established the "DeKalb County Commission on
Disability," hereinafter referred to as the "commission," which shall be
composed of 12 members. Five members shall be appointed by the chief executive
officer of DeKalb County. Each of the seven commissioners of the Board of
Commissioners of DeKalb County shall appoint one member. The commission shall
have an executive director appointed by the chief executive officer of DeKalb
County. The executive director may hire, subject to available funds, one staff
person until such time as the commission determines additional staff is
necessary.
(b) All appointments to the commission shall become effective on the first day of the month following the month in which this Act becomes law. Members shall be appointed and may be reappointed to terms of office of two years each and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of the commission, the vacancy shall be filled prior to the next regular meeting in the same manner as the original appointment and the successor shall serve for the unexpired term.
(c) Membership on the commission does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding public office by reason of his or her membership on the commission.
(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that each member may be reimbursed out of the funds of the commission as funds are available for expenses incurred as a result of his or her duties as a commission member in accordance with the State of Georgia mileage reimbursement allowance.
(e) The commission shall elect a chairperson and such other officers from among their number and make such bylaws for its operation as may be necessary or appropriate.
(f) The commission may establish advisory committees. All members of the advisory committee shall be knowledgeable about disability issues.
(b) All appointments to the commission shall become effective on the first day of the month following the month in which this Act becomes law. Members shall be appointed and may be reappointed to terms of office of two years each and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of the commission, the vacancy shall be filled prior to the next regular meeting in the same manner as the original appointment and the successor shall serve for the unexpired term.
(c) Membership on the commission does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding public office by reason of his or her membership on the commission.
(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that each member may be reimbursed out of the funds of the commission as funds are available for expenses incurred as a result of his or her duties as a commission member in accordance with the State of Georgia mileage reimbursement allowance.
(e) The commission shall elect a chairperson and such other officers from among their number and make such bylaws for its operation as may be necessary or appropriate.
(f) The commission may establish advisory committees. All members of the advisory committee shall be knowledgeable about disability issues.
SECTION
3.
The
chairperson of the commission may contract with other agencies, public or
private, or persons as the chairperson deems necessary for the rendering and
affording of such services, facilities, studies, research, and reports to the
commission as will best assist it to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
The chairperson shall provide timely notice to the Board of Commissioners of
DeKalb County of all such contracts entered into as a courtesy.
SECTION
4.
The
commission is vested with the following functions and authorities:
(1)
To form a volunteer disability task force composed of DeKalb County residents,
advocates, and leaders to gather pertinent information;
(2)
To host town hall meetings, public forums, and presentations to inform and
solicit public input;
(3)
To identify the existing needs of the residents of DeKalb County, disabled and
not disabled, which impact full access to employment, program facilities, and
services;
(4)
To cooperate with and seek cooperation from every department, agency, or
instrumentality in furtherance of the purposes of this Act;
(5)
To develop liaisons with civic organizations and nonprofit entities to use as
resources and sources of information dissemination;
(6)
To develop task forces to raise awareness at the neighborhood and community
level; and
(7)
To utilize public service announcements on local television to disseminate
information and educate.
SECTION
5.
(a)
The commission is authorized to accept and use property, both real and personal,
and services for the purpose of carrying out this Act. The commission is
authorized to accept and use gifts, grants, and donations for the purpose of
carrying out this Act. Any funds, property, or services received by gifts,
grants, or donations shall be kept separate and apart from any funds received
from any governmental agency, and such funds, property, or services so received
by gifts, grants, or donations shall be the property and the funds of the
commission and, as such, shall not lapse at the end of each fiscal year but
shall remain under the control of and subject to the direction of the commission
to carry out the provisions of this
Act.
(b) The commission may solicit funds from the federal government, state government, county government, and municipalities, and any public funds donated by government are authorized, provided that the commission accounts for the spending of such funds on an annual basis. The Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County is hereby authorized to appropriate county funds for use by the commission.
(c) The commission shall make an annual report on September 1 of each year of its findings and recommendations to the members of the DeKalb County legislative delegation, the Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County, the chief executive officer of DeKalb County, and the judicial officers of DeKalb County.
(b) The commission may solicit funds from the federal government, state government, county government, and municipalities, and any public funds donated by government are authorized, provided that the commission accounts for the spending of such funds on an annual basis. The Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County is hereby authorized to appropriate county funds for use by the commission.
(c) The commission shall make an annual report on September 1 of each year of its findings and recommendations to the members of the DeKalb County legislative delegation, the Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County, the chief executive officer of DeKalb County, and the judicial officers of DeKalb County.
SECTION
6.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2005.
SECTION
7.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.