07 LC
33 1725
Senate
Bill 49
By:
Senators Thomas of the 2nd, Harp of the 29th, Johnson of the 1st and Hudgens of
the 47th
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Chapter 15 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to transfer of Division of Rehabilitation Services to Department of Labor, so as
to provide for the delivery of certain services and techniques to deaf-blind
individuals by an organization knowledgeable on deaf-blind issues; to provide
that the division integrates the services and techniques into its standard
practices and procedures; to provide for a time frame to retain the services of
an organization to provide services and techniques to deaf-blind individuals and
training on such services and techniques; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
15 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to transfer
of Division of Rehabilitation Services to Department of Labor, is amended by
adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"34-15-20.
(a)
The Division of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Labor shall oversee
the delivery of deaf-blind services and techniques provided by an organization
pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section that lead to maximum
independence and employment for individuals with both a hearing and a vision
loss. These services shall include, but not be limited to, transition of
deaf-blind youth from education to the workforce; identification of deaf-blind
individuals in Georgia; communication access for varying groups of individuals
and their unique needs; training deaf-blind individuals in orientation and
mobility, rehabilitation, and Braille; utilization of support service providers
to function as sighted guides, communication facilitators, and providers of
transportation; support and increase in the number of qualified sign language
interpreters working with deaf-blind individuals; use of adaptive technologies,
such as computers, telebraillers, and TTY devices; strategies and techniques to
assist deaf-blind individuals in obtaining the highest level of independence
possible; and peer support which provides access to information, people, and
places.
(b)
The division shall, to the greatest extent possible, integrate the services and
techniques required pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section into its
standard practices and procedures with the objective of providing appropriate
services in an appropriate manner to individuals in the deaf-blind
community.
(c)
Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Division of
Rehabilitation Services shall retain an organization knowledgeable on deaf-blind
issues to provide the services and techniques included in subsection (a) of this
Code section to deaf-blind individuals and to provide comprehensive training to
division staff on such services and techniques required pursuant to subsection
(a) of this Code section. Such organization shall be retained no later than six
months after funding from appropriations by the General Assembly has been made
available for expenditure by the department."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.