FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2187

                          C 7 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Modifying grants for vocational rehabilitation equipment and materials.

Sponsors:  Representatives Casada, Ogden, Dickerson, Mason and Costa; by request of Department of Services for the Blind.

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  The Department of Services for the Blind serves as the state agency that contracts for and disburses state and federal funds for services for the blind.  The department is required to provide a program of vocational rehabilitation to assist blind persons to overcome vocational handicaps and to develop skills necessary for self-support.  Applicants for these services must reasonably be expected to benefit from the services in terms of employability.

The department may make grants of equipment and materials to participants in the vocational rehabilitation program if the equipment and materials are required by participants' individual written rehabilitation programs. The individual value of the equipment and materials may not exceed $1,000.  It has been suggested that the $1,000 cap on equipment and materials may be too restrictive.

Summary:  The Department of Services for the Blind may grant vocational rehabilitation clients equipment and materials that do not exceed the amount allowed by state financial policies and regulations.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     95 0

Senate    46 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996