Z-0851.4  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2853

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State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Wolfe, D. Schmidt, Romero, Cairnes, Haigh and Cody; by request of Department of Services for the Blind

Read first time 01/21/2000.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Conforming the advisory council for the blind with the federal rehabilitation act.

    AN ACT Relating to the rehabilitation council for the blind; and amending RCW 74.18.070, 74.18.080, 74.18.090, and 74.18.100.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 74.18.070 and 1983 c 194 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) There is hereby created the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for the blind.  ((The advisory council shall consist of at least six and no more than ten members.))  The rehabilitation council shall consist of the minimum number of voting members to meet the requirements of the rehabilitation council required under the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter amended.  A majority of the voting members shall be blind.  ((Advisory)) Rehabilitation council members shall be residents of the state of Washington, ((and no member shall be an employee of the department)) and shall represent the categories of membership specified in the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter amended.  The director of the department of services for the blind shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member.

    (2) The governor shall appoint members of the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for terms of three years, except that the initial appointments shall be as follows:  (a) Three members for terms of three years; (b) two members for terms of two years; and (c) other members for terms of one year.  Vacancies in the membership of the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council shall be filled by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

    (3) The governor may remove members of the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for cause.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 74.18.080 and 1983 c 194 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for the blind shall meet officially with the director of the department quarterly to perform the duties enumerated in RCW 74.18.090.  Additional meetings of the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council may be convened at the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members.  The ((advisory)) rehabilitation council shall elect a chairperson from among its members for a term of one year or until a successor has been elected.

    (2) ((Advisory)) Rehabilitation council members shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 74.18.090 and 1983 c 194 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    The ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for the blind may:

    (1) Provide counsel to the director in developing, reviewing, ((and)) making recommendations, and agreeing on the department's state plan for vocational rehabilitation, budget requests, permanent rules concerning services to blind citizens, and other major policies which impact the quality or quantity of services for the blind;

    (2) Undertake annual reviews with the director of the needs of blind citizens, the effectiveness of the services and priorities of the department to meet those needs, and the measures that could be taken to improve the department's services;

    (3) Annually make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on issues related to the department of services for the blind, other state agencies, or state laws which have a significant effect on the opportunities, services, or rights of blind citizens; ((and))

    (4) Advise and make recommendations to the governor on the criteria and qualifications pertinent to the selection of the director;

(5) Perform additional functions as required by the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter amended.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 74.18.100 and 1983 c 194 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    It shall be the duty of the director to consult in a timely manner with the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council for the blind on the matters enumerated in RCW 74.18.090.  The director shall provide appropriate departmental resources for the use of the ((advisory)) rehabilitation council in conducting its official business.

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