78R7546 KKA-F

By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 1217



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Rehabilitation 
Commission.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 111.052, Human Resources Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 111.052.  GENERAL FUNCTIONS.  (a)  The commission 
shall, to the extent of resources available and priorities 
established by the board, provide rehabilitation services directly 
or through public or private resources to individuals determined by 
the commission to be eligible for the services under a vocational 
rehabilitation program[, an extended rehabilitation services 
program,] or other program established to provide rehabilitative 
services.
	(b)  In carrying out the purposes of this chapter, the 
commission may:       
		(1)  cooperate with other departments, agencies, 
political subdivisions, and institutions, both public and private, 
in providing the services authorized by this chapter to eligible 
individuals, in studying the problems involved, and in planning, 
establishing, developing, and providing necessary or desirable 
programs, facilities, and services, including those jointly 
administered with state agencies;
		(2)  enter into reciprocal agreements with other 
states;                    
		(3)  establish or construct rehabilitation facilities 
and workshops, contract with or provide grants to agencies, 
organizations, or individuals as necessary to implement this 
chapter, make contracts or other arrangements with public and other 
nonprofit agencies, organizations, or institutions for the 
establishment of workshops and rehabilitation facilities, and 
operate facilities for carrying out the purposes of this chapter;
		(4)  conduct research and compile statistics relating 
to the provision of services to or the need for services by disabled 
individuals;
		(5)  provide for the establishment, supervision, 
management, and control of small business enterprises to be 
operated by individuals with significant disabilities where their 
operation will be improved through the management and supervision 
of the commission;
		(6)  contract with schools, hospitals, private 
industrial firms, and other agencies and with doctors, nurses, 
technicians, and other persons for training, physical restoration, 
transportation, and other rehabilitation services; and
		(7)  assess the statewide need for services necessary 
to prepare students with disabilities for a successful transition 
to employment, establish collaborative relationships with each 
school district with education service centers to the maximum 
extent possible within available resources, and develop strategies 
to assist vocational rehabilitation counselors in identifying and 
reaching students in need of transition planning [contract with a 
public or private agency to provide and pay for rehabilitative 
services under the extended rehabilitation services program, 
including alternative sheltered employment or community integrated 
employment for a person participating in the program].
	SECTION 2.  Sections 111.002(7), 111.0525(a), and 111.073, 
Human Resources Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.