[Repealed Effective 7/1/2024]

(a) In order to coordinate the activities of the community-based vocational rehabilitation services program and to advise the commissioner and to better acquaint the public with the needs and activities of the program, the commissioner is authorized to create a statewide advisory board for the community-based vocational rehabilitation services program to be composed of sixteen (16) members as follows:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-11-704

  • Advisory board: means the state advisory board for community-based vocational rehabilitation services. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of human services. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Community-based vocational rehabilitation services: means vocational rehabilitation services provided by the vocational rehabilitation program in partnership with the local community as authorized under this part. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Department: means the department of human services. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Director: means director of the vocational rehabilitation program. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Division: means the division of rehabilitation services. See Tennessee Code 49-11-702
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) There shall be one (1) ex officio member from each of the following departments and agencies of state government:

(A) The department of mental health and substance abuse services;
(B) The department of labor and workforce development;
(C) The department of human services;
(D) The division of rehabilitation services of the department of human services;
(E) The department of education;
(F) One (1) established board or taskforce recognized by the state and charged with focusing on the employment of individuals with disabilities; and
(G) The department of disability and aging; and
(2) The remaining nine (9) members shall be appointed by the commissioner from among private organizations and agencies concerned with persons with disabilities, to serve for staggered terms of four (4) years each. In appointing the nine (9) remaining members to the board, to the extent possible, the assistant commissioner shall appoint the board’s members to ensure appropriate representation on the board based upon gender and ethnicity.
(b) It is the duty of the advisory board to consider and advise the commissioner and the division on broad problems and policies, to review periodically the progress of the community-based vocational rehabilitation services program, and to help maintain coordination between the vocational rehabilitation program and the related programs of the organizations and agencies represented on the board.
(c)

(1) Members of the advisory board shall meet at least annually and at other times that may be necessary, upon call of the director of the vocational rehabilitation program, and shall receive no compensation for their services.
(2) The appointed members shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses incurred in traveling to and from meetings, in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
(d) The commissioner, through the division, shall, with the advice and assistance of the advisory board, set and enforce standards for the delivery of community-based vocational rehabilitation services, assist communities in organizing community-based vocational rehabilitation services, develop and administer contractual arrangements between the community and the division, and develop partnerships with industry on a local, statewide, and national basis in order to provide the types of training and work experience most needed by customers to prepare them for competitive, integrated employment in accordance with all federal vocational rehabilitation program requirements.
(e)

(1) The advisory board is transferred to the department. All functions of the advisory board are administered by and shall be under the control of the commissioner.
(2) The commissioner shall perform all such duties and has the responsibilities heretofore vested in the advisory board and the state board of education in accordance with this part.
(3) All rules, regulations, orders and decisions issued or promulgated by the advisory board prior to February 21, 1989, shall remain in full force and effect and be administered and enforced by the department. To this end, the department, through its chief executive officer, has the authority, consistent with the statutes and regulations pertaining to the programs and functions transferred by this subsection (e) and other provisions in chapter 4 of the Public Acts of 1989, to modify or rescind orders or rules and regulations issued prior to February 21, 1989, and to adopt, issue or promulgate new orders or rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration of the program or function transferred by this subsection (e) and other provisions in chapter 4 of the Public Acts of 1989.
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