§ 12-12-1-5 — Employment of blind, visually impaired, and persons with disabilities; assessment of rehabilitation services; provision of rehabilitation services to deferred individuals

(a) The bureau shall provide job placement
services, including supported employment (as defined in 34 CFR
363.6), on a consistent statewide basis for qualified blind, visually
impaired, and other persons with disabilities.
(b) The bureau shall increase employment opportunities for persons
with disabilities by encouraging and authorizing direct job placements
into any job that is chosen by the vocational rehabilitation client,
including a job provided by any organization that has a contract with
the bureau to provide vocational rehabilitation services.
(c) Before December 31, 2019, the division shall determine the
following concerning the division's program that provides vocational
rehabilitation services to eligible individuals:
(1) The cost of vocational rehabilitation services provided in state
fiscal year 2018 and state fiscal year 2019.
(2) An estimate of the number of eligible individuals for
rehabilitation services for whom the division can provide the
services and the number of eligible individuals to be deferred
between state fiscal year 2020 and state fiscal year 2025.
(3) The projected staffing and fiscal resources needed to provide
services to eligible individuals.
(4) The current service provider capacity.
(5) The projected service provider capacity needed to serve
additional priority categories of individuals.
(6) The adequacy of current reimbursement rates.
(d) Before July 31 of each year, the division shall assess the
following concerning the vocational rehabilitation services program:
(1) Available staffing and fiscal resources.
(2) The achievement of benchmarks in a plan to provide the full
range of needed services to all eligible individuals.
(3) Meeting the requirements set forth in 34 CFR 361.36 to
provide services to all eligible individuals.
(e) The division shall report to the commission on rehabilitation
services under IC 12-12-2 and the task force established under IC 12-11-15.5 concerning the division's assessment under subsection (d).
(f) The division shall, upon determining that the staffing and
financial resources determined under this section are in place, do the
following:
(1) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the first closed priority
category not later than January 1, 2020.
(2) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the final closed priority
category not later than June 30, 2022.
(3) Begin to serve all service priority categories not later than
June 30, 2024.
[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-17(a).]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-1993, SEC.48; P.L.104-1996, SEC.2; P.L.262-2019, SEC.4.