§ 42-51-9. Definitions.
The following words and terms, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning,
shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Coordinating compliance� means the authority to:
(i) Issue guidelines, directives, or instructions that are necessary to effectuate compliance
with federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities;
(ii) Establish a grievance procedure to promptly and equitably resolve complaints of noncompliance
with federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities
involving state agencies, including the power to investigate possible discrimination
and eliminate unlawful practices by informal methods of conference, conciliation,
and persuasion;
(iii) Initiate complaints against any state agency that willfully fails to comply with federal
and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities to the appropriate
state or federal agency; and
(iv) Develop, make periodic revisions to, and oversee the implementation of a transition
plan for the removal of environmental and communication barriers in state-owned facilities.
(2) "Disabilityâ€� means a disability as defined in § 42-87-1.
(3) "Federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities� means,
but is not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794; R.I. Const., art. I, § 2; the provisions of chapter 87 of this title, and §§ 23-6.3-11, 37-8-15, 37-8-15.1, and 42-46-13.
(4) "Promoting on behalf of the people with disabilities and assuring, on behalf of the
state, that people with disabilities are afforded the opportunities to exercise all
of the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of this state� means the authority
to act and appear on behalf of the people with disabilities to present evidence and
make arguments before any federal, state or local agency or public body regarding
matters pending before that agency or public body that may have an adverse effect
on persons with disabilities.
(5) "Providing technical assistance to public and private agencies, businesses, and citizens
on complying with federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with
disabilities� means information dissemination and training designed to encourage the
voluntary compliance with laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities;
conducting disability accessibility surveys and providing advice on how to overcome
any barriers to accessibility; and a mediation service to assist parties who voluntarily
chose to utilize that service to resolve allegations of discrimination on the basis
of disability.
(6) "State agency� means any department, division, agency, commission, board, office,
bureau, council, or authority, either branch of the Rhode Island general assembly
or any agency or any committee thereof, or any other agency that is in any branch
of Rhode Island state government and which exercises governmental functions.