CHAPTER 1. REHABILITATION SERVICES BUREAU
IC 12-12
ARTICLE 12. REHABILITATION SERVICES
IC 12-12-1
Chapter 1. Rehabilitation Services Bureau
IC 12-12-1-1
Establishment
Sec. 1. The rehabilitation services bureau is established within the
division.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-2
Organization of bureau
Sec. 2. The director shall organize the bureau in the manner
necessary to carry out the bureau's duties. However, the bureau must
include the following:
(1) The unit of services for individuals who are blind and
individuals who are visually impaired.
(2) The unit of vocational rehabilitation.
(3) The unit of services for individuals who are deaf and
individuals who are hard of hearing.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.87.
IC 12-12-1-3
Mandatory duties of bureau
Sec. 3. The bureau shall do the following:
(1) Plan, establish, and operate programs, facilities, and services
relating to vocational rehabilitation.
(2) Design all necessary state plans for rehabilitation services
required for the receipt and disbursement of any money
available to the state from the federal government.
(3) Direct the disbursement and administer the use of money
from all sources for vocational rehabilitation programs.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-4
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.64-2002, SEC.8.)
IC 12-12-1-4.1
Additional duties of bureau
Sec. 4.1. (a) The bureau may do the following:
(1) Establish vocational rehabilitation centers separately or in
conjunction with community rehabilitation centers.
(2) Contract with governmental units and other public or private
organizations to provide any of the vocational rehabilitation
services permitted or required by this article, IC 12-8-1-11,
IC 12-9-6, and IC 12-11-6.
(3) Provide or contract for the provision of other services that
are consistent with the purposes of this article, IC 12-8-1-11,
IC 12-9-6, and IC 12-11-6.
(b) When entering into contracts for job development, placement,
or retention services, the bureau shall contract with governmental
units and other public or private organizations or individuals that are
accredited by one (1) of the following organizations:
(1) The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF), or its successor.
(2) The Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports for
People with Disabilities, or its successor.
(3) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO), or its successor.
(4) The National Commission on Quality Assurance, or its
successor.
(5) An independent national accreditation organization
approved by the secretary.
(c) To the extent that the accreditation requirements of an
accrediting organization listed in subsection (b) do not cover a
specific requirement determined by the bureau to be necessary for a
contracted service under subsection (a), the bureau shall include
these specific requirements as part of the bureau's contract for job
development, placement, or retention services.
As added by P.L.64-2002, SEC.3.
IC 12-12-1-5
Job placement of blind, visually impaired, and persons with
disabilities; supported employment
Sec. 5. (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.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-1993, SEC.48;
P.L.104-1996, SEC.2.
IC 12-12-1-6
Applicants for state service; eligibility for certification under
IC 4-15-2-19.5(b)
Sec. 6. The bureau shall, upon request of an applicant for state
service (as defined in IC 4-15-2-3.8), determine whether the
applicant is an individual with a disability (as defined in
IC 4-15-2-19.5) who is eligible to be certified under
IC 4-15-2-19.5(b).
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-7
Research and demonstration projects
Sec. 7. The bureau may conduct research and demonstration
projects, including inquiries into the causes of blindness and other
disabilities and their prevention.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-8
Receipt of property; conveyance and use of gifts and bequests
Sec. 8. (a) The bureau may receive property from any source if the
director determines that receipt of the property is consistent with this
article.
(b) The bureau may, subject to the terms of the gift or bequest,
sell, convey, or authorize the use of the gift or bequest.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-9
Rehabilitation services fund
Sec. 9. (a) The rehabilitation services fund is established.
(b) The fund consists of gifts and bequests, and the proceeds of
the sale of gifts and bequests, received by the bureau.
(c) The balance remaining in the fund at the end of a state fiscal
year remains in the fund and does not revert to the state general fund.
(d) The interest earned from investment of money in the fund
shall be credited to the fund.
(e) The fund shall be used to defray the expenses of rehabilitation
or other services in cases for which money is not available from
other sources.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.
IC 12-12-1-10
State and federal higher education awards; direct payment to
approved institution; award not considered income
Sec. 10. If an individual receives a state or federal higher
education award that is paid directly to an approved postsecondary
educational institution for the individual's benefit:
(1) the individual is not required to report the award as income
or as a resource of the individual when applying for services,
facilities, programs, or other assistance from the bureau; and
(2) the award may not be considered as income or a resource of
the individual in determining initial or continuing eligibility for
services, facilities, programs, or other assistance from the
bureau.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.155.