216A.114 - DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
216A.114 DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The commission shall:
1. Interpret to communities and to interested persons the needs
of the deaf and hard-of-hearing and how their needs may be met
through the use of service providers.
2. Obtain without additional cost to the state available office
space in public and private agencies which service providers may
utilize in carrying out service projects for deaf and hard-of-hearing
persons. However, if space is not available in a specific service
area without additional cost to the state, the commission may obtain
other office space which is located with other public or private
agencies. The space shall be obtained at the lowest cost available
and the terms of the lease must be approved by the director of the
department of administrative services.
3. Establish service projects for deaf and hard-of-hearing
persons throughout the state. Projects shall not be undertaken by
service providers for compensation which would duplicate existing
services when those services are available to deaf and
hard-of-hearing persons through paid interpreters or other persons
able to communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.
As used in this section, "service projects" includes
interpretation services for persons who are deaf and hard-of-
hearing, referral and counseling services for deaf and
hard-of-hearing persons in the areas of adult education, legal aid,
employment, medical, finance, housing, recreation, and other personal
assistance and social programs.
"Service providers" are persons who, for compensation or on a
volunteer basis, carry out service projects.
4. Identify agencies, both public and private, which provide
community services, evaluate the extent to which they make services
available to deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, and cooperate with the
agencies in coordinating and extending these services.
5. Collect information concerning deafness or hearing loss and
provide for the dissemination of the information.
6. Provide for the mutual exchange of ideas and information on
services for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons between federal, state,
and local governmental agencies and private organizations and
individuals.
7. Pursuant to section 216A.2, be responsible for budgeting and
personnel decisions for the commission and division. Section History: Recent Form
86 Acts, ch 1245, § 1253
C87, § 601K.114
87 Acts, ch 115, §75; 89 Acts, ch 54, §1
C93, § 216A.114
93 Acts, ch 75, § 4; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286