51.5-47 - Local boards; appointment; membership and staff.
§ 51.5-47. Local boards; appointment; membership and staff.
A. Every county and city shall establish, either singly or in combinationwith another political subdivision, a local disability services board byNovember 1, 1992, to provide input to state agencies on service needs andpriorities of persons with physical and sensory disabilities, to provideinformation and resource referral to local governments regarding theAmericans with Disabilities Act, and to provide such other assistance andadvice to local governments as may be requested. Guidelines for theestablishment of local disability services boards shall be developed by theDisability Services Council. As used in this chapter, the term "board"means a local disability services board. The board shall be responsible tothe governing body or bodies of the county or city or combination thereofwhich established the board.
B. The local governing bodies of the jurisdictions participating in the boardshall determine the number of members on the board and appoint the members.The membership of a board shall not exceed fifteen. Membership shall includeat least one local official from each of the participating jurisdictions, tworepresentatives of the business community, and consumers. Each board shallhave no less than thirty percent representation by individuals or familymembers of individuals with physical, visual, or hearing disabilities.
C. Where a local board or commission for the physically and sensory disabledappointed by a local governing body is already in existence, the localgoverning body may designate such board or commission as the local disabilityservices board. In order to be designated as the local disability servicesboard, the existing board or commission shall meet the membershiprepresentation requirements designated in subsection B.
D. The Department of Rehabilitative Services shall administer the fundsappropriated for local disability services boards, including staff support tothe boards and, with appropriate consultation from the Department for theBlind and Vision Impaired and the Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearingand other agencies, provide guidance and technical assistance to the localboards. Localities may provide additional staff support to the boards.
E. Localities shall not be mandated to fund any recommendations made by thelocal board.
(1992, c. 634; 2000, c. 115.)