51.5-14 - Powers and duties of Commissioner.
§ 51.5-14. Powers and duties of Commissioner.
The Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To employ such personnel, qualified by knowledge, skills, and abilities,as may be required to carry out the purposes of this title relating to theDepartment;
2. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary orincidental to the performance of the Department's duties and the execution ofits powers under this title, including, but not limited to, contracts withthe United States, other states, agencies and governmental subdivisions ofthis Commonwealth;
3. To accept grants from the United States government and agencies andinstrumentalities thereof and any other source and, to these ends, to complywith such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary,convenient or desirable;
4. To do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of thistitle;
5. To develop and analyze information on the needs of persons withdisabilities;
6. To establish plans, policies and programs for the delivery of services topersons with disabilities for consideration by the Governor and the GeneralAssembly. Such policies, plans and programs for services to those who cannotbenefit from vocational rehabilitation shall be prepared over time, and asfunds become available for such efforts;
7. To operate and maintain the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and toorganize, supervise and provide other necessary services and facilities (i)to prepare persons with disabilities for useful and productive lives,including suitable employment and (ii) to enable persons with disabilities,to the degree possible, to become self-sufficient and have a sense ofwell-being;
8. To develop criteria for the evaluation of plans and programs relative tothe provision of rehabilitative and other services;
9. To investigate the availability of funds from any source for planning,developing and providing services to persons with disabilities, particularlythose not capable of being gainfully employed;
10. To coordinate the Department's plans, policies, programs and services,and such programs and services required under § 51.5-9.2, with those of theother state agencies providing services to persons with disabilities so as toachieve maximum utilization of available resources to meet the needs of suchpersons;
11. To compile and provide information on the availability of federal, state,regional and local funds and services for persons with disabilities;
12. To accept, execute and administer any trust in which the Department mayhave an interest, under the terms of the instruments creating the trust,subject to the approval of the Governor;
13. To promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of thelaws of the Commonwealth administered by the Department;
14. To work with the Department of Veterans Services and the Department ofBehavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program formental health and rehabilitative services for Virginia veterans and membersof the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed ForcesReserves not in active federal service and their family members pursuant to §2.2-2001.1; and
15. To perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and theSecretary of Health and Human Resources.
(Code 1950, §§ 2.1-580, 22-330.4:3; 1978, c. 635; 1980, c. 559; 1982, c. 12;1985, c. 421, § 51.01-14; 1989, c. 176; 1992, c. 755; 2008, cc. 584, 754;2009, cc. 813, 840.)