Title 21 — Title 21

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Early Intervention Act for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. History: (Acts 1993, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 93-920, p. 224, §1.)

This chapter shall be interpreted to be consistent with and further the purpose and policy of Part H of Public Law 99-457, as amended, (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), its implementing regulations, and any subsequent amendments to the law and its implementing regulations. H…

The Legislature finds that there is an urgent and substantial need to develop and implement a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for all eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Hi…

The following words and phrases used in this chapter have the following respective meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) COUNCIL. The Interagency Coordinating Council as established in Section 21- 3A-4. (2) EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. Any developmental ser…

(a) For the purposes of implementing this chapter, the Governor shall appoint the Interagency Coordinating Council. The council shall consist of not less than 15 members nor more than the number allowed by regulation. (b) The Governor shall designate a member of the council to se…

To the extent required by and consistent with Part H of Public Law 99-457 as amended, (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), and its implementing regulations, a statewide system of coordinated comprehensive, multidisciplinary, interagency services providing appropriate early inte…

The statewide system shall be implemented at the local level through local coordinating councils. The local coordinating council shall focus on the development of a formal, working team or agency involving parental and other representatives who regularly meet to perform each of t…

(a) The lead agency shall be responsible for the general administration, supervision, and monitoring of programs and activities within the early intervention system, including coordination of all available financial resources within the state from federal, state, local, and priva…

(a) Upon full implementation of the early intervention system, eligible infants and toddlers, and their families shall receive each of the following: (1) A comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation and assessment of the needs of the infant and toddler and the resources, priorit…

Any federal funds made available to the state through Part H of Public Law 99-457, as amended, (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), and any additional state funds appropriated for early intervention services shall not be used to satisfy a financial commitment for services that …

(a) This article is concerned with nonambulatory disabilities, semiambulatory disabilities, sight disabilities, hearing disabilities, disabilities of incoordination, and aging. (b) It is intended to make all buildings and facilities covered by this article accessible to, and func…

For the purposes of this article the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth in this section: (1) NONAMBULATORY DISABILITIES. Impairments that, regardless of cause or manifestation, for all practical purposes, confine individuals to wheelchairs. (2) SEMIAMBULATORY DI…

It is the intention of the Legislature in enacting this article to promote the fundamental right to vote by requiring registration and polling places for state elections to be readily accessible to handicapped and elderly individuals. History: (Acts 1985, No. 85-234, p. 133, §1.)…

As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the following terms shall have meanings ascribed to them as follows: (1) ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL. An individual 65 years of age or older; (2) ELECTION FOR STATE OFFICE. A general, special primary, or ru…

(a) The Attorney General of this state, in consultation with the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, and in accordance with Section 553 of Title 5, United States Code, shall promulgate, within six months of April 8, 1985, guidelines to assure that registration a…

(a) The appropriate election officials in the several counties of this state shall make available registration and voting aids for handicapped and elderly individuals in state elections. These aids shall include, but are not limited to: (1) Instructions, printed in large type, co…

(a) Whenever the Attorney General of this state has reason to believe that (1) A registration or polling place does not comply with the standards prescribed under subsection (a) of Section 21-4-23; or (2) A county has failed to provide registration and voting aids as required by …

Promulgation. The State Fire Marshal shall prescribe and publish standards and specifications for the buildings, premises, and facilities to which this article applies, which will make such buildings accessible to and functional for the physically disabled who are confined to whe…

Applicability. (a) The standards and specifications prescribed by the fire marshal, as authorized in this article, shall apply to all buildings and facilities used by the public which are constructed in whole or in part by the use of state, county, or municipal funds, or the fund…

Construction and Interpretation; Waivers. (a) The State Fire Marshal and the Division of Construction Management of the Department of Finance are each hereby authorized to construe and interpret the standards and specifications prescribed as authorized in this article. (b) Each o…

Authorized to Adopt Additional Rules and Regulations. (a) The responsibility for reviewing architectural plans and specifications for buildings to which this article applies shall be as follows: (1) Where state school funds are utilized, the State Board of Education and the Divis…

Orders to Conform with Standards and Specifications. The State Fire Marshal is charged with the duty of enforcing standards and specifications prescribed as authorized in Section 21-4-3. For such purpose, he shall have the same power and authority to inspect buildings, facilities…

There is hereby created the Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, by which name this chapter shall be known, for the purpose of carrying on a continuing program to promote the employment of the physically, mentally, emotionally, and otherwise handicapped citizens…

The committee shall make a formal evaluation and shall make an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, including therein suggestions and recommendations for protecting and improving the state’s effectiveness in employing or helping to employ handicapped individuals. Th…

Ceremonies. The Governor shall designate the first full week in October of each year as “Employ the Handicapped Week.” The committee shall promote and encourage the holding of appropriate ceremonies throughout the state during said week, the purpose of which ceremonies shall be t…

The Governor’s committee shall be nonpartisan, nonprofit, and shall not engage in the dissemination of partisan principles. History: (Acts 1965, No. 226, p. 323, §3.)

There shall be no limit as to the number of members on the Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, all of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. The committee shall be composed of state leaders of industry, business, agriculture, l…

The chairman of the committee shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The committee shall elect from its membership a secretary-treasurer and certain of its members to serve as an executive committee. Subject to the rules and regulation…

The Governor shall request heads of state agencies and invite heads of federal agencies having direct interest in a program for the handicapped to serve as members of an advisory council to the committee. The advisory council shall annually elect a chairman who shall serve as the…

An employment of the handicapped liaison group shall be established to consist of the chairman of the Governor’s Committee, the chairman of the advisory council, and the executive secretary in order to maintain coordination of the program under the provisions of this chapter. His…

Expenses. An executive secretary, and such other personnel as recommended by the executive committee shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education in the same manner as other state employees, subject to the provisions of the State Merit System. The salaries of the e…

The committee is authorized to establish a trust fund and to accept gifts, contributions, donations, or bequests, but not excluding any other source of revenue, for the purpose of promoting the rehabilitation and employment of the handicapped citizens of this state. Such moneys s…

The Children’s Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Rehabilitation Services is authorized to establish a rehabilitation program for the homebound to provide medical and attendant care and adjustment aids to those handicapped persons who meet certain requirements stated in…

Services that may be provided eligible persons, if not available from other sources, include: (1) Medical care; (2) Adjustment training; (3) Attendant care; (4) Prosthetic appliances; (5) Home health care by health care teams; (6) Home modification; provided, that no more than $1…

Services available under this chapter may be provided to any person who: (1) Has made application therefor to the director of the Children’s Rehabilitation Service in the manner prescribed by him; (2) Has a severe disability that causes the person to be homebound, such disability…

Attendant care may be provided when (1) the requirements of Section 21-6-3 are met and (2) an attendant trained by competent medical and vocational rehabilitation personnel is available to provide the care needed by the homebound person. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed…

The Director of the Children’s Rehabilitation Service of the Department of Rehabilitation Services shall establish as many regional rehabilitation committees as he deems necessary. Each such committee shall be made up of (1) a medical specialist, (2) a vocational rehabilitation c…

(a) It is the policy of this state to encourage and enable the blind, the visually impaired, and the physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in meaningful employment. (b) For the purposes of this chapter, the following t…

Each year, the Governor shall take suitable public notice of October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. He shall issue a proclamation in which: (1) He comments upon the significance of the white cane; (2) He calls upon the citizens of the state to observe the provisions of the White Ca…

Facilities, Etc. An individual with a disability has the same right as an individual who is not disabled to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places. History: (Acts 1975, No. 869, p. 1711, §2…

Facilities, Etc. (a) An individual with a disability is entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges in every public accommodation. (b) A public accommodation shall modify its policies, practices, and procedures to permit the use of a service …

Animal; Liability for Damages; Violations. (a) An individual with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas of a public accommodation, including a public or private school, that the public or customers are normally permitted to occupy. (b) A se…

A conspicuous sign may be posted in a location accessible to public view in a place of public accommodation that contains the following, or substantially similar, language: “NOTICE: Service animals welcome. It is illegal for a person to misrepresent an animal in that person’s pos…

Service Animal. (a) The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color, with or without a red tip, or using a service animal, or an individual employed by an accredited school for training a …

A totally or partially blind pedestrian not carrying a cane as described in Section 21- 7-6 or any totally or partially blind individual not using a service animal in a public accommodation shall have all of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other individuals, and t…

Etc. It is the policy of this state that an individual with a disability shall be employed in the state service, the service of the political subdivisions of the state, in the public schools, and in all other employment supported in whole or in part by public funds on the same te…

(a) An individual with a disability shall be entitled to full and equal access, as are other members of the general public, to any housing accommodation offered for rent, lease, or compensation in this state, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applic…

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: (1) COMMITTEE. The Hemophilia Advisory Committee established by this chapter. (2) HEMOPHILIA. A bleeding disorder resulting from a genetically determined d…

In order to foster the health, welfare, and safety of the people of this state and to facilitate the research and treatment of hemophilia and related diseases, it is hereby declared to be the policy of this state to achieve the maximum practical degree of care and treatment for p…

There is hereby established the Hemophilia Treatment Program in Alabama, to be administered by the Children’s Rehabilitation Service of the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Such treatment program shall use the existing facilities and staff of the Children’s Rehabilitation S…