As used in this chapter, the term or terms: (1) “Agency” means the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency created pursuant to Code Section 49-9-4. (2) “Blind person” means a person who has: (A) Not more than 20/200 central visual acuity in the better eye after correction; or (B) An equally disabling loss of the visual field. (3) “Board” means the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board created pursuant to Code Section 49-9-2. (4) “Director” means the agency executive director appointed pursuant to Code Section 49-9-3. (5) “Disability to employment” means a physical or mental condition which constitutes, contributes to, or, if not corrected, will probably result in an impairment of occupational performance. (6) “Occupational license” means any license, permit, or other written authority required by any governmental unit to be obtained in order to engage in an occupation. (7) “Person with disabilities” means an individual having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities. (8) “Prosthetic appliance” means any artificial device necessary to support or take the place of a part of the body or to increase the acuity of a sense organ. (9) “Regulations” means regulations made by the director with the approval of the board and promulgated in the manner prescribed by law. (10) “Rehabilitation center” means a facility operated for the purpose of assisting in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities which provides one or more of the following types of services: (A) Testing, fitting, or training in the use of prosthetic devices; (B) Prevocational or conditioning therapy; 393 49-9-2 (C) Physical, corrective, or occupational therapy; or (D) Adjustment training or evaluation or control of special disabilities; or a facility in which a coordinated approach is made to the physical, mental, and vocational evaluation of persons with disabilities and an integrated program of physical restoration and relating training is provided under competent professional supervision and direction. (11) “Rehabilitation training” means all necessary training provided to a person with disabilities to compensate for his or her disability to employment, including, but not limited to, manual preconditioning, relating, vocational, and supplementary training and training provided for the purpose of developing occupational skills and capacities. (12) “Vocational rehabilitation” and “vocational rehabilitation services” mean any service, provided directly or through public or private instrumentalities, found by the director to be necessary to compensate a person with disabilities for his or her disability to employment and to enable such individual to engage in a remunerative occupation. (13) “Workshop” means a place where any manufacture or handwork is carried on and which is operated for the primary purpose of providing rehabilitative activities, including the use of monetary rewards as an incentive practice for persons with disabilities unable to engage in the competitive labor market. Persons receiving services in workshops shall not be considered as employees of the state for workers’ compensation or any other purposes. History. Code 1981, § 34-15-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 1137, § 1; Code 1981, § 49-9-1, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2012, p. 303, § 1/HB 1146. 49-9-2. Creation of Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board; membership; duties. (a) There is created the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board. The board shall consist of nine members who work or have worked in the area of vocational rehabilitation or who are a part of the vocational rehabilitation community; provided, however, that five members shall be persons with disabilities or family members of persons with disabilities. (b) The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor. The first such members shall be appointed by the Governor to take office on July 1, 2012, for initial terms as follows: Three such members shall be appointed for terms of one year; three such members shall be 394 49-9-3 appointed for terms of two years; and three such members shall be appointed for terms of three years. Thereafter, the Governor shall appoint successors upon the expiration of the respective terms of office for terms of three years. All such members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Such members shall be eligible for reappointment to successive terms of office as members of the board. (c) Vacancies in office shall be filled by appointment by the Governor in the same manner as the appointment to the position on the board which becomes vacant. An appointment to fill a vacancy other than by expiration of a term of office shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. (d) Members of the board may be removed from office under the same conditions for removal from office of members of professional licensing boards provided in Code Section 43-1-17. (e) There shall be a chairperson of the board elected by and from the membership of the board who shall be the presiding officer of the board. The term of the chairperson shall be established by rules of the board. (f) A quorum for transacting business shall be determined by the members of the board. (g) The members of the board shall receive a per diem allowance and expenses as shall be set and approved by the Office of Planning and Budget in conformance with rates and allowances set for members of other state boards. (h) In addition to the powers and duties set forth in this chapter, the board shall recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly changes in state programs, statutes, policies, budgets, and standards relating to vocational rehabilitation services, the improvement of coordination among state and local agencies that provide vocational rehabilitation services, and the improvement of the condition of citizens who are in need of vocational rehabilitation services. History. Code 1981, § 49-9-2, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 303, § 1/HB 1146. 49-9-3. Duties of executive director of Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.