Title 74 — Title 74 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

The purposes of this chapter are to promote employment and independence of blind persons in the state of Washington through their complete integration into society on the basis of equality, and to encourage public acceptance of the abilities of blind persons.[ 2003 c 409 s 2; 198…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Department" means an agency of state government called the department of services for the blind.(2) "Director" means the director of the department of services for th…

There is hereby created an agency of state government to be known as the department of services for the blind. The department shall deliver services to blind persons to the extent that appropriations are made available, provided that applicants meet the eligibility criteria for s…

The executive head of the department shall be the director of the department of services for the blind. The director shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and hold office at the pleasure of the governor. The director's salary shall be fixed by the go…

(1)(a) The director shall provide access to a telephonic reading service for blind persons and persons with disabilities.(b) The director shall establish criteria for eligibility for blind persons and persons with disabilities who may receive the telephonic reading services. The …

The director may appoint such personnel as necessary, none of whom shall be members of the rehabilitation council for the blind. The director and other personnel who are assigned substantial responsibility for formulating agency policy or directing and controlling a major adminis…

The department shall:(1) Serve as the sole agency of the state for contracting for and disbursing all federal and state funds appropriated for programs established by and within the jurisdiction of this chapter, and make reports and render accounting as may be required;(2) Adopt …

(1) There is hereby created the rehabilitation council for the blind. The rehabilitation council shall consist of the minimum number of voting members to meet the requirements of the rehabilitation council required under the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 as now or hereafter …

(1) The rehabilitation council for the blind shall meet officially with the director of the department quarterly to perform the duties enumerated in RCW 74.18.090. Additional meetings of the rehabilitation council may be convened at the call of the chairperson or of a majority of…

The rehabilitation council for the blind may:(1) Provide counsel to the director in developing, reviewing, making recommendations, and agreeing on the department's state plan for vocational rehabilitation, budget requests, permanent rules concerning services to blind persons, and…

It shall be the duty of the director to consult in a timely manner with the rehabilitation council for the blind on the matters enumerated in RCW 74.18.090. The director shall provide appropriate departmental resources for the use of the rehabilitation council in conducting its o…

The department may receive, accept, and disburse gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and bequests from public or private sources, in trust or otherwise, if the terms and conditions thereof will provide services for blind persons in a manner consistent with the purposes of this c…

(1) An applicant or eligible person who is dissatisfied with a decision, action, or inaction made by the department or its agents regarding that person's eligibility or department services provided to that person is entitled to an administrative hearing. Such administrative heari…

(1) The department shall investigate the conviction records, pending charges, and disciplinary board final decisions of individuals acting on behalf of the department who will or may have unsupervised access to persons with significant disabilities as defined by the federal rehab…

(1) Personal information and records obtained and retained by the department concerning applicants and eligible individuals are confidential, are not subject to public disclosure, and may be released only in accordance with law or with this provision.(2) The department shall adop…

The department shall provide a program of vocational rehabilitation to assist blind persons to overcome barriers to employment and to develop skills necessary for employment and independence. Applicants eligible for vocational rehabilitation services shall be blind persons who al…

The department shall ensure that vocational rehabilitation services in accordance with requirements under the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 are available to meet the identified requirements of each eligible individual in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining an em…

The department may grant to eligible participants in the vocational rehabilitation program equipment and materials in accordance with the provisions related to transfer of capital assets as set forth by the office of financial management in the state administrative and accounting…

The department may establish, construct, and/or operate rehabilitation or habilitation facilities to provide instruction in alternative skills necessary to adjust to blindness or substantial vision loss, to assist blind persons to develop increased confidence and independence, or…

(1) The department may provide a program of independent living services for blind persons who are not seeking vocational rehabilitation services.(2) Independent living services may include, but are not limited to, instruction in adaptive skills of blindness, counseling regarding …

(1) The department may offer services to assist blind children and their families to learn skills and locate resources which increase the child's ability for personal development and participation in society.(2) Services provided under this section may include:(a) Direct consulta…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply in RCW 74.18.200 through 74.18.230.(1) "Business enterprises program" means a program operated by the department under the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 107 et seq., and under thi…

The department shall maintain or cause to be maintained a business enterprises program for blind persons to operate vending facilities in public buildings. The purposes of the business enterprises program are to implement the Randolph-Sheppard Act and thereby give priority to qua…

(1) The department is authorized to license blind persons to operate vending facilities and vending machines on federal property and in public buildings.(2) The state, political subdivisions thereof, and agencies of the state, or political subdivisions thereof shall give priority…

(1) There is established in the state treasury an account known as the business enterprises revolving account.(2) The net proceeds from any vending machine operation in a public building, other than an operation managed by a licensee, shall be made payable to the business enterpr…

If any part of this chapter is found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a condition precedent to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this chapter is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and th…