1. The New
Jersey Statewide Consumer Advisory Board of the Commission for
the Blind and Visually Impaired is hereby reconstituted and redenominated
the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Rehabilitation Advisory Council (hereinafter referred to as "the
Advisory Council").
2. Pursuant
to Title I, Part A, sections 101(a)(36) and 105 of P.L. 102-569,
the reconstituted and redenominated Advisory Council shall be
established as a separate entity apart from any State agency.
The Advisory Council shall be established as a separate entity
in, but not of, the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
3. The New
Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired shall be
the designated State unit in New Jersey providing services to
persons who are blind and visually impaired.
4. The Council
shall consist of no more than 15 voting members appointed by the
Governor. The composition of the Council shall reflect a majority
of qualified persons with disabilities representing the interests
of New Jersey's cross-disability population. All members, including
those from the business, disability and advocacy communities,
shall have knowledge of vocational rehabilitation concepts, programs,
policies, and services.
5. The Director
of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (hereinafter
referred to as "CBVI") and two vocational rehabilitation counselors
shall serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members on the Advisory Council.
6. The Advisory
Council shall consist of:
a. at
least one representative from the Statewide Independent Living
Council;
b. at
least one representative from a parent training and information
center established under the Individuals with Disabilities Act,
Title I, Section 631 of P.L. 101-476;
c. a representative
from the Client Assistance Program;
d. at
least one representative of a community rehabilitation program
service provider;
e. four
representatives of the business, industry, and labor sectors;
f. at
least one representative of a disability advocacy group representing
individuals who are blind or visually impaired;
g. at
least one parent(s), relative(s), guardian(s), or authorized
representatives of individuals with disabilities who have difficulty
in representing themselves or are unable to do so due to their
disabilities; and
h. at
least one current or former applicant for, or recipient of CBVI
vocational rehabilitation services.
7. The Advisory
Council members shall serve for terms of three (3) years, except
for those first appointed, five shall serve for a term of one
(1) year, five shall serve for a term of two (2) years, and the
remainder shall serve for a term of three (3) years. Council vacancies
from among the members shall be filled by appointment by the Governor
for the remainder of the unexpired term. No member of the Advisory
Council can serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms. Any
vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council is to be filled
in the same manner as an original appointment and the vacancy
is not to affect the power of the remaining members to execute
the duties of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall
designate a member of the Council to serve as chairperson.
8. The Advisory
Council shall:
a. review,
analyze, and advise the CBVI regarding the performance of its
responsibilities under Title I, Part A, Section 105(c) of P.L.
102-569;
b. advise
the CBVI on the development and implementation of the State
plan for vocational rehabilitation services, the strategic plan
and amendments to the plans, reports, needs assessments, and
evaluations required by Title I, Part A, Section 101 of P.L.
102-569 and Part C, Section 121 of P.L. 102-569;
c. conduct
a review and analysis of the CBVI's overall effectiveness;
d. conduct
a review of consumer satisfaction with:
(1)
performance of functions by the CBVI and other public and
private entities responsible for providing services to individuals
with disabilities; and
(2)
vocational rehabilitation services provided to individuals
with disabilities by the CBVI and other public and private
entities pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or through
public or private sources.
e. prepare
and submit an annual report to the Governor, the Commissioner
of the Department of Human Services, the Executive Director
of the CBVI, and the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs
operated within the State, and make such report available to
the public;
f. coordinate
planning and training with other councils within the State,
including the New Jersey Independent Living Council, the State
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and the State Mental
Health Planning Council;
g. provide
for the coordination and the establishment of working relationships
between the CBVI and the New Jersey Independent Living Council
and Centers for Independent Living within the State;
h. supervise
and evaluate staff and other personnel as may be necessary to
carry out the functions of the Council; and
i. carry
out all other duties set forth in Title I, Section 105 of P.L.
102-569.
9. The Advisory
Council shall further organize itself and set its own schedule
for meetings as it deems necessary to complete its work.
10. The
Advisory Council shall convene at least four (4) meetings a year.
The Advisory Council is authorized to hold such hearings and forums
as the Advisory Council may determine to be necessary to carry
out the duties of the Advisory Council. Pursuant to Title I, Section
105(f) of P.L. 102-569, public meetings are to be announced and
open and accessible to the general public.
11. In performing
its duties, the Advisory Council may consult with existing bodies
in the State designed to plan, coordinate and deliver vocational
rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities and their
families at the State, county, and local levels. The Advisory
Council may draw upon the assistance of any department, organization
or agency of the State which may be available to it for these
purposes.
12. Pursuant
to Title I, Section 105(e) of P.L. 102-569, no member of the Advisory
Council may vote on any matter that would provide direct financial
benefit to the member thereby creating a conflict of interest
or otherwise give the appearance of a conflict of interest.
13. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal this
28th day of September in the Year of Our
Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Ninety Three, and of the Independence
of the United States, the Two Hundred
and Eighteenth.
/s/
James Florio
Governor