NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 420

SENATE BILL 256

 

 

AN ACT TO MOVE THE AUTHORITY REFERENCE TO VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSED REWRITE OF CHAPTER 115 OF THE GENERAL STATUTES.

 

Whereas, there have been several proposals in the General Assembly to rewrite and recodify the elementary and secondary education Chapter of the General Statutes of North Carolina taking out all matters unrelated to this area of education; and

Whereas, present statutes relating to vocational rehabilitation are located in the General Statutes Chapter referred to above, but vocational rehabilitation is now a function of the Department of Human Resources and no longer under the auspices of the Board of Education, by reason of State government reorganization; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Article 30 of Chapter 115 of the General Statutes is hereby repealed.

Sec. 2.  Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is hereby amended by adding a new Article 59 to read as follows:

"Article 59.

"Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

"§ 143-540.  Acceptance of federal aid. — The State of North Carolina accepts all of the provisions and benefits of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112) as amended, an act passed by the Congress of the United States to assist states in providing vocational rehabilitation services to physically and mentally disabled persons with the goal of preparing these persons for gainful employment.

"§ 143-151.  Designated State agency. — (a) The Department of Human Resources is authorized:

(1)        to cooperate with the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration or its successor agency in the administration of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112) as amended;

(2)        to administer any legislation concerning vocational rehabilitation enacted by the State of North Carolina through an approved State Plan;

(3)        to formulate a program of vocational rehabilitation services through its organizational unit;

(4)        to fix compensation, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Commission, as may be necessary to administer this program and to pay such compensation and other expenses as are necessary from funds appropriated under this law.

(b)        The Department of Human Resources, in order to carry out the provisions of this Article, shall secure the cooperation of federal, State, and local agencies, organizations, and individuals having contact with the physically and mentally disabled population."

Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 19th day of April, 1979.