§ 111‑27.  Department of Health and Human Services to promote employment of blind persons; vending stands on public property.

For the purpose of assisting blind persons to become self‑supporting, the Department of Health and Human Services may carry on activities to promote the employment of blind persons, including the licensing and establishment of blind persons as operators of vending stands in public buildings. The Department of Health and Human Services may cooperate with the federal government in the furtherance of the Randolph‑Sheppard Vending Stand Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 107‑107f, as amended, providing for the licensing of blind persons to operate vending stands in federal buildings, or any other act of Congress that may be enacted.

The board of county commissioners of each county and the commissioners or officials in charge of various State and municipal buildings may permit the operation of vending stands by blind persons on the premises of any State, county or municipal property under their respective jurisdictions. These operators shall be first licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, no vending stands may be operated unless, in the opinion of the commissions or officials having control and custody of the property, the vending stands may be properly and satisfactorily operated on the premises without undue interference with the use and needs of the premises or property for public purposes. (1939, c. 123; 1973, c. 476, s. 143; 1997‑443, s. 11A.118(a); 2000‑121, s. 16.)