GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 877

Short Title:  Comm. Rehab. Pilot Projects/Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Ballance.

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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May 1, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH PILOT PROJECTS FOR COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THESE PILOT PROJECTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Department of Human Resources shall establish a committee of representatives from State agencies and consumer groups to establish at least three pilot projects for community rehabilitation programs.  The selection of the pilots shall be by a Request for Proposal process.  The emphasis of these pilots shall be on consumer-based planning and consumer choice.  These pilots shall be designed to allow each person with developmental disabilities to receive, based on personal interests and informed choices, the necessary support and services to be employed to the full extent of their capability in the mainstream of the labor market.  The goal of the pilot program is to effect the federal mandate of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended in 1992, to provide persons with disabilities the opportunity to obtain gainful employment in an integrated setting.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for the 1995-96 fiscal year to implement the pilot projects for community rehabilitation programs described in Section 1 of this act.  Each pilot project shall be funded for one year for a maximum of sixty-six thousand dollars ($66,000).  The Division shall administer this program in cooperation with the North Carolina Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc.  Members of the North Carolina Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Inc., are eligible to receive grants for the pilot projects funded by this act.  The funds appropriated in this section shall not be used for capital improvements.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.