KRS 151B.195: Authority of the executive director of the Office of Vocational

Rehabilitation -- Annual report.

(1) The executive director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation:

(a) Shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Ch apter

13A governing the services, personnel, and administration of vocational

rehabilitation services for Kentucky;

(b) Shall establish a preference for in -state services, so long as the preference

does not effectively deny an individual a necessary servic e that may be

available outside of Kentucky;

(c) May enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to provide for the

vocational rehabilitation of residents of the states concerned;

(d) May establish and supervise the operation of small businesses est ablished

pursuant to KRS 151B.180 to 151B.210 to be conducted by eligible

individuals with severe disabilities; and

(e) May establish state funded special programs for vocational rehabilitation in

the state vocational rehabilitation agency.

(2) Except as p rovided in KRS 151B.190, the executive director shall promulgate

administrative regulations to establish procedures and standards for service fee

memoranda and fees for services provided to individuals or entities, public or

private, including but not limi ted to community rehabilitation program service

providers. Any revised procedure or standard for service fee memoranda shall be

established prior to the new fiscal year.

(3) The executive director is authorized to provide liability insurance or an indemnit y

bond against the negligence of drivers of motor vehicles owned or operated by the

office for the transportation of applicants or clients of the office. If the

transportation is let out under contract, the contract shall require the contractor to

carry an indemnity bond or liability insurance against negligence to such amounts

as the executive director designates. In either case, the indemnity bond or insurance

policy shall be issued by a surety or insurance company authorized to transact

business in this state, and shall bind the company to pay any final judgment not to

exceed the limits of the policy rendered against the insured for loss or damage to

property of any applicant or client or other person, or death or injury of any

applicant or client or other person.

(4) The provisions of any other statute notwithstanding, the executive director is

authorized to use receipt of funds from the Social Security reimbursement program

for a direct service delivery staff incentive program. Incentives may be awarded if

case service costs are reimbursed for job placement of Social Security or

Supplemental Security Income recipients at the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

level for nine (9) months pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 422 and under those conditions

and criteria as are established by the federal reimbursement program.

(5) The executive director shall submit an annual report of its activities for the

preceding fiscal year to the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission for

referral to the Interim Joint Comm ittee on Families and Children and the Interim

Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment. Each

report shall include a complete operating and financial statement of the Office of

Vocational Rehabilitation.