46.293
46.293
Specialized programs for the blind and visually impaired. The department shall provide rehabilitation teaching services for persons who are blind or visually impaired including elderly persons and young persons and their parents or guardians, regardless of their eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services. These services may include assessments of each client's service needs, development of an individual service plan, instruction in braille, training in orientation and movement in the person's home or neighborhood, counseling and guidance to increase the blind or visually impaired person's independence, instruction in the use of low-vision aids, personal and home management training and instruction in leisure activities. In conjunction with the provision of these services the department shall:
46.293(1)
(1) Work with blind and visually impaired persons, in a setting appropriate to each individual, to form rehabilitation plans for independent living to enable them to increase their self-reliance.
46.293(2)
(2) Assist blind and visually impaired persons in physical orientation and personal adjustment.
46.293 History
History: 1995 a. 27 ss.
2270,
2413; Stats. 1995 s. 46.293.
46.295
46.295
Interpreters for the hearing-impaired. 46.295(1)
(1) The department may, on the request of any hearing-impaired person, city, village, town or county or private agency, provide funds from the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (6) (a) and
(hs) to reimburse interpreters for hearing-impaired persons for the provision of interpreter services.
46.295(2)
(2) The department shall grant priority to requests to pay fees charged by interpreters for the following, in the following order:
46.295(2)(b)
(b) Medical, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, psychiatric and psychological services.
46.295(2)(c)
(c) Legal services and civil court proceedings.
46.295(2)(d)
(d) Matters concerning law enforcement personnel.
46.295(2)(e)
(e) Matters concerning any federal, state, county or municipal agency.
46.295(4)
(4) The department may use as an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons only the following:
46.295(4)(a)
(a) An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons who is certified by the national registry of interpreters for the deaf.
46.295(4)(b)
(b) If an interpreter under
par. (a) is unavailable, an interpreter for hearing-impaired persons whose qualifications have been determined appropriate by the department.
46.295(5)
(5) The department may bill any public or private agency at the rates established by the department for interpreter services for hearing-impaired persons commensurate with the certification or qualification level of the interpreter providing services if the department determines that the agency is required under state or federal law to provide interpreter services to a hearing-impaired person or if the agency agrees to pay for the services.
46.295(6)
(6) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
46.295 History
History: 1995 a. 27 ss.
2271,
2417; Stats. 1995 s. 46.295.
46.297
46.297
Telecommunication aid for the hearing impaired. 46.297(1)(1)
Assistance. From the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (7) (d), the department shall, subject to the availability of funds, provide assistance to hearing-impaired persons to secure telecommunication devices capable of serving their needs. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the department shall purchase or provide funds for the purchase of telecommunication devices.
46.297(2)
(2) Eligibility. A person is eligible to receive assistance under
sub. (1) if all of the following conditions are met:
46.297(2)(a)
(a) The person is certified as deaf or severely hearing impaired by a physician, an audiologist licensed under
subch. II of ch. 459 or the department.
46.297(2)(b)
(b) The adjusted gross income of the person's family is equal to or less than 200% of the poverty line established under
42 USC 9902 (2).
46.297(3)
(3) Hearing rights. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department under this section has a right to a contested case hearing under
ch. 227.
46.297(4)
(4) Departmental duties. The department shall:
46.297(4)(a)
(a) Promulgate rules necessary for the administration of this section.
46.297(4)(b)
(b) Establish application procedures and determine eligibility.
46.297 History
History: 1983 a. 427; Stats. 1983 s. 46.90;
1983 a. 538 s.
51; Stats. 1983 s. 46.92;
1987 a. 27;
1987 a. 257 s.
2;
1989 a. 173 s.
3; Stats. 1989 s. 47.20;
1989 a. 316;
1995 a. 27 s.
2421; Stats. 1995 s. 46.297.
46.298
46.298
Vehicle sticker for the hearing impaired. Upon the request of a person who is certified as hearing impaired by the department, by a physician, by a hearing instrument specialist licensed under
subch. I of ch. 459 or by an audiologist licensed under
subch. II of ch. 459, the department shall issue to the person a decal or sticker for display on a motor vehicle owned or frequently operated by the person to apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is owned or operated by a hearing-impaired person. No charge shall be made for issuance of the decal or sticker. The department shall specify the design of the decal or sticker. The department shall designate the location on the vehicle at which the decal or sticker shall be affixed by its own adhesive.
46.298 History
History: 1987 a. 257;
1989 a. 31;
1989 a. 173 s.
4; Stats. 1989 s. 47.25;
1989 a. 316;
1995 a. 27 s.
2422; Stats. s. 46.298.
46.30
46.30
Community action agencies. 46.30(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
46.30(1)(a)
(a) "Limited-purpose agency" means a private, nonprofit organization that is a statewide organization whose project has statewide impact.
46.30(1)(b)
(b) "Poor person" means a resident of a community served by a community action agency, whose income is at or below 125% of the poverty line.
46.30(1)(c)
(c) "Poverty line" means the nonfarm federal poverty line for the continental United States, as defined by the federal department of labor under
42 USC 9902 (2).
46.30(2)(a)1.1. A community action agency is any of the entities specified in
par. (b) that meets the following conditions:
46.30(2)(a)1.c.
c. Receives the approval of the county board of supervisors, if the community action agency serves an entire county, or, if the agency serves a city, village or town, receives the approval of the city's, village's or town's legislative body.
46.30(2)(a)2.
2. Each private, nonprofit community action agency shall be governed by a board consisting of 15 to 51 members, chosen from the following groups:
46.30(2)(a)2.a.
a. One-third of the members shall be elected public officials or their representatives. If the number of elected public officials who are reasonably available and willing to serve on a governing board is insufficient to meet this requirement, appointed public officials may be substituted. The chief executive or the legislative body of the county, city, village or town that approved the creation of a community action agency under
subd. 1. c. shall appoint these members.
46.30(2)(a)2.b.
b. At least one-third of the members shall represent poor persons in the community to be served by the community action agency, being chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to ensure that they are selected by and that they represent poor persons.
46.30(2)(a)2.c.
c. The remaining members shall represent specific groups or areas within the community to be served by the community action agency. The members selected under
subd. 2. a. and
b. shall determine which groups or areas are to be represented and shall delegate to the group, or to residents of the area, the task of selecting the representative. Representatives of an area of the community shall reside within that area.
46.30(2)(a)3.
3. Each community relations-social development commission created under
s. 66.0125 that acts as a community action agency shall modify the composition of its commission so that the commission is composed of 15 to 51 members, chosen from the groups specified in
subd. 2. a. to
c.
46.30(2)(b)
(b) The following entities may organize as community action agencies:
46.30(2)(b)1.
1. Any private, nonprofit community organization, including any migrant or seasonal farm worker organization.
46.30(2)(b)3.
3. Any entity designated by the community services administration as a community action agency under
42 USC 2790 to
2797, in effect on August 1, 1981, for federal fiscal year 1981, unless the agency lost its designation. Any such entity is deemed to meet the conditions under
par. (a) 1.
46.30(2)(c)
(c) The approval of a community action agency may be rescinded but only if there is good cause and if the decision to rescind is made by both the legislative body of the county, city, village or town that granted the approval and the secretary. At least 90 days before rescinding approval, the legislative body or secretary shall notify the community action agency of its reasons for the action and hold a public hearing in the community concerning the action.
46.30(3)(a)(a) A community action agency shall do all of the following:
46.30(3)(a)1.
1. Administer funds received under
sub. (4) and funds from other sources provided to support a community action program.
46.30(3)(a)2.
2. Set personnel, program and fiscal policies. Each community action agency shall set policies and procedures governing employee compensation and employment qualifications for itself and its agents. These policies and procedures shall ensure that employment practices are impartial and are designed to employ only competent persons, and shall guard against personal or financial conflicts of interest. Each community action agency shall also define the duties of its employees regarding advocacy on behalf of poor persons.
46.30(3)(a)3.
3. Involve, to the greatest extent practicable, poor persons in developing and implementing programs in order to ensure that these programs:
46.30(3)(a)3.a.
a. Will stimulate the capabilities of these persons for self-advancement.
46.30(3)(a)3.b.
b. Will be meaningful to and widely utilized by these persons.
46.30(3)(a)4.
4. Allow poor persons to influence the character of programs operated by the community action agency.
46.30(3)(a)5.
5. Involve members of the community in planning, conducting and evaluating its programs.
46.30(3)(a)6.
6. Conduct its program in a manner free of discrimination based on political affiliation and of personal or familial favoritism. Each community action agency shall establish policies and procedures to carry out this requirement and to hold staff members accountable for complying with matters governed by this section and by other state or federal laws, rules or regulations.
46.30(3)(a)7.
7. Release any record of the community action agency for examination or copying upon request, unless disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of an individual's privacy. Each community action agency shall require its agents to make their records similarly available. Each community action agency shall hold public hearings on request to provide information and to receive comments about its activities.
46.30(3)(a)8.
8. Appoint a representative or representatives to the citizen advisory committee under
s. 46.031 (3) (a), in order to participate in developing and implementing programs designed to serve the poor.
46.30(3)(b)3.
3. Create a community action program. If the community action agency creates a program, it shall plan, coordinate, administer and evaluate the program. A community action program may include provisions that will help poor persons:
46.30(3)(b)3.d.
d. Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment.
46.30(3)(b)3.f.
f. Obtain emergency assistance. Through its program, the community action agency may provide emergency supplies or services to meet basic needs.
46.30(3)(b)4.
4. Create methods by which poor persons can work with private groups to solve common problems.
46.30(3)(b)5.
5. Research the causes of and problems created by poverty in the community.
46.30(3)(b)6.
6. Determine if programs to reduce poverty are working effectively.
46.30(3)(b)7.
7. Initiate and sponsor projects to aid poor persons that provide otherwise unavailable services.
46.30(3)(b)8.
8. Transmit information between public and private organizations and otherwise coordinate the provision of public and private social services programs to eliminate overlap and ensure effective delivery of the programs.
46.30(3)(b)9.
9. Contract with other persons to perform the community action agency's functions. The community action agency may delegate responsibility for funding or administering its programs or for making policy determinations concerning a particular geographic area of the community it serves only if poor persons represent at least one-third of the members of the governing body of the agent being delegated this responsibility.
46.30(3)(b)10.
10. Apply for funds from various sources to support a community action program.
46.30(4)(b)
(b) The department shall allocate at least 90% of the funds received under
42 USC 9903 to community action agencies and organizations.
46.30(4)(c)
(c) The department may not allocate more than 5% of the funds received under
42 USC 9903 for state administrative expenses.
46.30(4)(d)
(d) Before January 1 of each year the department shall contract with each agency and organization being funded, specifying the amount of money the organization will receive under this section and the activities to be carried out by the organization.
46.30(5)
(5) City, village or town assistance. A city, village or town may appropriate funds for promoting and assisting a community action agency.
