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In order to coordinate the activities of the rehabilitation centers and to advise the commissioner and to better acquaint the public with the needs and activities of the program, the commissioner is authorized to create a statewide advisory board for the rehabilitation centers to be composed of sixteen (16) members as follows:
There shall be one (1) ex officio member from each of the following departments and agencies of state government:
The department of mental health and substance abuse services;
The department of labor and workforce development;
The department of human services;
The division of rehabilitation services of the department of human services;
The department of education;
The Tennessee committee on employment of persons with disabilities; and
The department of intellectual and developmental disabilities; and
The remaining nine (9) members shall be appointed by the commissioner from among private organizations and agencies concerned with persons with disabilities, to serve for staggered terms of four (4) years each. In appointing the nine (9) remaining members to the board, to the extent possible, the assistant commissioner shall appoint the board's members to ensure appropriate representation on the board based upon gender and ethnicity.
It is the duty of the advisory board to consider and advise the commissioner and the division on broad problems and policies, to review periodically the progress of the rehabilitation center program, and to help maintain coordination between the program and the related programs of the organizations and agencies represented on the board.
Members of the advisory board shall meet at least annually and at other times that may be necessary, upon call of the director of the vocational rehabilitation program, and shall receive no compensation for their services.
The appointed members shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses incurred in traveling to and from meetings, in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
The commissioner, through the division, shall, with the advice and assistance of the advisory board, set and enforce standards for the operation of the rehabilitation centers, assist communities in organizing local rehabilitation centers, develop and administer contractual arrangements between the centers and the division, secure contract work for the various rehabilitation centers from industry on a local, statewide and national basis in order to provide the type of work experience most needed by the clients and still provide income to the rehabilitation centers sufficient to adequately remunerate the clients.
The advisory board is transferred to the department. All functions of the advisory board are administered by and shall be under the control of the commissioner.
The commissioner shall perform all such duties and has the responsibilities heretofore vested in the advisory board and the state board of education in accordance with this part.
All rules, regulations, orders and decisions issued or promulgated by the advisory board prior to February 21, 1989, shall remain in full force and effect and be administered and enforced by the department. To this end, the department, through its chief executive officer, has the authority, consistent with the statutes and regulations pertaining to the programs and functions transferred by this subsection (e) and other provisions in chapter 4 of the Public Acts of 1989, to modify or rescind orders or rules and regulations issued prior to February 21, 1989, and to adopt, issue or promulgate new orders or rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration of the program or function transferred by this subsection (e) and other provisions in chapter 4 of the Public Acts of 1989.