§ 63-2417. Duties and responsibilities of State Department of Rehabilitation Services.

The State Department of Rehabilitation Services is hereby directed to:

1.  Provide for the availability, distribution and maintenance, at no cost to qualified individuals with hearing or speech disabilities, or both, telecommunication devices and ring-signaling devices compatible with the telecommunications relay services for deaf or hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired individuals requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

2.  Design and implement a needs assessment test so that individuals with hearing or speech disabilities, or both, are benefited by this program.  Provided, however, that no equipment and maintenance shall be provided without charge for those individuals meeting more than two hundred percent (200%) of the income guidelines for food stamps.  The State Department of Rehabilitation Services shall develop a sliding scale to provide equipment and maintenance to individuals exceeding the needs test specified by this paragraph.

Added by Laws 1986, c. 183, § 2, eff. July 1, 1986.  Amended by Laws 1993, c. 364, § 19, emerg. eff. June 11, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 315, § 13, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1998, c. 246, § 25, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.