The office of disability affairs has powers and duties to study disability conditions, share information, advise state agencies, coordinate agency services, make rules, and promote coordination and inclusion.
§2582. Powers and duties The office of disability affairs shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To collect facts and statistics and make special studies of conditions pertaining to the employment, health, financial status, recreation, social adjustment of persons with disabilities, or which otherwise affect the welfare of those persons. (2) To keep abreast of the latest developments concerning disabilities and persons with disabilities throughout the nation and to interpret its findings to the public. (3) To provide for a mutual exchange of ideas and information on national, state, and local levels. (4) To make recommendations to the governor and to the legislature for needed improvements and additional resources to promote the welfare of persons with disabilities in the state. (5) To provide information and advice to state agencies concerning compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and all other state and federal laws. (6) To coordinate the services of all state agencies serving persons with disabilities and require reports from such state agencies and institutions. (7) To adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that are deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. (8) To network and promote local committees and organizations for persons with disabilities, to provide information and updates of changes in law, and centrally coordinate the preparation for the Governor's Conference for Persons with Disabilities. (9) To encourage, strengthen, and promote coordination of goals and program services among various public and private delivery systems to persons with disabilities of all ages throughout the state. (10) To seek to facilitate and encourage the integration of job-ready persons with disabilities into such programs as are available to their nondisabled peers. Acts 1991, No. 1042, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §24, eff. June 23, 2014.