The department must provide and coordinate services for persons with visual disabilities, work with state agencies and the federal government, and not refuse relevant interagency agreements.
Sec. 91.021. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES. (a) The department has primary responsibility for providing all services to persons with visual disabilities except welfare services and services for children provided by regularly established educational agencies and state authorities. (b) The department shall negotiate interagency agreements with other state agencies to provide services for individuals who have both a visual disability and another disability so that those individuals with multiple disabilities may be provided the most beneficial services with the greatest possible economy. (c) The department and other concerned state agencies may not refuse to enter into an interagency agreement developed to advance the state's policies regarding the rehabilitation or education of the blind and persons with visual disabilities. In negotiating the agreements the agencies shall seek to extend and improve the regular services provided by the agencies and to effectively use all specialty and fiscal resources that are available. The agencies shall give careful consideration to avoiding unnecessary duplication or overlap of their respective efforts. (d) The department shall enter into agreements with the federal government to implement federal legislation authorizing the provision of services to persons with visual disabilities. The department shall use methods of administration required by the federal government for the proper and efficient implementation of the agreements, and shall comply with other federal requirements necessary to secure the full benefits of the federal legislation. (e) The department and other concerned state agencies may not refuse to enter into interagency agreements designed to secure the full benefits of federal legislation authorizing services for persons with visual disabilities. (f) The department shall: (1) serve as an information center and referral resource for persons with visual disabilities; and (2) develop mechanisms and procedures that tend to assist individuals with visual disabilities in bridging gaps between educational, institutional, rehabilitative, vocational, and related types of services operated by public and private nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2397, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2437, ch. 842, art. 2, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 793, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 198, Sec. 2.130, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1325, Sec. 13.08, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 281 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 4.06, eff. June 14, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 268 (S.B. 10), Sec. 32(f), eff. September 1, 2008. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.348, eff. April 2, 2015.