§ 3-3-606. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS AND DUTIES.

(a)

Powers. The Commission on Disabilities may create committees and subcommittees as it considers necessary or desirable for the proper and efficient performance of its duties.

(b)

Duties. The Commission shall:

(1)

Adopt appropriate rules of procedure for the conduct of its business;

(2)

Review overall services and activities for, collect data regarding the needs of, and review reports and publications of existing governmental agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities;

(3)

Review and make recommendations on county, state, or federal legislation which concerns or would impact individuals with disabilities;

(4)

Serve as a resource for county government on assuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal, state, and local legislation which affects the civil rights of individuals with disabilities;

(5)

As permitted by local, state, and federal laws, identify and review specific and overall programs and services for all individuals with disabilities in the county to formulate recommendations for a data pool for the purpose of identifying areas of unmet needs and gaps in services and programs for individuals with disabilities;

(6)

Study ways of maximizing the use of facilities and services available to individuals with disabilities;

(7)

Advise the County Executive on the development of an information and referral service for all services and programs for individuals with disabilities;

(8)

Conduct open meetings to provide direct communication by individuals with disabilities with private and public organizations and with the general public in order to gather information regarding the status of programs, services, needs, desires, and opinions;

(9)

Identify barriers to service delivery and recommend adequate affirmative action plans for more effective delivery of services to individuals with disabilities;

(10)

Initiate conferences of interagency planning groups, create special task forces in order to identify and assess needs, and promote the coordination of services among all public and private agencies, departments, and organizations which provide services and programs to individuals with disabilities;

(11)

Identify and recommend to the County Executive and the County Council appropriate sources of state and federal financial assistance for purposes of comprehensively expanding services and programs for individuals with disabilities;

(12)

Initiate recommendations for procedures, programs, or legislation necessary to promote the well-being of individuals with disabilities; and

(13)

Submit an annual report to the County Council and the County Executive which includes:

(i)

The status of services and programs and recommendations for the most effective delivery of services and programs to individuals with disabilities;

(ii)

Annual priorities for delivery of services to individuals with disabilities; and

(iii)

Funding proposals.

(1988 Code, §§ 19-81, 19-82) (Bill No. 168, 1990, § 1; Bill No. 54-97, § 1, 7-20-1997; Bill No. 31-99, § 3, 7-1-2004)