191.859. Duties of council.
Duties of council.
191.859. The council shall advocate for assistive technologypolicies, regulations and programs, and shall establish aconsumer-responsive, comprehensive assistive technology service deliverysystem. The council shall:
(1) Promote awareness of the needs of individuals with disabilitiesfor assistive technology devices and services and the efficacy of providingsuch devices and services to allow persons with disabilities to beproductive and independent;
(2) Gain an understanding of current policies, practices, andprocedures that facilitate or impede the availability or provision ofassistive technology and recommend methods to streamline such policies;
(3) Research and study data from the major public and privateproviders of assistive technology regarding numbers and types of devicesand services delivered;
(4) Establish interagency coordination mechanisms among stateagencies and public and private entities that provide assistive technologydevices and services in an effort to eliminate gaps and reduce duplicationof such services to individuals with disabilities;
(5) Foster the capacity of public and private entities to provideassistive technology devices and services so that individuals withdisabilities of all ages will, to the extent appropriate, be able to secureand maintain possession of assistive technology as needed to functionindependently and productively;
(6) Recommend and implement specific methods and programs to increaseavailability of and funding for assistive technology devices and assistivetechnology services for individuals with disabilities;
(7) Employ staff necessary to implement assistive technology servicesand programs assigned to the council, with all employees exempt from thestate merit system under chapter 36, RSMo;
(8) Enter into grants or contracts with public or private agencies,schools, or qualified individuals or organizations to deliver federallyrequired or otherwise necessary assistive technology programs and services,including but not limited to assistive device demonstration programs,device recycling programs, device loan programs, financial loan programs,and assistive technology assessments, installation, and usage training forindividuals with disabilities, with or without utilizing the procurementprocedures of the office of administration;
(9) Administer the assistive technology trust fund created in section191.861, including the formation of a not-for-profit corporation thatqualifies as a Section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal RevenueCode of 1986, as amended;
(10) Accept, administer, and disburse federal moneys as the leadagency for the federal Assistive Technology Act of 2004, P.L. 108-364, andany amendments or successors thereto, as well as moneys from the assistivetechnology trust fund created in section 191.861, and any other moneysappropriated, granted, or given for the purpose of implementing assistivetechnology programs and services; and
(11) Report annually by January first to the governor and the generalassembly on council activities and the results of its studies, programs,services, and recommendations to increase access to assistive technology.
(L. 1993 H.B. 589 §§ 3, 4, A.L. 1999 H.B. 201, A.L. 2005 S.B. 518)