Sec. 5. (a) The bureau shall provide job placement services, including supported employment (as defined in 34 CFR 363.6), on a consistent statewide basis for qualified blind, visually impaired, and other persons with disabilities.

(b) The bureau shall increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by encouraging and authorizing direct job placements into any job that is chosen by the vocational rehabilitation client, including a job provided by any organization that has a contract with the bureau to provide vocational rehabilitation services.

(c) Before December 31, 2019, the division shall determine the following concerning the division's program that provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals:

(1) The cost of vocational rehabilitation services provided in state fiscal year 2018 and state fiscal year 2019.

(2) An estimate of the number of eligible individuals for rehabilitation services for whom the division can provide the services and the number of eligible individuals to be deferred between state fiscal year 2020 and state fiscal year 2025.

(3) The projected staffing and fiscal resources needed to provide services to eligible individuals.

(4) The current service provider capacity.

(5) The projected service provider capacity needed to serve additional priority categories of individuals.

(6) The adequacy of current reimbursement rates.

(d) Before July 31 of each year, the division shall assess the following concerning the vocational rehabilitation services program:

(1) Available staffing and fiscal resources.

(2) The achievement of benchmarks in a plan to provide the full range of needed services to all eligible individuals.

(3) Meeting the requirements set forth in 34 CFR 361.36 to provide services to all eligible individuals.

(e) The division shall report to the commission on rehabilitation services under IC 12-12-2 and the task force established under IC 12-11-15.5 concerning the division's assessment under subsection (d).

(f) The division shall, upon determining that the staffing and financial resources determined under this section are in place, do the following:

(1) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the first closed priority category not later than January 1, 2020.

(2) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the final closed priority category not later than June 30, 2022.

(3) Begin to serve all service priority categories not later than June 30, 2024.

[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-17(a).]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-1993, SEC.48; P.L.104-1996, SEC.2; P.L.262-2019, SEC.4.