34:16-27 Powers of division.

8. The division shall be authorized to:

(a) Adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of P.L.1955, c.64 (C.34:16-20 et seq.).

(b) Provide vocational rehabilitation and independent living rehabilitation services, directly or through public or private instrumentalities, to eligible individuals with disabilities without discrimination as to sex, race, color, creed, or national origin, except that the division shall not duplicate services provided for persons who are blind through the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and persons who are deaf or hard of hearing through the New Jersey School for the Deaf, Katzenbach Campus, nor shall the division provide services for persons who in its judgment will not benefit from rehabilitation. In case vocational rehabilitation and independent living rehabilitation services cannot be provided to all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply for such services, the division shall provide, by regulation, the order to be followed in selecting those to whom such services will be provided.

(c) Construct or establish and operate rehabilitation facilities and workshops, which may include residential accommodations related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities and make grants to public and other nonprofit organizations for such purposes.

(d) Establish and supervise the operation of vending stands and other small businesses established pursuant to P.L.1955, c.64 (C.34:16-20 et seq.) to be conducted by individuals with severe disabilities.

(e) Make studies, investigations, demonstrations, and reports, and provide training and instruction (including the establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships and traineeships with such stipends and allowances as may be deemed necessary) in matters relating to vocational rehabilitation and independent living rehabilitation.

(f) Enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to provide for the vocational rehabilitation and independent living rehabilitation of residents of the states concerned.

(g) Accept and use gifts made, by will or otherwise, for carrying out the purposes of this chapter. Gifts made under such conditions as in the judgment of the division are proper and consistent with the provisions of this chapter, may be accepted, held, invested, reinvested, or used in accordance with the conditions, if any, of the gift.

(h) Take such action as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of P.L.1955, c.64 (C.34:16-20 et seq.).

L.1955, c.64, s.8; amended 1961, c.20, s.3; 1967, c.123, s.3; 1969, c.91, s.2; 2007, c.39, s.4; 2017, c.131, s.134.