16-9-205. Program established; purpose; responsibilities of the division of vocational rehabilitation.

(a) The division in consultation with the committee, shall establish and administer a program to provide specialized telecommunications equipment and message relay services to persons who are communications impaired. The purpose of the program shall be to:

(i) Furnish specialized telecommunications equipment to meet the needs of persons who are communications impaired and who might be otherwise disadvantaged in their ability to obtain such equipment; and

(ii) Provide a message relay system to allow persons who are communications impaired to communicate via the telecommunications network with noncommunications impaired persons.

(b) In carrying out its responsibilities, the division shall:

(i) Develop rules, policies and procedures, as may be necessary, to govern administration of the program and ensure the program is in compliance with any applicable state and federal laws or regulations;

(ii) As part of its request for proposals, include provision for an equipment distribution program and utilize a preexisting state agency means test, if available, to determine eligibility for participation in the specialized telecommunications equipment program;

(iii) Implement the message relay system as described in subsection (a)(ii) of this section within one (1) year following the effective date of this act and, to the extent funds generated by the special fee specified in W.S. 16-9-209 are available, implement the specialized telecommunications equipment distribution program described in subsection (a)(i) of this section within two (2) years following the effective date of this act;

(iv) Perform any other duties necessary to properly oversee administration of the program.