§ 42-51-1. Establishment of commission. There is established within the executive department a permanent commission to be known as the “governor’s commission on disabilities,” hereinafter referred to as “the commission.” History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 62, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 16.
§ 42-51-10. State coordinating committee on disability rights. The commission shall establish a state coordinating committee on disability rights to advise and assist the commission to implement self-evaluation and compliance plans as required by federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. The committee shall be composed of thirteen (13) members who […]
§ 42-51-11. Mary Brennan fellowship fund. (a) There is established the Mary Brennan fellowship fund (“the fellowship fund”), which shall be utilized to create a fellowship program for students and young adults with disabilities. (b) These fellowships shall provide a semester-long, part-time placement with the commission in Rhode Island, working on disability policy and research. […]
§ 42-51-12. Designated state entity. (a) The governor’s commission on disabilities shall be the designated state entity (DSE), pursuant to section 705(e) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. § 796c). As the DSE, the commission shall apply for and: (1) Receive, account for, and disburse funds received by the state under Part […]
§ 42-51-13. Livable home modification program. (a) There is hereby established the livable home modification program for home modification and accessibility enhancements to construct, retrofit, and/or renovate residences to allow individuals with significant disabilities to remain in community settings. (b) Any eligible resident who retrofits or hires an individual to retrofit an existing residence, provided […]
§ 42-51-2. Composition of commission. Effective on July 1, 2014, the commission shall be composed of eighteen (18) members. Insofar as practicable, the commission shall consist of people with disabilities and state leaders of industry, labor, business, veterans, women, and federal, state, and local governments, and representatives of religious, charitable, business, labor, industrial, fraternal, civic, […]
§ 42-51-3. Officers. The governor shall designate one member of the commission to serve as its chairperson during the governor’s term of office or until he or she appoints another member of the commission to serve in that capacity. The commission shall elect from its own membership a vice-chairperson, who shall serve until his or […]
§ 42-51-4. Term of office. (a) Of the number of members appointed originally under this chapter, one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of one year; one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; and one-third (⅓) shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, vacancies created […]
§ 42-51-5. Compensation and expenses. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but may, at the discretion of the governor, be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties. History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 62, § 2.
§ 42-51-6. Duties. It shall be the duty of the commission to work in cooperation with the National Council on Disability and other interested federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and employers in: (1) Promoting on behalf of the people with disabilities and assuring, on behalf of the state, that people with disabilities are afforded […]
§ 42-51-6.1. Hearing boards. (a) The commission’s chairperson shall appoint five (5) commissioners as the hearing board for the purpose of conducting hearings and rendering decisions on matters relating to the provisions of chapter 87 of this title and §§ 37-8-15.1 and 42-46-13 within the jurisdiction of the commission. (b) Three (3) commissioners shall constitute […]
§ 42-51-6.2. Committees and mediation teams. (a) The commission is authorized to create advisory committees and mediation teams to perform tasks within the jurisdiction of the commission. (b) The commission may itself, or it may empower these committees and mediation teams to: (1) Study the concerns of people with disabilities in reaching the maximum in […]
§ 42-51-7. Gifts, grants, and donations. The commission is authorized to receive any gifts, grants, or donations made for any of the purposes of its program, and to disburse and administer them in accordance with the terms of its program. History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 62, § 2.
§ 42-51-8. Transfer of personnel. (a) All of the personnel and employees of the “governor’s committee on employment of the handicapped” shall be transferred to the “governor’s commission on the handicapped”. No person in the classified, non-classified, or unclassified service of the state on May 28, 1985 shall be discharged, separated from service, or downgraded […]
§ 42-51-9. Definitions. The following words and terms, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, shall have the following meanings: (1) “Disability” means a disability as defined in § 42-87-1. (2) “Federal and state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities” means, but is not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act of […]
