The State of Alabama hereby accepts all of the provisions and benefits of an act passed by the United States Congress, entitled "an act to provide for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise and their return to civil employment" (29 U.S.C.A., §§ 31 through 41).

For the purpose of enabling the State of Alabama to comply with the provisions of the national Social Security Act insofar as it relates to extending and strengthening its program of vocational rehabilitation of physically and mentally disabled persons, to provide physical and mental restoration when necessary, and to continue to carry out the provisions and purposes of the federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act entitled "an act to provide for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise, and their return to civil employment" (29 U.S.C.A., §§ 31 through 41), any and all funds appropriated may be used for the purposes set forth in this section and in the amended act.

In furthering its plan of vocational rehabilitation and physical and mental restoration now effective in the state, this section shall be administered and any and all state and federal appropriations for carrying into effect its provisions shall be expended under the supervision of the State Superintendent of Education.

All state and federal funds made available for carrying out the provisions of the section shall be paid by the treasurer on warrants drawn therefor by the Comptroller, on requisition of the State Superintendent of Education.

For the purpose of enabling the State Board of Education of Alabama to comply with the provisions of the national Social Security Act and to continue to extend and improve as far as practicable the services now maintained by the State Board of Education for locating crippled children and for providing medical, surgical, corrective and other services, care and treatment and facilities for diagnosis, hospitalization and after-care for children who are crippled or who are suffering from conditions which lead to crippling, any and all funds appropriated for physical restoration of crippled children for the above purposes may be used for the purposes set forth in this section.

Funds made available through that section or those sections of the federal Social Security Act which relates to crippled children, together with any and all available state and federal appropriations, shall be administered by the State Board of Education, through the Division of Rehabilitation and Crippled Children Service, and shall be used in the further development of the state's program of physical restoration of crippled children. The State Board of Education is hereby authorized to accept donations, gifts and bequests and to expend same on approval of the State Superintendent of Education or executive officer of the board for purposes approved under regulations of the State Board of Education.

All funds made available for carrying out the provisions of this section shall be paid by the Treasurer on warrants drawn therefor by the Comptroller, on requisition of the State Superintendent of Education.

The Treasurer is hereby designated and appointed custodian of all moneys received by the state from the appropriations made by the act of Congress referred to in Section 16-38-1, and he is authorized to receive and to provide for the proper custody of the same and to make disbursements thereof in the manner provided in the act and for the purposes therein specified. He shall pay out any moneys appropriated by the State of Alabama for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter upon the order of the State Board of Education.

The State Superintendent of Education shall designate, by and with the advice and consent of the State Board of Education, such assistants as may be necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this chapter. The State Superintendent of Education shall also carry into effect such rules and regulations as the State Board of Education may adopt and shall prepare such reports concerning the conditions of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise as the State Board of Education may require.

The State Board of Education shall have all necessary authority to cooperate with the Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in the administration of said act of Congress. It shall cooperate with the state agency in charge of the Workers' Compensation Law. The state board shall administer any legislation which may hereafter be enacted by the Legislature of the State of Alabama and shall administer the funds provided by the federal government and the State of Alabama for the promotion of vocational rehabilitation of persons disabled in industry or otherwise and their return to civil employment. It shall have full authority to formulate plans for the promotion of the training of such persons in such subjects essential to their rehabilitation. It shall have authority to fix the compensation of officials and assistants as may be necessary to administer the federal act and this chapter, and to pay such compensation and other necessary expenses of administration from funds appropriated by the state. It shall have authority to make studies and investigations relating to the rehabilitation of disabled persons; to promote and aid in the establishment of schools, departments or classes giving such necessary training; to cooperate with local boards of education, organizations and communities in the maintenance of such schools, departments or classes; to prescribe qualifications for the teachers, directors and supervisors of such subjects and to have full authority to provide for the certification of teachers, directors and supervisors.

The board of education of any county, city or incorporated town having control of its own public school system or any state institution of higher learning having its own board of control may cooperate with the State Board of Education in the establishment of schools or classes giving instruction in the training of disabled persons and may use any money raised by public taxation in the same manner as moneys for other school purposes are used for the maintenance and support of public schools.

(a) The moneys appropriated by the State of Alabama, the funds deposited with the Treasurer under the provisions of the federal act and any other funds accruing to the state for vocational rehabilitation training of disabled persons shall be used by the State Board of Education for the purposes set forth in this chapter, and the moneys appropriated and accruing shall be paid out upon requisition of the State Superintendent of Education upon the Comptroller, who shall draw his warrants upon the Treasurer for the amount for which requisition was made.

(b) All reimbursements received by the State Department of Education, Rehabilitation and Crippled Children Service for state funds expended on behalf of clients shall not revert to the State Treasury under the provisions of Section 41-4-93 but shall carry forward to the next fiscal year. All reimbursements described in this subsection are hereby appropriated and designated as continuing appropriations to the State Department of Education, Rehabilitation and Crippled Children Service to be expended on behalf of clients.

The State Board of Education in its annual report to the Governor shall set forth the conditions of vocational rehabilitation education in the State of Alabama, a list of the schools to which federal and state aid has been given, and a detailed statement of expenditures of federal funds and the state fund provided for the purposes of this chapter.