259.1 Acceptance of federal Act.

The state of Iowa, through its legislative authority, accepts the provisions and benefits of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and codified in 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.

259.2 Custodian of funds.

The treasurer of state is custodian of moneys received by the state from appropriations made by the Congress of the United States for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, and may receive and provide for the proper custody of the moneys and make disbursement of them upon the requisition of the director of the department of education.

The treasurer of state is appointed custodian of moneys paid by the federal government to the state for the purpose of carrying out the agreement relative to making determinations of disability under Title II and Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. ch 7, and may receive the moneys and make disbursements of them upon the requisition of the director of the department of education.

259.3 Board and division.

The division of vocational rehabilitation services is established in the department of education. The director of the department of education shall cooperate with the United States secretary of education in carrying out the federal law cited in sections 259.1 and 259.2 providing for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities. The state board of education shall adopt rules under chapter 17A for the administration of this chapter.

259.4 Duties of division.

The division of vocational rehabilitation services shall:

1. Cooperate with the secretary of education in the administration of the federal law cited in section 259.1.

2. Administer legislation pursuant to the federal law cited in section 259.1, and direct the disbursement and administer the use of funds provided by the federal government and this state for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

3. Utilize in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities existing educational and other facilities as are advisable and practicable, including public and private educational institutions, community rehabilitation programs, public or private establishments, plants, factories, and the services of individuals specially qualified for the instruction and vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

4. Promote the establishment and assist in the development of training agencies for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

5. Cooperate with an agency of the federal government or of the state, or of a county or other municipal authority within the state, or any other agency, public or private, in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

6. Do those things necessary to secure the rehabilitation of those individuals entitled to the benefits of this chapter, including those individuals with significant disabilities.

7. Provide rehabilitation services to individuals with significant disabilities who are homebound, and other individuals with significant disabilities, who can wholly or substantially achieve an ability to live independently.

8. Provide financial and other necessary assistance to public or private agencies in the development or expansion of community rehabilitation programs, or programs in other public agencies, needed for the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

259.5 Report to governor.

The division shall report biennially to the governor the condition of vocational rehabilitation within the state, designating the educational institutions, establishments, plants, factories, and other agencies in which training is being given, and include a detailed statement of expenditures of the state and federal funds in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

259.6 Gifts and donations.

The division may receive gifts and donations from either public or private sources offered unconditionally or under conditions related to the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities that are consistent with this chapter.

259.7 Fund.

All the moneys received as gifts or donations shall be deposited in the state treasury and shall constitute a permanent fund to be called the special fund for the vocational rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, to be used by the director of the department of education in carrying out the provisions of this chapter or for related purposes.

259.8 Report of gifts.

A full report of gifts and donations offered and accepted, together with the names of the donors and the respective amounts contributed by each, and disbursements from the fund shall be submitted at call or biennially to the governor of the state by the division.

259.9 Agreement continued.

The agreement between the director of the department of education and the commissioner of the United States social security administration relating to making determinations of disability under Title II and Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act as amended, 42 U.S.C. ch. 7, completed prior to July 1, 1986, remains in effect.