The Commission has the following duties:
(a) review programs and services for people with disabilities, including identifying unmet needs and gaps in services;
(b) identify, analyze, and evaluate barriers to programs and services for people with disabilities;
(c) review reports and publications of government agencies providing services to people with disabilities;
(d) review federal, state and local legislation that concerns or would affect people with disabilities;
(e) study ways to maximize the use of facilities and services available to people with disabilities;
(f) conduct open meetings to provide direct communication among people with disabilities, private and public organizations, and the general public regarding programs and services for people with disabilities;
(g) initiate conferences of interagency planning group and create special task forces to identify and assess needs and promote the coordination of services among public and private agencies, departments, and organizations that provide services and programs for people with disabilities;
(h) identify and recommend to the County Executive and the County Council appropriate sources of state and federal funding for services and programs for people with disabilities;
(i) make recommendations for procedures, programs, and legislation to promote the well- being of people with disabilities;
(j) submit an annual report by November 1 each year to the County Council and the County Executive that includes:
(1) the status of services and programs for people with disabilities in the County;
(2) recommendations for the more effective delivery of services and programs to people with disabilities; and
(3) annual budget and policy priorities for delivery of services to people with disabilities;
(k) advise the Department of Health and Human Services in carrying out the duties and responsibilities imposed by federal laws affecting people with disabilities; and
(l) make recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services about the County's contribution to programs and services for people with disabilities. (1979 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 2; 1979 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 3; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1.)
Editor's note—See County Attorney Opinion dated 4/21/04 discussing the limited authority of the Commission on People with Disabilities and the role of the County Attorney as the legal advisor for the County.
Section 5 of 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, reads as follows: "Sec. 5. A regulation that implements a function assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services by 1995 LMC ch. 13 continues in effect but is amended to the extent necessary to provide that the regulation is administered by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services."