Oklahoma § 56-329.1 - Program to broaden availability of support service

§ 56-329.1. Program to broaden availability of support service

providers in the deaf-blind community - Support Service Providers

Grant Program Fund.

A. The Department of Human Services shall:

1. Establish a program to broaden the availability of support

service providers (SSPs) in the deaf-blind community;

2. Develop a mission statement for the program and promulgate

rules necessary to implement and administer the program;

3. Provide grants to SSPs and organizations that provide

services for deaf-blind adults or deaf-blind children and their

families. The services shall include but are not limited to:

a.

transportation for doctor appointments, shopping or

errands,

b.

reading mail or other correspondence,

c.

making telephone calls,

d.

recreation or wellness activities,

e.

civic or religious activities,

f.

deaf-blind meetings or events, and

g.

occasional special events such as weddings, funerals

or religious ceremonies.

The Department may prioritize and limit the amount and scope of

services offered subject to funding limitations and considering the

needs of the deaf-blind recipients and their families; and

4. Use a request-for-proposal process to award grants to SSPs.

SSPs that receive grants pursuant to this section may expend the

grant monies for any purpose authorized in this subsection. The

total amount of grants awarded pursuant to this section shall not

exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) annually.

B. After establishing a program pursuant to subsection A of

this section and subject to the availability of funds, the

Department may develop a certification requirement and training

program for SSPs and organizations that provide services for deafblind adults or deaf-blind children and their families with the

primary priority of service to the deaf-blind recipients and their

families.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

C. The structure and scope of the program established in

subsection A of this section may be expanded upon legislative

approval and funding. The program shall be aligned with other

initiatives of the Department to avoid duplication or overlap of

services or programming; however, the Department may use a

combination of services or programs to provide a comprehensive

support program for deaf-blind adults or deaf-blind children and

their families. The Department may solicit and accept private or

public funds from individuals and entities to implement and

administer the program.

D. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving

fund for the Department of Human Services to be designated the

"Support Service Providers Grant Program Fund". The fund shall be a

continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations. The fund

shall consist of monies appropriated to the Department by the

Legislature and any other monies acquired by the Department pursuant

to subsection C of this section. All monies accruing to the credit

of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended

by the Department in order to carry out the duties imposed in this

section. Expenditures from the Support Service Providers Grant

Program Fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State

Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the

Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for

approval and payment.

Added by Laws 2018, c. 141, § 2. Amended by Laws 2021, c. 517, § 1,

eff. July 1, 2021. Renumbered from § 166.13 of Title 74 by Laws

2021, c. 517, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021.