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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 271--S.F.No. 1246

An act

relating to state government; providing certification for rehabilitation counselors for the blind and providing public records and continuing education accessibility for persons with disabilities; providing civil penalties;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 248.07, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 363A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 248.07, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 14b. new text end

new text begin Certification and qualifications of rehabilitation counselors for the blind. new text end

new text begin (a) No person shall provide rehabilitation counseling services for the blind or hold themselves out as a qualified rehabilitation counselor for the blind unless the person is certified as a rehabilitation counselor by the director of State Services for the Blind. new text end

new text begin (b) A rehabilitation counselor for the blind is not a mental health practitioner. new text end

new text begin (c) A certified rehabilitation counselor for the blind shall have, in addition to any necessary education background for rehabilitation counselors in Minnesota, the following qualifications: new text end

new text begin (1) successful completion of a minimum of six weeks of intensive training under sleep shades from an adjustment-to-blindness center set forth by State Services for the Blind in the contracting process; and new text end

new text begin (2) completion of additional appropriate training as approved by the director of State Services for the Blind. new text end

new text begin (d) Each certified rehabilitation counselor for the blind shall, in the period since the counselor's certificate was issued or last renewed, complete continuing competency requirements as set forth by the director of State Services for the Blind. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2011, for persons hired in rehabilitation counseling for the blind after that date. new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [363A.42] PUBLIC RECORDS; ACCESSIBILITY. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "records" means any recorded information that is collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the state, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota, cities, towns, counties, school districts and all other political subdivisions of the state, regardless of physical form or method of storage. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Accessibility. new text end

new text begin All records must be available to persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. Reasonable modifications must be made in any policies, practices and procedures that might otherwise deny equal access to records to individuals with disabilities. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Penalties. new text end

new text begin Violation of this section is subject to a penalty of $500 per violation, plus attorney fees, costs and disbursements, payable to a qualified disabled person under section 363A.03, subdivision 36, by the public entity in violation of this section. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2013. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [363A.43] CONTINUING EDUCATION; ACCESSIBILITY. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Accessibility. new text end

new text begin Any continuing education or professional development course, offering, material or activity approved or administered by the state, political subdivisions of the state, the University of Minnesota or the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, must be available to persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. Reasonable modifications must be made in any policies, practices and procedures that might otherwise deny equal access to continuing education or professional development to individuals with disabilities. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Penalties. new text end

new text begin Violation of this section is subject to a penalty of $500 per violation, plus attorney fees, costs and disbursements, payable to a qualified disabled person under section 363A.03, subdivision 36, by the public entity or the entity offering the course, material, or activity under a contract with a public entity. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2013. new text end

Presented to the governor April 22, 2010

Signed by the governor April 26, 2010, 5:21 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes