Ind. Code ch. 12-12-1

in effect

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-1 Establishment

Sec. 1. The rehabilitation services bureau is established within the division. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-9.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-2 Organization of bureau

Sec. 2. The director shall organize the bureau in the manner necessary to carry out the bureau's duties. However, the bureau must include the following: (1) The unit of services for individuals who are blind and individuals who are visually impaired. (2) The unit of vocational rehabilitation. (3) The unit of services for individuals who are deaf and individuals who are hard of hearing. [Pre-1992 Revision Citations: subdivision (1) formerly 4-28-10-10 part; subdivision (2) formerly 4-28-10-10 part; subdivision (3) formerly 4-28-19-1.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.87.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-3 Mandatory duties of bureau

Sec. 3. The bureau shall do the following: (1) Plan, establish, and operate programs, facilities, and services relating to vocational rehabilitation. (2) Design all necessary state plans for rehabilitation services required for the receipt and disbursement of any money available to the state from the federal government. (3) Direct the disbursement and administer the use of money from all sources for vocational rehabilitation programs. [Pre-1992 Revision Citations: subdivision (1) formerly 4-28-10-12(a); subdivision (2) formerly 4-28-10-12(c); subdivision (3) formerly 4-28-10-12(d).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-4 Repealed

[Pre-1992 Revision Citations: subdivision (1) formerly 4-28-10-13; subdivision (2) formerly 4-28-10-14 part; subdivision (3) formerly 4-28-10-14 part.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.1-1993, SEC.129; P.L.2-1995, SEC.48; P.L.284-2001, SEC.1. Repealed by P.L.64-2002, SEC.8.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-4.1 Additional duties of bureau

Sec. 4.1. (a) The bureau may do the following: (1) Establish vocational rehabilitation centers separately or in conjunction with community rehabilitation centers. (2) Contract with governmental units and other public or private organizations to provide any of the vocational rehabilitation services permitted or required by this article, IC 12-8-1.5-10, and IC 12-11-6. (3) Provide or contract for the provision of other services that are consistent with the purposes of this article, IC 12-8-1.5-10, and IC 12-11-6. (b) When entering into contracts for job development, placement, or retention services, the bureau shall contract with governmental units and other public or private organizations or individuals that are accredited by one (1) of the following organizations: (1) The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), or its successor. (2) The Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports for People with Disabilities, or its successor. (3) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), or its successor. (4) The National Commission on Quality Assurance, or its successor. (5) An independent national accreditation organization approved by the secretary. (c) To the extent that the accreditation requirements of an accrediting organization listed in subsection (b) do not cover a specific requirement determined by the bureau to be necessary for a contracted service under subsection (a), the bureau shall include these specific requirements as part of the bureau's contract for job development, placement, or retention services. As added by P.L.64-2002, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.160-2012, SEC.29; P.L.210-2015, SEC.25.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-5 Employment of blind, visually impaired, and persons with disabilities; assessment of rehabilitation services; provision of rehabilitation services to deferred individuals

Sec. 5. (a) The bureau shall provide job placement services, including supported employment (as defined in 34 CFR 363.6), on a consistent statewide basis for qualified blind, visually impaired, and other persons with disabilities. (b) The bureau shall increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by encouraging and authorizing direct job placements into any job that is chosen by the vocational rehabilitation client, including a job provided by any organization that has a contract with the bureau to provide vocational rehabilitation services. (c) Before December 31, 2019, the division shall determine the following concerning the division's program that provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals: (1) The cost of vocational rehabilitation services provided in state fiscal year 2018 and state fiscal year 2019. (2) An estimate of the number of eligible individuals for rehabilitation services for whom the division can provide the services and the number of eligible individuals to be deferred between state fiscal year 2020 and state fiscal year 2025. (3) The projected staffing and fiscal resources needed to provide services to eligible individuals. (4) The current service provider capacity. (5) The projected service provider capacity needed to serve additional priority categories of individuals. (6) The adequacy of current reimbursement rates. (d) Before July 31 of each year, the division shall assess the following concerning the vocational rehabilitation services program: (1) Available staffing and fiscal resources. (2) The achievement of benchmarks in a plan to provide the full range of needed services to all eligible individuals. (3) Meeting the requirements set forth in 34 CFR 361.36 to provide services to all eligible individuals. (e) The division shall report to the commission on rehabilitation services under IC 12-12-2 concerning the division's assessment under subsection (d). (f) The division shall, upon determining that the staffing and financial resources determined under this section are in place, do the following: (1) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the first closed priority category not later than January 1, 2020. (2) Begin to serve deferred individuals in the final closed priority category not later than June 30, 2022. (3) Begin to serve all service priority categories not later than June 30, 2024. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-17(a).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.23-1993, SEC.48; P.L.104-1996, SEC.2; P.L.262-2019, SEC.4; P.L.23-2026, SEC.77.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-6 Bureau determination of whether applicant for state civil service is an individual with a disability

Sec. 6. The bureau shall, upon request of an applicant for state civil service (as defined in IC 4-15-2.2-10), determine whether the applicant is an individual with a disability who is eligible to be appointed under IC 4-15-2.2-33. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-17(b).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.6-2012, SEC.90.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-7 Research and demonstration projects

Sec. 7. The bureau may conduct research and demonstration projects, including inquiries into the causes of blindness and other disabilities and their prevention. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-22.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-8 Receipt of property; conveyance and use of gifts and bequests

Sec. 8. (a) The bureau may receive property from any source if the director determines that receipt of the property is consistent with this article. (b) The bureau may, subject to the terms of the gift or bequest, sell, convey, or authorize the use of the gift or bequest. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-23(a).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-9 Rehabilitation services fund

Sec. 9. (a) The rehabilitation services fund is established. (b) The fund consists of gifts and bequests, and the proceeds of the sale of gifts and bequests, received by the bureau. (c) The balance remaining in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year remains in the fund and does not revert to the state general fund. (d) The interest earned from investment of money in the fund shall be credited to the fund. (e) The fund shall be used to defray the expenses of rehabilitation or other services in cases for which money is not available from other sources. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-23(b).] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 12-12-1-10 State and federal higher education awards; direct payment to approved institution; award not considered income

Sec. 10. If an individual receives a state or federal higher education award that is paid directly to an approved postsecondary educational institution for the individual's benefit: (1) the individual is not required to report the award as income or as a resource of the individual when applying for services, facilities, programs, or other assistance from the bureau; and (2) the award may not be considered as income or a resource of the individual in determining initial or continuing eligibility for services, facilities, programs, or other assistance from the bureau. [Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 4-28-10-26.] As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.155.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/12Fetched: 10/17/2026