§ 40-9-11.1. Authorization to establish vending facilities for the blind on state property.
(a) For the purposes of providing persons who are blind or visually impaired with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities people who are blind or visually impaired, and stimulating people who are blind or visually impaired to greater efforts in striving to make themselves self-supporting, persons who are blind or visually impaired licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any state property.
(b) In authorizing the operation of vending facilities on state property, priority shall be given to persons who are blind or visually impaired licensed by the department of human services administering state services for people who are blind or visually impaired as provided in the Randolph-Sheppard Act, Pub. L. No. 74-732, as amended by Pub. L. No. 83-565 and Pub. L. No. 93-516, 20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq. The director of human services shall, after consultation with the director of administration and other heads of departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the state in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of state property; prescribe regulations designed to assure that:
(1) The priority under this section is given to licensed persons who are blind or visually impaired (including the assignment of vending machine income pursuant to § 40-9-11.5 to achieve and protect such priority); and
(2) Wherever feasible, one or more vending facilities are established on all state property to the extent that any facility or facilities would not adversely affect the interest of the state.
History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Section 40-9-2. - General duties of administrator.
Section 40-9-3. - Advisory council — Appointment of members.
Section 40-9-4. - Chairperson of advisory council — Secretarial service.
Section 40-9-5. - Functions of advisory council.
Section 40-9-6. - Home instruction of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Section 40-9-8. - Proceeds of work of blind and visually impaired workers.
Section 40-9-9. - Cooperation with department of elementary and secondary education.
Section 40-9-10. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-9-10.1. - Telephone access to information programs.
Section 40-9-11. - Cooperation in federal business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-11.1. - Authorization to establish vending facilities for the blind on state property.
Section 40-9-11.2. - Validity of limitations on placement or operation.
Section 40-9-11.3. - Provision for vending machines in buildings purchased or leased by state.
Section 40-9-11.4. - Compliance with chapter.
Section 40-9-11.5. - Vending machine income.
Section 40-9-11.6. - Definitions.
Section 40-9-12. - Agreements as to business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-13. - Federal business enterprises funds.
Section 40-9-14. - Application of receipts from business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-15. - Reports of blindness of persons.
Section 40-9-16. - Immunity from liability.
Section 40-9-17. - Confidentiality of reports — Authorized uses — Penalty for disclosure.