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Senate Bill 326
By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Jackson of the 41st, Jones II of the
22nd, Anderson of the 43rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to handicapped
1
persons, so as to provide for a program for support service providers to assist blind and2
deaf-blind individuals in navigating employment and higher education opportunities; to3
provide for a short title; to provide for a legislative purpose; to provide for definitions; to4
establish an advisory committee; to provide for membership, duties, and meetings; to provide5
for program administration by the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency; to provide for6
criteria, standards, and eligibility; to provide for prioritization; to provide for annual7
reporting; to provide for publication of information; to provide for related matters; to provide8
for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
SECTION 1.11
Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to handicapped persons, is12
amended by adding a new chapter to read as follows:13
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"CHAPTER 1114
30-11-1.15
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 'Georgia Support Service Provider16
Act of 2025.'17
30-11-2.18
The purpose of this chapter is to:19
(1) Establish a program to provide, arrange, and fund support service providers to assist20
blind and deaf-blind individuals in navigating employment and higher education21
opportunities;22
(2) Reduce barriers to workforce participation and postsecondary education for blind and23
deaf-blind individuals; and24
(3) Enhance economic independence and social inclusion of blind and deaf-blind25
individuals by offering personal and real-time employment assistance and higher26
education assistance.27
30-11-3.28
As used in this chapter, the term:29
(1) 'Advisory committee' means the Support Service Provider Program Advisory30
Committee created under Code Section 30-11-4.31
(2) 'Agency' means the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.32
(3) 'Blind' means having vision that is 20/200 or less in the best corrected eye or having33
vision that subtends an angle of not greater than 20 degrees in the best corrected eye.34
(4) 'Deaf-blind' means having a combined loss of vision and hearing which prevents the35
individual's vision or hearing from being used as a primary source for accessing36
information.37
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(5) 'Employment assistance' means assisting a blind or deaf-blind individual with:38
(A) Job application support, including assisting with job searches, application39
completion, resume writing, and interview preparation;40
(B) Workplace orientation, including helping a blind or deaf-blind employee navigate41
new workplaces, understand spatial layouts, and access assistive technology; and42
(C) Transportation coordination, including facilitating accessible transportation to and43
from job interviews and employment sites.44
(6) 'Higher education assistance' means assisting a blind or deaf-blind individual with:45
(A) College enrollment support, including assisting with admissions, financial aid46
applications, and orientation programs;47
(B) Classroom and campus navigation, including providing guidance to locate48
classrooms, libraries, and student resources; and 49
(C) Academic support, including helping blind and deaf-blind students access adaptive50
technology, note-taking services, and tutoring accommodations.51
(7) 'Program' means the Support Service Provider Program created under this chapter.52
(8) 'Support service provider' means an individual who is specially trained to provide53
employment assistance and higher education assistance to blind and deaf-blind54
individuals.55
30-11-4.56
(a) There is created a Support Service Provider Program Advisory Committee to provide57
recommendations and guidance to the agency in establishing, implementing, and58
administering the program established pursuant to this chapter.59
(b) The advisory committee shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor who60
shall be blind or deaf-blind individuals, disability advocates, business leaders or employers,61
representatives of higher education institutions, and support service providers. The62
Governor shall designate one member as chairperson.63
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(c) The term of each member of the advisory committee shall be for two years, provided64
that of the members first appointed, five shall be appointed for terms of one year and four65
for terms of two years. Whenever any vacancy in membership of the advisory committee66
occurs, the Governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the unexpired term. Each67
member shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. No member shall serve68
more than two consecutive terms.69
(d) The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson and shall meet at least70
quarterly. No later than January 1, 2026, the advisory committee shall provide initial71
recommendations to the agency.72
(e) Members of the advisory committee shall serve as such without compensation but shall73
receive the same expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly74
and the same mileage allowance for the use of a personal car or a travel allowance of actual75
transportation cost if traveling by public carrier as that received by all other state officials76
and employees.77
(f) The agency shall provide reasonable administrative support to the advisory committee.78
30-11-5.79
(a) The agency is authorized to establish and administer the Support Service Provider80
Program to provide, arrange, or fund support service providers to provide employment81
assistance and higher education assistance to blind and deaf-blind individuals residing in82
this state.83
(b) The agency, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall establish standards and84
criteria for the program, support services, support service providers, and applicants to85
receive support services.86
(c) No later than January 1, 2027, the program shall be fully operational.87
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(d) The agency shall contract with qualified nonprofit organizations and independent88
support service providers to deliver employment assistance and higher education assistance89
to blind and deaf-blind individuals through the program. 90
(e) Any resident of this state who is blind or deaf-blind and seeking employment or91
postsecondary education shall be eligible for support services; provided, however, that92
priority shall be given to individuals from low-income backgrounds and residing in93
underserved rural areas.94
30-11-6.95
(a) The agency shall be authorized to accept donations, contributions, and gifts and to96
receive, hold, and use grants, devises, and bequests of real, personal, and mixed property97
on behalf of the state to enable the agency to carry out the functions and purposes of this98
chapter.99
(b) The agency shall be authorized to pursue federal funding opportunities and100
collaborations with private entities, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic101
organizations to fund the program established pursuant to this chapter.102
30-11-7.103
Beginning December 1, 2027, the agency shall prepare and submit to the Governor, the104
President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives an annual report105
evaluating the effectiveness of the program established pursuant to this chapter. Such106
report shall include the number of individuals served, employment and education107
outcomes, budget expenditures and financial accountability, and recommendations for108
program expansion or improvement. The agency shall publish such reports on its website109
in a prominent location."110
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SECTION 2.
111
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law112
without such approval.113
SECTION 3.114
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.115
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