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ACTION
On 01/18/07, the Commission for Rehabilitation Services approved an Order of Selection, which will delay services, effective 01/19/07 at 5:00 p.m., to two groups of new vocational rehabilitation applicants until funds are available to pay for their services. Services to all current clients and new applicants in Priority Group 1 will not be affected.
DVR and DVS administrators will send specific instructions on implementation of the Order of Selection on 01/19/07. We will continue monitoring the budget situation so that the divisions can reopen services to new applicants as soon as funds are available. Updates will be provided to field staff on a regular basis.
BACKGROUND
Vocational rehabilitation and employment services for current clients are projected to use the entire budget allocation of $29 million dollars for state fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007), which would not leave enough additional funds to serve all new eligible applicants. If no action were taken, the current pace of expenditures would exceed the budgeted amount by $1.7 million. A balanced budget is required by state law.
During 2007, DVR and DVS staff will continue to serve 16,568 current clients and all new applicants with the most severe disabilities without delays or reductions in service. The divisions will invest $29 million to help Oklahomans with disabilities prepare for and find employment, thus creating new taxpayers and reducing their need for disability benefits and social services.
The federal Rehabilitation Act requires Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services programs to categorize clients in groups based on severity of disability. The legislation does not permit programs to cap or limit plans of services needed by current clients in order to go to work. Instead, agencies must control costs, including inflationary increases in goods and services for clients, by delaying services to new applicants with less severe disabilities.
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