Executive Order Number Fifty Creating The Governor’s Commission On Community-Based Alternatives For Individuals With Disabilities
WHEREAS, Delaware is committed to community-based alternatives for individuals with disabilities, and recognizes that such services advance the best interests of Delawareans; and
WHEREAS, Delaware seeks to ensure that its community-based programs effectively foster independence and participation in the community for Delawareans with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Delaware seeks to ensure that all of its citizens, including those with disabilities, have the ability to live close to family and friends, live independently, engage in productive employment, and participate in community life; and
WHEREAS, the best way to achieve the aforementioned goals is for the public and private entities representing Delaware’s disabilities community and those who serve that community to help chart the state’s progress toward those goals;
I, RUTH ANN MINNER, HEREBY ORDER ON THIS 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2003:
1. The Governor’s Commission on Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities is hereby created.
2. The Commission shall consist of 19 members, who shall be selected as follows:
1. Two members of the House of Representatives (one selected by each caucus);
2. Two members of the Senate (one selected by each caucus);
3. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services;
4. The Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority;
5. The Director of the Delaware Transit Corporation;
6. The Director of the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies;
7. The Chair of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities;
8. The Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities;
9. The Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services;
10. The Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health;
11. The Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;
12. A representative from the provider community;
13. A representative from one of the Governor’s Advisory Councils within the Department of Health and Social Services;
14. A representative from the community at large; and
15. Three representatives from the consumer advocacy agencies.
3. The chair(s) of the Commission and organizational representatives shall be selected by the Governor, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
4. The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:
a. Ensuring maximum cooperation between government agencies that serve the disabilities community, and between public and private sector entities that serve the disabilities community;
b. Providing recommendations to the Governor and Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services to refine the state’s plans and other reports/surveys dealing with community alternatives to provide services to qualified individuals with disabilities in the most integrated settings;
c. Supplementing such plans and reports to comprehensively assess existing need and resources;
d. Providing recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly with respect to funding prioritization among projects designed to provide services to individuals with disabilities; and
e. Monitoring the state’s progress toward implementing existing plans to provide services to individuals with disabilities.
5. The Commission shall meet on at least a quarterly basis, and shall provide a written report to the Governor on its actions following each quarterly meeting. The Commission shall also provide an annual report to the General Assembly on its activities.
6. The Commission shall establish by-laws to govern its activities, and may create sub-committees to address specific subjects within the Commission’s purview.
