S.B. 144: REVISED COMMITTEE SUMMARY CENTRAL RESOURCE REGISTRY
Senate Bill 144
Sponsor: Senator William Van Regenmorter Committee: Local, Urban, and State Affairs
Date Completed: 3-14-95
The bill would create "The Central Resource Registry Act" to provide for the establishment of a central resource registry of information on services provided with State or Federal money to persons with a disability and their families by a service provider. The bill would require the Commission on Handicapper Concerns to develop and distribute a form to all agencies for the purpose of obtaining information; and would require the Library of Michigan to create the registry and perform other functions, such as disseminating the information and establishing a computer network for the registry.
"Agency" would mean an organization designated by the Governor to implement a program for the protection and advocacy of the rights of developmentally disabled persons, or a State department, bureau, division, section, board, commission, trustee, authority, institution of higher education, or office created by the Constitution, statute, or agency action. "Disability" would mean a determinable physical or mental characteristic of an individual that could result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth, or functional disorder if the characteristic limited one or more of the major life activities of that individual. "Service provider" would mean a person, organization, local or State governmental unit, or other entity that received State or Federal money for the purpose of providing services, equipment, supplies, or other assistance to a person with a disability or the family of a person with a disability.
Specifically, the bill would require the Commission to develop a form and distribute it to all agencies within 180 days after the bill's effective date. All agencies would have to complete the form by providing at least all of the following information on available services provided with State or Federal money by a service provider to assist persons with disabilities or their families:
-- The name of the agency that provided the State or Federal money.
-- The name, address, phone number, and contact person for the service provider receiving the State or Federal money.
-- A brief description of the services provided by the service provider.
-- Eligibility criteria a person with a disability or the family of a person with a disability had to meet before receiving the assistance of that service provider.
An agency would have to complete the form and submit it to the Commission for each grant of State or Federal money made through that agency to a service provider that provided services, equipment, supplies, or other assistance to a person with a disability or the family of a person with a disability.
The Commission would have to ensure that the information was complete, suitable for inclusion in the central resource registry, and in a form and format easily understood by the general public. Further, the Commission would have to distribute forms to update existing data, solicit new information on a continuing basis, and complete an update of the entire central resource registry at least annually.
An organization that did not receive State or Federal funds but that provided services to a person with a disability or his or her family could be included in the central resource registry by requesting a form from the Commission and submitting that completed form to the Commission.
The Commission would have to forward the completed forms to the Library of Michigan, which would be required to do all of the following:
-- Create a central resource registry of the information from forms forwarded under the bill, and use a taxonomy (classification) in maintaining the registry that was consistent with the taxonomy used by Federal agencies that maintain data for public use.
-- Train Library staff to enter and maintain the central resource registry data from the forms.
-- Disseminate the information contained in the central resource registry in a manner consistent with the bill.
-- Assist persons in obtaining access to central resource registry information.
-- Add new information to the central resource registry within 30 days of receiving that information.
-- Update the entire central resource registry at least annually.
-- Make the central resource registry accessible to an individual who called or visited the Library.
The Library also would be required to establish a computer network for the central resource registry and make the computer network available to any of the following entities that complied with Public Act 1 of 1966 (the barrier free design law), and complied with applicable State and Federal laws affecting persons with disabilities, and accommodated persons with disabilities:
-- Public libraries.
-- College and university libraries.
-- Regional or subregional libraries designated by the National Library Service and the Library of Michigan to provide services for the blind and persons with disabilities.
-- Agencies.
The Library could establish computer network guidelines and procedures for those organizations providing services to persons with disabilities and the families of persons with disabilities and not receiving State or Federal money for those services.
The information in the central resource registry system or a writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the Library under the bill would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
The Commission and the Library each would have to file with the Legislature an annual report that identified the manner in which the bill was implemented by the reporting entity and specified the frequency with which persons used the central resource registry through the reporting entity.
Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
The Library of Michigan estimates that the cost to create the central resource registry would be approximately $32,000. The amount includes $16,800 in one-time equipment and programming costs. Annual maintenance costs would be $15,000.
It would not be necessary to provide any additional resources to the Department of Labor (Commission on Handicapper Concerns) to provide the required support outlined in this bill. An “800" phone number providing similar services and information is provided by the Commission on Handicapper Concerns. The cost of this service is $300 per month. According to Commission records, approximately 8,000 calls are placed with this information number each year.
Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman
K. Lindquist
S9596\S144SA
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.