Department for the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing (751)

Authority: Title 51.5, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia.

A. The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing shall locate the Relay Center in Norton, Virginia. In developing the request for proposals for the Relay Center, the department shall include a provision to require that basic relay services be provided from the center located in Norton, Virginia and that the center shall not fall below 90 full-time equivalent positions. However, if the workforce level drops below 90 positions due to attrition, voluntary separations, transfers, voluntary retirements, and disability retirements, the Center is prohibited from filling vacant positions, unless employment at the Center drops below 75 positions.  The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing shall locate the relay center in Norton, Virginia.  Any request for proposals issued for basic relay services shall require an employment level of 85 at the center unless, during the previous contract period, the employment level has been reduced to less than 85 through attrition, voluntary separation, transfers, voluntary retirements, and disability retirement, in which case the employment level of the subsequent contract may reflect the employment level at the end of the previous contract period, but may not be less than that level.  The center is also prohibited from filling vacant positions, unless employment at the center drops below 75 positions.

B. Out of this appropriation, $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Connie Reasor Deaf Resource Center in Planning District 1.

C. Notwithstanding § 58.1-662 of the Code of Virginia, prior to the distribution of monies from the Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund to counties, cities and towns, there shall be distributed monies in the fund to pay for the Technology Assistance Program.  This requirement shall not change any other distributions required by law from the Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund.