Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

4110-0001

For the office of the commissioner and bureau of research; provided, that amounts appropriated in items of this department that extend or expand services beyond the level of services provided in fiscal year 1998 shall not annualize above said amounts in fiscal year 2000

...............................................................$614,492

4110-1000

N.B. - The Acting Governor has struck the italicized language and reduced the appropriation for this item by $$10,000 to $3,602,365

For the community services program; provided, that the commission shall extend services beyond the level of services provided in fiscal year 1998, including, $100,000 for after-school programming for children deemed to be clients of said commission, $112,500 for respite services for such children, and $225,000 for assistive technology devices for clients of the commission; provided further, that not less than $400,000 shall be expended for the talking information center; and provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended for the audible local ledger of Falmouth

...............................................................$3,612,365

4110-1010

For aid to the adult blind; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for burial expenses incurred in the prior fiscal year

...............................................................$8,702,564

4110-1020

For eligibility determination for the medical assistance program for the blind; provided, that the commission is hereby authorized and directed to work with the division of medical assistance, the department of mental retardation and other state agencies to maximize federal reimbursement for clients so determined through this item, including, but not limited to, reimbursement for home and community-based waiver clients

...............................................................$417,952

4110-2000

For the Turning 22 program of the commission; provided, that the amount funded herein for new clients participating in said program in fiscal year 1999 shall not exceed $450,000 and shall not annualize to more than $920,678 in fiscal year 2000; provided further, that nothing stated herein shall give rise to enforceable legal rights in any party or an enforceable entitlement to the services funded herein; provided further, that nothing stated herein shall be construed as giving rise to such enforceable legal rights or such enforceable entitlement; provided further, that the commission shall work in conjunction with the department of mental retardation to secure the maximum amount of federal reimbursements available for the care of Turning 22 clients; and provided further, that the commission shall work in conjunction with the department of mental retardation to secure similar rates for contracted residential services

...............................................................$6,469,661

4110-3010

For a program of vocational rehabilitation for the blind in cooperation with the federal government; provided, that no funds from the federal vocational rehabilitation grants or state appropriation shall be deducted for pensions, group health and life insurance, or any other such indirect cost of federally reimbursed state employees; provided further, that $163,000 of the amount appropriated herein shall be obligated for the purpose of mitigating inequitable reimbursement rates for the Carroll Center for the Blind; and provided further, that not less than $950,000 shall be expended for technological adaptations to increase vocational opportunities for the blind

...............................................................$2,409,407

4110-4000

For the administration of the Ferguson Industries for the blind; provided, that retired workshop employees shall receive grants equal to three-fourths of the salaries of current workshop employees; and provided further, that any funds received for goods and services purchased by private and public sector entities at Ferguson Industries shall be remitted to the General Fund

...............................................................$1,675,811