2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17b - Social Services
Chapter 319mm - Assistance to the Disabled
Section 17b-656 - (Formerly Sec. 17-666). Preference to be given to products and services rendered by persons with disabilities. Purchase of products and services.

Whenever any products made or manufactured by or services provided by persons with disabilities through community rehabilitation programs described in subsection (b) of section 17b-655 or in any workshop established, operated or funded by nonprofit and nonsectarian organizations for the purpose of providing persons with disabilities training and employment suited to their abilities meet the requirements of any department, institution or agency supported in whole or in part by the state as to quantity, quality and price such products shall have preference over products or services from other providers, except (1) articles produced or manufactured by Department of Correction industries as provided in section 18-88, (2) emergency purchases made under section 4-98, and (3) janitorial services provided by a qualified partnership, pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of section 4a-82. All departments, institutions and agencies supported in whole or in part by the state shall purchase such articles made or manufactured and services provided by persons with disabilities from the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Any political subdivision of the state may purchase such articles and services through the Department of Rehabilitation Services. A list describing styles, designs, sizes and varieties of all such articles made by persons with disabilities and describing all available services provided by such persons shall be prepared by the Connecticut Community Providers Association.

(P.A. 77-405, S. 2, 5; P.A. 89-354, S. 9, 21; P.A. 90-325, S. 12, 32; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-355, S. 5; P.A. 06-129, S. 5; P.A. 11-44, S. 29; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 74.)

History: P.A. 89-354 changed responsibilities of vocational rehabilitation services from state board of education to department of human resources and changed “handicapped individual” to “person with a disability”, effective July 1, 1990; P.A. 90-325 changed the effective date of P.A. 89-354 from July 1, 1990, to 60 days after the determination by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services of the U.S. States Department of Education that department of human resources meets all applicable federal statutory and regulatory requirements to be designated as sole state agency to administer the state plan for vocational rehabilitation services and that proposed bureau of rehabilitation services within the department meets all applicable federal statutory and regulatory requirements as a vocational rehabilitation organizational unit, i.e. July 1, 1991; Sec. 10-103a transferred to Sec. 17-666 in 1993 and internal reference to Sec. 10-103 revised to reflect its transfer; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-666 transferred to Sec. 17b-656 in 1995; P.A. 95-355 changed the reference of “rehabilitation facilities” to “community rehabilitation programs”; P.A. 06-129 added Subdiv. (4) re exception for janitorial services provided by a qualified partnership and changed “Connecticut Association of Rehabilitation Facilities” to “Connecticut Community Providers Association”; P.A. 11-44 replaced “Bureau of Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Social Services” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services”, deleted former Subdiv. (1) re exception for articles produced by blind persons, redesignated existing Subdivs. (2) to (4) as Subdivs. (1) to (3), and deleted provision requiring Bureau of Rehabilitation Services to cooperate with State Board of Education and Services for the Blind, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 replaced “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012.

See Sec. 10-298b re preference given to products and services provided by blind persons.

See Sec. 10-298c re power of Commissioner of Administrative Services to regulate purchase of products and services of blind or handicapped persons.

See Sec. 17b-650 for definitions applicable to vocational rehabilitation.