429—1.3 (216A) Commission on the deaf.
	 1.3(1) Commission established. The commission on the deaf is established, pursuant to Iowa Code section 216A.112, consisting of seven members. The members of the commission shall elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the commission by a two-thirds vote at the annual meeting of each odd-numbered year. All members are appointed by the governor to serve a term of three years. Voting privileges are vested in those members appointed pursuant to 216A.112.
	 1.3(2) Meetings. The commission on the deaf meets at least four times per year. The first regular meeting of the fiscal year is the annual meeting. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. Notice of a meeting is published at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and will contain the specific date, time, and place of the meeting. Agenda are available to any interested persons prior to or at the meeting. All meetings are open to the public unless a closed session is voted by two-thirds of the entire membership or by all members present, pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5. The operation of commission meetings will be governed by the following rules of procedure:
	  a.   	 When a quorum is present, a position is carried by an affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the commission.
	  b.   	 Persons wishing to appear before the commission shall submit the request to the central office not less than 14 days prior to the meeting. Presentations may be made at the discretion of the chair and only upon matters appearing on the agenda.
	  c.   	 Persons wishing to submit written materials should do so at least seven days in advance of the scheduled meeting to ensure that commission members have adequate time to receive and evaluate the material.
	  d.   	 Special meetings may be called by the chair only upon finding good cause and shall be held in strict accordance with Iowa Code chapter 21.
	  e.   	 Cameras and recording devices may be used at open meetings, provided they do not obstruct the meeting. The presiding officer may request a person using such a device to discontinue its use when it is obstructing the meeting. If a person fails to comply with the request, the presiding officer shall order that person excluded from the meeting.
	  f.   	 The presiding officer may exclude any person from the meeting for repeated behavior that disrupts or obstructs the meeting.
	  g.   	 Cases not covered by these rules shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 1981.
	  h.   	 The commission may vote on issues in the form of resolutions which will be read and recorded at the following regular meeting.
	 1.3(3) Minutes. Minutes of the commission meetings are prepared and sent to commission members at least two weeks before the next regular commission meeting. Approved minutes are available at the commission office for inspection during business hours. Copies may be obtained pursuant to 421—2.3(7) by contacting the central office.
	 1.3(4) Duties of the commission. The commission shall:
	  a.   	 Inform communities and interested persons of the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing and how their needs may be met through the use of service providers.
	  b.   	 Reserved.
	  c.   	 Establish service projects for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons throughout the state. Service providers shall not undertake for compensation projects which would duplicate existing services when those services are available to deaf and hard-of-hearing people through paid interpreters or other persons able to communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing people. As used in these rules, “service project” includes interpretation services for persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and referral services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the areas of adult education, legal aid, employment, medical, finance, housing, recreation, and other personal assistance and social programs. “Service providers” are persons who, for compensation, carry out service projects.
	  d.   	 Identify agencies, both public and private, which provide community services, evaluate the extent to which they make services available to deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and cooperate with the agencies in coordinating and extending these services.
	  e.   	 Collect information concerning deafness and provide for dissemination of the information.
	  f.   	 Provide for mutual exchange of ideas and information on services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people between federal, state, and local governments, private organizations and individuals.
	  g.   	 Pursuant to Iowa Code section 216A.2, be responsible for budgeting and personnel decisions for the commission and the division.
	 1.3(5) Standing committees. The following standing committees are established: program services, legislative/division rules, and public information/outreach. Two commission members, together with the administrative officer, shall serve on each committee; and any member may serve on several committees at one time. Each member, except the chairperson, shall serve on at least one committee. The purpose of the committees is to address specific program areas of the division, perform research on those issues, and make policy recommendations to the commission. Any party wanting to comment, make suggestions, or discuss concerns may contact the administrative officer or the chairperson to refer an issue to the members serving on the specific committee. Names of members may be obtained by calling the division of deaf services, central office. The committees’ functions are:
	  a.   	 Program services. Review personnel materials and policies developed for the division and to be recommended to the commission, define programs and evaluate the services on a regular basis, evaluate effectiveness of services provided and make recommendations to the commission as appropriate, identify options and goals for growth and accomplishments for the annual report to the governor, consider expansion of current services or the development of new program components to meet the needs of the community served, develop formal program policies, make recommendations to the commission on annual budget proposals, address financial issues as they arise, attend budget presentations, develop strategies to encourage funding of the program, and research the availability of grants.
	  b.   	 Legislative/division rules. Research and recommend legislative issues and priorities to the commission, develop strategies for citizens to encourage passage of legislation, play a direct and active role in encouraging passage of legislation, review and make recommendations to the commission regarding changes to division rules, and attend meetings related to division rules.
	  c.   	 Public information/outreach. Strive to ensure public awareness and encourage constructive use of the services by those who need them, plan workshops, open houses, and other awareness-promoting activities, establish and maintain relationships with other agencies serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and develop specific measures to increase visibility throughout the state.
	 1.3(6) Powers. The commission shall have all powers necessary to carry out the functions and duties specified in this division, including but not limited to, the power to establish advisory committees on special studies, to solicit and accept gifts and grants, to adopt rules according to chapter 17A for the commission and division, and to contract with public and private groups to conduct its business. All departments, divisions, agencies, and offices of the state shall make available upon request of the commission information which is pertinent to the subject matter of the study which is not, by law, confidential.
	 1.3(7) Report. The commission shall make a detailed report of its activities, studies, conclusions, and recommendations to the general assembly not later than February 15 of each odd-numbered year.
	 1.3(8) Interpreting services fund. All fees collected by the division for provision of interpreting service by the division to obligated agencies shall be transmitted to the treasurer of the state who shall deposit the money in a separate account dedicated to and used by the division for the provision of continued and expanded interpreting services. The commission shall adopt rules which establish a fee schedule for the cost of provision of interpreting services, for collection of the fees, and for disposition of moneys received under this subrule.