§18-10B-9. Contracts for supplying goods and services; remuneration to client; vocational rehabilitation industries account.

Whereas, it is considered to be an essential part of any complete rehabilitation program to provide remunerative employment to severely handicapped or blind persons in order to prepare them to take their place in the competitive labor market, the division is hereby authorized to:

(a) Enter into contracts with any person, firm, corporation or association for the provision of goods and services by the division;

(b) Provide remuneration to the clients of the division from the proceeds of said contracts based upon standards established by the director of the division: Provided, however, That said clients so paid shall in no way be considered employees of the state for any purpose whatsoever. To effectuate the provisions of this section, there is hereby created a special revolving account in the office of the State Treasurer designated "vocational rehabilitation industries account." All moneys collected by the division from the sale or disposition of articles, products manufactured, and services provided by the clients of the division in accordance with the provisions of this article shall be deposited in said special account, and shall be used solely for the purchase of manufacturing supplies, equipment, machinery and materials used to carry out the purposes of this article, as well as for the payment of remuneration to the clients of the division who are utilized in the manufacture of said products or articles. The division may deposit into said account an initial amount which the director determines necessary to establish the program herein authorized and may deposit additional amounts in said account as from time to time may become necessary to continue said program. All funds so deposited shall be from moneys appropriated therefor, or which are made available by the federal government or other sources for such purposes.