There is established a state committee of blind vendors which
will advise and actively participate in routine, ongoing policy decisions made
by the department in the management of the business enterprises program. The
committee will hold a minimum of three meetings in each calendar year with the
agenda for each meeting jointly prepared by the division administrator of the
business enterprises program in consultation with the chairperson of the
committee.
(1) The committee shall:
a. Actively participate with the department
in decisions and policy and program development decisions affecting the overall
administration of the business enterprises program including, but not limited
to, changes in longstanding policy, decisions to add or remove locations,
decisions regarding terms of permits varying from the standard permits, and all
other decisions or changes in decisions that will affect the earning potential
or promotional opportunities for vendors in the program or those who join the
program;
b. Receive and transmit to
the department grievances at the request of vendors and serve as an advocate
for vendors in connection with these grievances;
c. Actively participate with the department
in the development and administration of a state system for the transfer or
promotion of vendors;
d. Actively
participate with the department in the development of training and retraining
programs for vendors; and
e.
Sponsor, with the assistance of the department, meetings and instructional
conferences for vendors and trainees of the business enterprises
program.
(2) The
committee shall be composed of five vendors who will be elected for two-year
terms. One member shall be elected to serve as chairperson. There is no limit
to the number of terms an individual may serve.
To the extent possible, the committee membership shall be fully
representative of active licensees on the basis of geography and vending
facility type, with a goal of providing for proportional representation of
vendors on federal property and vendors on other property.
(3) The division administrator of the
business enterprises program will serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of
the committee.
(4) If a member of
the committee ceases to be an active licensee or resigns from the committee, a
replacement shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the
next statewide meeting of vendors.
