Human Resources, Department of

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effectiveness and implementation details after July 1, 2026, are uncertain.

Bill for Accessible Information Services for Blind People

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Human Services to provide accessible information services for blind individuals and allocate at least $16,000 annually from vocational rehabilitation funds.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department of human services to ensure continued access to accessible information services for blind persons in Tennessee, including the National Federation of the Blind newsline.
• Allocates a minimum of $16,000 annually from vocational rehabilitation funds to support these services.
• Allows the use of allocated funds to draw down federal matching funds if the state allocates such funds.
• Supports outreach and training activities to increase the use of vocational rehabilitation services by blind individuals for employment and education purposes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Blind people in Tennessee who rely on accessible information services.
• The Department of Human Services, specifically its vocational rehabilitation program.

Terms To Know

Vocational Rehabilitation Program

A program that helps individuals with disabilities find and keep jobs through training and support services.

Accessible Information Services

Services that provide information in formats accessible to blind people, such as audio books or braille materials.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill may conflict with federal regulations (C.F.R. 631.13(c)), which could affect the availability of federal matching funds.
• It is unclear how this legislation will be implemented and enforced after July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires the department of human services ("department")
, through the vocational rehabilitation program,
to
ensure continued access to accessible information services for blind persons in this state, which includes the National Federation of the Blind newsline, as part of the department's vocational rehabilitation services.

For the purpose of supporting
such
accessible information services, it is the legislative intent that the department, through the vocational rehabilitation program, allocate
a minimum of $16,000 annually in vocational rehabilitation funds. If the department allocates such funds, then the funds must be used to draw down available federal vocational rehabilitation matching funds.

Funds
so
allocated may be used
for all of the following:



To maintain access to accessible information services
.


To support outreach, training, and marketing activities designed to increase utilization of vocational rehabilitation services for employment and education-related purposes.

This bill requires the department to
maintain documentation of funding sources related to accessible information services funded pursuant to this
bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1621
By Briggs

HOUSE BILL 1653
By Eldridge
HB1653
010935
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and
Title 71, relative to the department of human
services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Access to the printed word is a fundamental prerequisite to education,
employment, and economic independence for blind persons in this state;
(2) For more than two (2) decades, accessible information services,
including the National Federation of the Blind newsline, have been supported in
this state as part of vocational rehabilitation services and have contributed
directly to the employment, job retention, long-term economic independence, and
informed participation in civic life of blind persons in this state; and
(3) Disruptions in funding for these services have resulted from
administrative inconsistency and loss of institutional knowledge.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly to restore clarity, stability, and
accountability in providing accessible information services to blind persons in this state.
(c) The department, through the vocational rehabilitation program, shall ensure
continued access to accessible information services for blind persons in this state, which
includes the National Federation of the Blind newsline, as part of the department's
vocational rehabilitation services.

- 2 - 010935

(d) For the purpose of supporting accessible information services for blind
persons in this state, it is the legislative intent that the department, through the
vocational rehabilitation program, allocate a minimum of sixteen thousand dollars
($16,000) annually in vocational rehabilitation funds. If the department allocates such
funds, then the funds must be used to draw down available federal vocational
rehabilitation matching funds.
(e) Funds allocated pursuant to this section may be used:
(1) To maintain access to accessible information services; and
(2) To support outreach, training, and marketing activities designed to
increase utilization of vocational rehabilitation services for employment and
education-related purposes. These activities may include consumer education,
emergency services, employer-related outreach, and assistance to vocational
rehabilitation clients in using accessible information tools to seek and retain
employment.
(f) The department shall maintain documentation of funding sources related to
accessible information services funded pursuant to this section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.