(a) The Office shall be responsible for promoting the general welfare of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the State. (b) The responsibilities of the Office shall include: (1) providing, advocating, and coordinating the adoption of public policies, regulations, and programs that will benefit deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (2) improving access to communication and to existing services and programs for deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (3) providing direct services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals as appropriate; (4) increasing public awareness of the needs and issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (5) working with State and local agencies to ensure access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to safety and emergency services; (6) developing a referral service for deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (7) serving as an information clearinghouse on the needs and issues affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (8) working to increase access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to educational, health, and social opportunities; (9) working with private organizations, the federal government, and other units of State government to promote economic development for deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (10) working to eliminate the underemployment and unemployment of deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (11) providing a network through which services provided by State and federal programs serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals can be channeled; (12) promoting compliance with State, local, and federal laws and policies protecting and serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (13) providing appropriate staff to assist the Board in carrying out its duties; and (14) providing a nomination process for Board appointments. (c) The Office shall hold at least two public town hall meetings each year to receive public comments on: (1) the quality of State services and programs affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (2) the functions and operations of the Office; and (3) any other issues that affect deaf and hard of hearing individuals, including those specified in subsection (b) of this section. (d) The Office shall: (1) help facilitate the appropriate delivery of State, local, and other public services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (2) advise other units of State government and the General Assembly on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals; (3) subject to appropriations in the State budget, provide any reasonable resources that any other unit of State government requests to serve or assist deaf and hard of hearing individuals; and (4) to the greatest extent possible, in order to avoid any duplication of effort, coordinate with other units of the State and the federal government the services provided to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
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