(Salem, Ore.) – The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is seeking public comment on changes to its administrative rules. The public may testify at public hearings or submit written comments from Wednesday, June 1, 2022 through Thursday, July 21, 2022. 

VR seeks input on the proposed changes to Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 582-070-0030 Limitations of Payments. All input will be reviewed, and the proposed rules may be modified as a result of public input during this period. Proposed changes include:

• Clarify the rule contents
• Update references to Vocational Rehabilitation as the Program
• Remove gender designation (he/she, his/hers with they, them, theirs)
• Change to a contribution schedule for financial needs tests that will be adjusted annually
• Remove OAR 582-070-0030 (7) Services Not Provided: (k) Gender reassignment surgery

The proposed rules will be posted on the VR Policies web page.

Updates to OAR 582 align with requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), enacted July 22, 2014 and with state and federal requirements. 

How to comment or provide testimony:

• Email: Send comments to VR.Policy@dhsoha.state.or.us
• Mail: Send written testimony to:

Oregon Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation 
Robin Brandt, Policy Analyst
500 Summer Street NE, E-87
Salem, Oregon 97310-1018

• Attend virtually: Participate using Zoom on your computer or by phone.
• Phone: During the hearing, dial in as indicated for each meeting.

Public Hearings for OAR 582-070-0030 Limitations of Payments

Public hearings will be held virtually on June 22 from 9-10 a.m. and June 28 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Staff will be available for comments for at least 30 minutes after the hearing starts. The hearings end when comments conclude and will be recorded. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided at every public hearing. 

You can request accommodation in other languages, large print, braille or any other format you prefer to submit public comment or attend a public hearing. Contact Robin Brandt at 503-507-5226 or by email at VR.Policy@dhsoha.state.or.us. We accept calls from all forms of relay service for people who are Deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. Please let us know of any accommodations at least a week in advance. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

Time: June 22, 2022 9 a.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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• Meeting ID: 160 383 6216
• Passcode: 857829
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Time: June 28, 2022 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada)

• Join ZoomGov Meeting
• Meeting ID: 161 146 0217
• Passcode: 592685
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About Vocational Rehabilitation: Oregon Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) assists individuals with disabilities to get and keep a job or advance in their career that matches their skills, interests and abilities. VR staff work in partnership with the community and businesses to provide services that are individualized to help each eligible person receive services that are essential to their employment success