Committee tables bill to move vocational rehab services

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By Laura Diamond

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A House committee tabled a bill Thursday that would move the state's vocational rehabilitation programs from the Department of Labor to the Department of Human Services.

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The sponsor of House Bill 831, Rep. Tom McCall, R-Elberton, said it just picks up the programs from one agency and drops them into another.

Human Services Commissioner Clyde Reese said his department has a strong employment focus. Since the agency serves as the state’s "safety net," it can also provide people with additional health and support services, he said.

But several people who depend on these programs told Human Relations & Aging Committee members they won't get the same quality of service from Human Services.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said he was "much opposed" to the change. He reminded the committee that these programs were moved to Labor about 10 years ago to improve services. Job placement for people with disabilities increased by 24 percent over the past decade, he said.