1744                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Whereas, The enactment by Congress of the Vocational Re-
habilitation Amendments of 1965 (P.L. 89-333) has significantly
increased the type and amount of Federal assistance to rehabilita-
tion facilities and sheltered workshops, the major purpose of such
assistance being to provide improved rehabilitation facility and
workshop services to more disabled youths and adults; and

Whereas, Nationally, and in the State of Maryland, the potential
need for expanded and improved services is apparent in view of
national health survey statistics indicating that there are 3.7 million
handicapped persons in need of vocational rehabilitation services,
of whom some 60,000 of these persons live in Maryland; and

Whereas, The Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments of 1965
make provision for a coordinated State effort in developing a work-
shop and rehabilitation facility plan, in order to enable the State of
Maryland to qualify for, and make maximum use of additional fed-
eral funds for workshops and rehabilitation facilities programs; and

Whereas, To assist in the workshop and rehabilitation facilities
planning effort of the Maryland State Department of Education's
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, a Workshop and Rehabilita-
tion Facility Planning Study Section was initiated in June 1966; and

Whereas, The Workshop and Rehabilitation Facility Planning
Study Section has established a Study Committee composed of rep-
resentatives from sheltered workshops, rehabilitation facilities,
public and private agencies, labor, business, and other interested
groups, the purpose of which is (1) to represent public and private
interests as they pertain to workshop and rehabilitation facility
planning, and (2) to serve in an advisory capacity to the Work-
shop and Rehabilitation Facility Planning Staff; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the General
Assembly endorses the action of the Maryland State Department of
Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Study
Group on Workshop and Rehabilitation Facilities in conducting the
study of workshop and rehabilitation facility needs in Maryland
and in disseminating the findings thereof; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Senate of Maryland and the
Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland are each requested
to name two members from the Senate and two members from the
House of Delegates to serve on the Workshop and Rehabilitation
Facility Planning Study Section; and be it further

Resolved, That the findings of the Workshop and Rehabilitation
Facility Planning Study which will be available in June of 1968
are sent to each member of the General Assembly for the purpose of
implementing at the 1968 General Assembly of the workshop and
rehabilitation facility services needs of Maryland residents as
determined by that study.

Approved May 4, 1967.