RE: COUNCIL ON DEAF EQUALITY
WHEREAS, the Council on Deaf Equality, known as CODE, was informally established in 1978 to increase the knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of the rights of hearing impaired citizens of the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Council on Deaf Equality, which consists of representatives of various state agencies which work with the hearing impaired, as well as hearing impaired citizens and parents of hearing impaired individuals and representatives of the public at large, are making a valuable contribution in dealing with the needs and concerns of hearing impaired people in the State; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that the Council on Deaf Equality be officially recognized and formally constituted;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PIERRE S. du PONT, IV, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby order and declare as follows:
ESTABLISHMENT:
1. The Council on Deaf Equality (CODE) is hereby established. PURPOSE:
2. The purposes of CODE are as follows:
a. To increase the knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of the rights of hearing impaired citizens in the State of Delaware;
b. To work for improving the quality and increasing the capacity of services to hearing impaired people in Delaware;
c. To promote coordination between State agencies, programs, and services for the hearing impaired.
MEMBERSHIP:
3. CODE shall consist of seventeen (17) members, as follows:
a. Nine (9) members who are representatives of the following division, agencies, and commissions of state government and who shall be appointed by the division or agency head or commission chairperson:
(1) Division of Aging, Department of Health and Social Services;
(2) Division of Mental Health, Department of Health and Social Services;
(3) Division of Public Health (Speech/Hearing), Department of Health and Social Services;
(4) Division of Social Services, Department of Health and Social Services;
(5) Division of Employment Services, Department of Labor;
(6) Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor;
(7) Division of Exceptional Children, Department of Public Instruction;
(8) Division of Vocational Education, Department of Public Instruction;
(9) Postsecondary Education Commission;
(b) The Administrator of the Sterck School for the Hearing Impaired or his designate;
(c) A representative of the Sterck School Parent-Teacher Association, as appointed by the President of the Association;
(d) A representative of the Delaware Register of Interpreters for the Deaf (DELRID) as appointed by the President of DELRID;
(a) Five (5) members elected by the twelve (12) members specified in Paragraph 3(a) - (d), above, as follows:
(1) Three hearing impaired individuals;
(2) The parent of a hearing impaired child;
(3) One member of the general public.
TERMS OF MEMBERS; VACANCIES:
4. Each member shall serve for a one-year term but may be reappointed or re-elected for any number of subsequent terms. The agency or division head, commission chairperson or association president shall appoint a replacement to fill any vacancy which may occur in the membership positions listed in Paragraph 3 (a), (c), and (d) and the membership may elect a new member to fill any vacancy in a membership position listed in Paragraph 3 (e). Members may send a duly authorized alternate to attend a meeting when the member is unable to attend, but the regular member shall still be considered absent. Any member who misses three (3) meetings of CODE, shall be presumed to have resigned from CODE.
CHAIRPERSON AND OFFICERS:
5. The membership of CODE shall select its own chairperson, who shall serve a one-year term and is eligible for selection to any member of subsequent terms. CODE may also select such other officers as it deems appropriate.
MEETINGS:
6. CODE shall hold such meetings as the members shall determine, but shall meet at least three (3) times each year. Ten members of CODE, or their duly authorized alternates, shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of members present and voting shall be required for any action. Duly authorized alternates may vote as members. All meetings of CODE shall be open to all interested persons who wish to attend; however, such persons shall not be entitled to vote.
POWERS:
7. CODE shall have powers necessary to adopt by-laws and rules for the organization of the Council and the conduct of business; to establish committees; and to specify the duties of officers.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I PIERRE