(a) The Department of Rehabilitation shall establish a grant program to provide services to promote independent living to adults who are blind or have low vision, and who are not eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services pursuant to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.). The services shall assist adults who are blind or have low vision, including those individuals who may be at risk of institutionalization or who wish to transition into the community from an institutionalized setting, to receive vision rehabilitation services that will enable them to live independently.

(b) The department shall implement the program subject to an appropriation of funds in the annual Budget Act for purposes of this program, or through the use of any other funds already made available for the purposes described in this article, including any funding available pursuant to Sections 19525 and 19526.

(c) To implement the program, the department shall award grants to private organizations with demonstrated expertise in serving adults who are blind or have low vision. The department may select private organizations awarded grants under the most recent solicitation of grantees under the state’s Older Individuals who are Blind program without using a competitive awards process.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Adult” means an individual 18 years of age or older.

(2) “Services” means independent living services as described in Section 367.3(b) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations that are appropriate for adults who are blind regardless of age.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 532, Sec. 2. (AB 2480) Effective January 1, 2023.)