Authority: Title 51.5, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia.

A. Up to $32,225 the first year and up to $32,225 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Department of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DDHH) to contract with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for the provision of shared administrative services.  The scope of the services and specific costs shall be outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DDHH and DARS subject to the approval of the respective agency heads.  Any revision to the MOU shall be reported to the Director, Department of Planning and Budget within 30 days.

B.  Notwithstanding § 58.1-662 of the Code of Virginia, prior to the distribution of monies from the Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund to counties, cities and towns, there shall be distributed monies in the fund to pay for the Technology Assistance Program.  This requirement shall not change any other distributions required by law from the Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund.

C. Out of this appropriation, $40,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to contract with the Connie Reasor Deaf Resource Center in Planning District 1 for the provision of outreach and technical assistance to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

D. Pursuant to § 51.5-115, Code of Virginia, the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, with assistance from the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, shall include in any request for proposal (RFP) for the provision of basic telecommunications relay services a preferential consideration for locating a relay center in an economically distressed area of the Commonwealth. A secondary consideration shall be given to proposals which include an in-state call center. Any preference should not cause the contract price to increase more than cost of the contract in existence during fiscal year 2014.