Section 393.3. Program eligibility.

(1) A blind individual is eligible for the vending facility program and is eligible for program training and assignments if any of the following provisions apply:

(a)     The person is unemployed.

(b)      The person is earning a weekly wage less than or equal to 40 hours times the current federal minimum wage.

(c)     The person is employed in a program vending facility.

(d)        The person is an active rehabilitation client whose vocational objective is placement in the program, whose name is placed on the potential licensees' list, and who takes employment while waiting to be placed in the program. In this case, the potential licensee remains on the potential licensees' list with full rights as a potential licensee until either of the following occurs:

(i)     The person is awarded a program vending facility.

(ii)      The person elects to have his or her name removed from the potential licensees'

list.

(2)       After 3 years on the potential licensees' list, an individual shall be retrained

before being awarded a license.

(3)     An individual who does not meet the requirements contained in subrule

(1)    of this rule is not eligible for program training or placement. All of the following conditions also render an individual ineligible for program training or placement:

(a)      A former program licensee who owes money to the commission is not eligible until the debt is paid in full.

(b)        A former program licensee who owes money to suppliers or owes state or federal taxes is not eligible until the former licensee's debts are paid in full.

(c)      A former program licensee who owes money for an inventory shortage is not eligible until the debt is paid in full.

(d)    A licensee who has a repayment agreement in good standing in effect at the time these rules take effect is exempt from subrule (3) of this rule. However, if the licensee's repayment agreement is violated, then the terms and conditions of this subrule shall apply.

History: 2004 AACS.