(a) The vocational rehabilitation service of the State Department of Education and the Department of Adult Blind and Deaf of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, working under a cooperative agreement, shall make surveys of concession stand opportunities for blind persons in buildings and on properties of the State of Alabama, its agencies, institutions, and political subdivisions.
(b) The vocational rehabilitation service of the State Department of Education shall be designated as the agency of the state to issue licenses to blind persons who are residents of Alabama for the operation of stands in buildings and on property of the State of Alabama, its agencies, institutions, and political subdivisions for the purpose of vending of newspapers, periodicals, confections, tobacco products, and such other articles as may be approved for each building and property by the licensing agency; provided, however, that no such license shall be issued for the operation of any such vending stand in any building or on property owned, leased, or used by any county or by any municipality or any agency thereof without the approval of the governing body of such county or municipality, which approval, if given, may be withdrawn so as to cancel such license at any time by such governing body.
(c) The Department of Adult Blind and Deaf of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind shall work cooperatively with the licensing agency in the establishment of such concession stands and shall supervise their operation on a continuing basis.
(d) The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and the State Department of Education, through the Department of Adult Blind and Deaf and the vocational rehabilitation service, respectively, will take such other steps as will be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of this article.
(e) The licensing agency shall, in issuing each license for the operation of a vending stand, give preference to blind persons who are residents of Alabama. Each such license shall be issued for an indefinite period but may be terminated by the licensing agency if it is satisfied that the stand is not being operated in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by such licensing agency. Such licenses shall be issued only to applicants who are blind within the meaning of this article but who are able, with such infirmity, to operate such stands.
(f) The licensing agency, after reaching proper agreement with the custodian, is authorized to select the location for such stand, the type of stand to be provided and the operator, and to provide the training and supervision necessary, equipment and shelter essential, and adequate initial stock of suitable articles to be vended therefrom.
(g) The head of each department or agency in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of the state property shall, after consultation with the State Superintendent of Education and the president of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, prescribe a policy designed to assure such preference for such licensed blind persons.
(h) The state licensing agency is authorized, with the cooperation of the head of the department or agency in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of the property on which the stand is to be located but subject to policy prescribed pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, to select a location for such stand and the type of stand to be provided.
Last modified: May 3, 2021