The Florida Senate

427.706  Advisory committee.--

(1)  The commission shall appoint an advisory committee to assist the commission with the implementation of the provisions of this part. The committee shall be composed of no more than 10 persons and shall include, to the extent practicable, the following:

(a)  Two deaf persons recommended by the Florida Association of the Deaf.

(b)  One hearing impaired person recommended by Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing.

(c)  One deaf and blind person recommended by the Coalition for Persons with Dual Sensory Disabilities.

(d)  One speech impaired person recommended by the Florida Language Speech and Hearing Association.

(e)  Two representatives of telecommunications companies, one representing a local exchange telecommunications company and one representing an interexchange telecommunications company, recommended by the Florida Telephone Association.

(f)  One person with experience in providing relay services recommended by the Deaf Service Center Association.

(g)  One person recommended by the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.

(h)  One person recommended by the Florida League of Seniors.

(2)  The advisory committee shall provide the expertise, experience, and perspective of persons who are hearing impaired or speech impaired to the commission and to the administrator during all phases of the development and operation of the telecommunications access system. The advisory committee shall advise the commission and the administrator on any matter relating to the quality and cost-effectiveness of the telecommunications relay service and the specialized telecommunications devices distribution system. The advisory committee may submit material for inclusion in the annual report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3)  Members of the committee shall not be compensated for their services but shall be entitled to per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061 The commission shall use funds from the Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund to cover the costs incurred by members of the advisory committee.

History.--s. 1, ch. 91-111; s. 45, ch. 94-324; s. 18, ch. 95-327.