Commission on Disabilities
170 Heights Blvd.
Houston, TX 77007
Contact: Jeff Anderson
Phone: (713) 803-1071 Fax: (713) 803-1071
Email: jeff.anderson@cityofhouston.net
Updated as of: 6/7/2010
LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CREATION AND OPERATION(City)
City of Houston, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2, Article XI, Division 5, Sections 2-380 through 2-390.
GENERAL POWER AND DUTIES
The Commission shall be responsible for advising and making recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, department directors and the individual designated by the Mayor to head the Mayor's Office on Disabilities on issues pertaining to the full spectrum of needs, rights, and privileges of people with disabilities. The subjects to be addressed by the Commission shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Developing programs to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities;
(2) Developing programs to address accessibility issues;
(3) Developing community-based programs to enhance the quality of life for Houstonians who have disabilities;
(4) Developing programs to address the issues pertaining to alcoholism and drug abuse;
(5) Developing programs to take full advantage of all federal, state and local funding opportunities;
(6) Developing programs to insure adequate housing for people with disabilities; and
(7) Developing programs to insure accessible communications for people with disabilities.
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION
Regular meetings shall be held at least six times a year. In addition, special meetings may be held in accordance with such rules as the Commission may provide.
COMPOSITION
TOTAL: 14 members, 12 voting, 2 non-voting serving ex-officio.
Ex-officio: The individual designated by the Mayor to head the Mayor's office on disabilities shall be a non-voting ex officio member.
Ex-officio: The person from the Mayor's staff who is designated as the Americans with Disabilities coordinator, Mayor's office, affirmative action division, shall also be a non-voting ex officio member. Legal: The City Attorney shall designate a representative from the legal department to render legal advice and attend commission meetings, but such person shall not be a member of the commission and shall not have a vote.
Members shall be broadly representative of the disabled community at large as the term "disability" is defined herein, without dominance by any single disability group. The regular members of the commission shall be appointed to specific positions by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. The composition is as follows:
Positions 1 through 9: Shall be held by persons with disabilities and are residents of the City of Houston
Positions 10 through 12: Shall be held by persons who represent persons with disabilities or have an interest in the rights of persons with disabilities and who are known in the community as advocates for persons with disabilities. The members in these positions may be, but need not be, disabled. These members need not be residents of the City provide they reside in the greater Houston metropolitan area.
NOTE: In addition to the regular and ex-officio members, as provided above, the commission shall have four alternate member positions numbered 1 through 4. The persons appointed to three of the alternate positions shall be residents of the city; the remaining alternate position need not be occupied by a resident of the city, provided the appointee resides in the greater Houston metropolitan area.
QUORUM: A quorum of the members of the commission shall consist of not less than a majority of the members.
TERM: Except as provided in subsection (e) below, no regular member shall serve more than two consecutive terms on the commission, whether full terms or partial terms. Members in these positions may be, but need not be, disabled. The terms of office for positions on the commission shall be as follows:
(1) The terms of members serving in odd-numbered positions shall expire on July 26 of odd-numbered years.
(2) The terms of members serving in even-numbered positions shall expire on July 26 of even-numbered years.
(3) Any member serving in a position for which the term has expired shall continue to serve until the member's successor in that position is appointed, confirmed and qualified.
CHAIRPERSON: Appointed by the Mayor from among the membership of the Commission.
COMPENSATION: Members of the commission shall serve without compensation from the city or any firm, trust, donation or legacy to or on behalf of the city.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Entity is NOT included in the financial reporting for the City of Houston.
MEMBER LIST