{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.5-131.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.5-131.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.5-131.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.5-131.html"}],"law_id":72429,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72429,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-131","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Commissioner","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 2.1-580, 22-330.4:3; 1978, c. 635; 1980, c. 559; 1982, c. 12; 1985, c. 421, \u00a7\u00a7 51.01-14, 51.5-14; 1989, c. 176; 1992, c. 755; 2008, cc. 584, 754; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2015, c. 542; 2020, c. 728.","full_text":"The Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:\n\n1\n\nTo employ such personnel, qualified by knowledge, skills, and abilities, as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter relating to the Department;2\n\nTo make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary for or incidental to the performance of the Department’s duties and the execution of its powers under this title, including but not limited to contracts with the United States, other states, agencies, and governmental subdivisions of the Commonwealth;3\n\nTo accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source and, to these ends, to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable;4\n\nTo perform all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter;5\n\nTo develop and analyze information on the needs of older Virginians and persons with disabilities;6\n\nTo establish plans, policies, and programs for the delivery of services to older Virginians and persons with disabilities for consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly. Such policies, plans, and programs for services for those who cannot benefit from vocational rehabilitation shall be prepared over time and as funds become available for such efforts;7\n\nTo operate and maintain the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and to organize, supervise, and provide other necessary services and facilities (i) to prepare persons with disabilities for useful and productive lives, including suitable employment, and (ii) to enable persons with disabilities, to the degree possible, to become self-sufficient and have a sense of well-being;8\n\nTo develop criteria for the evaluation of plans and programs relative to the provision of aging services for older Virginians and persons with disabilities as required by the Older Americans Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., as amended;9\n\nTo investigate the availability of funds from any source for planning, developing, and providing services to older Virginians and persons with disabilities, particularly those not capable of being gainfully employed;10\n\nTo coordinate the Department’s plans, policies, programs, and services, and such programs and services required under § 51.5-123, with those of the other state agencies providing services to persons with disabilities so as to achieve maximum utilization of available resources to meet the needs of such persons;11\n\nTo compile and provide information on the availability of federal, state, regional, and local funds and services for older Virginians and persons with disabilities;12\n\nTo accept, execute, and administer any trust in which the Department may have an interest, under the terms of the instruments creating the trust, subject to the approval of the Governor;13\n\nTo promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth administered by the Department;14\n\nTo work with the Department of Veterans Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program for mental health and rehabilitative services for Virginia veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service and their family members pursuant to § 2.2-2001.1;15\n\nTo promote the use of technologies to realize communication access and increase livability across the Commonwealth; and16\n\nTo perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260850,"text":"The Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":260851,"text":"To employ such personnel, qualified by knowledge, skills, and abilities, as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter relating to the Department;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":260852,"text":"To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary for or incidental to the performance of the Department’s duties and the execution of its powers under this title, including but not limited to contracts with the United States, other states, agencies, and governmental subdivisions of the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":260853,"text":"To accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source and, to these ends, to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":260854,"text":"To perform all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":260855,"text":"To develop and analyze information on the needs of older Virginians and persons with disabilities;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":260856,"text":"To establish plans, policies, and programs for the delivery of services to older Virginians and persons with disabilities for consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly. Such policies, plans, and programs for services for those who cannot benefit from vocational rehabilitation shall be prepared over time and as funds become available for such efforts;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":260857,"text":"To operate and maintain the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and to organize, supervise, and provide other necessary services and facilities (i) to prepare persons with disabilities for useful and productive lives, including suitable employment, and (ii) to enable persons with disabilities, to the degree possible, to become self-sufficient and have a sense of well-being;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":260858,"text":"To develop criteria for the evaluation of plans and programs relative to the provision of aging services for older Virginians and persons with disabilities as required by the Older Americans Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., as amended;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":260859,"text":"To investigate the availability of funds from any source for planning, developing, and providing services to older Virginians and persons with disabilities, particularly those not capable of being gainfully employed;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":260860,"text":"To coordinate the Department’s plans, policies, programs, and services, and such programs and services required under § 51.5-123, with those of the other state agencies providing services to persons with disabilities so as to achieve maximum utilization of available resources to meet the needs of such persons;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":260861,"text":"To compile and provide information on the availability of federal, state, regional, and local funds and services for older Virginians and persons with disabilities;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"12":{"id":260862,"text":"To accept, execute, and administer any trust in which the Department may have an interest, under the terms of the instruments creating the trust, subject to the approval of the Governor;","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"13":{"id":260863,"text":"To promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth administered by the Department;","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12","next_prefix":"14"},"14":{"id":260864,"text":"To work with the Department of Veterans Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program for mental health and rehabilitative services for Virginia veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service and their family members pursuant to § 2.2-2001.1;","type":"section","prefixes":["14"],"prefix":"14","entire_prefix":"14","prefix_anchor":"14","level":1,"prior_prefix":"13","next_prefix":"15"},"15":{"id":260865,"text":"To promote the use of technologies to realize communication access and increase livability across the Commonwealth; and","type":"section","prefixes":["15"],"prefix":"15","entire_prefix":"15","prefix_anchor":"15","level":1,"prior_prefix":"14","next_prefix":"16"},"16":{"id":260866,"text":"To perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.","type":"section","prefixes":["16"],"prefix":"16","entire_prefix":"16","prefix_anchor":"16","level":1,"prior_prefix":"15"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16449,"edition_id":1,"name":"Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12945,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:18:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:18:39","permalink":{"id":236859,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16449,"identifier":"2","token":"51.5\/14\/2","url":"\/51.5\/14\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12945,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12761,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":236679,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12945,"identifier":"14","token":"51.5\/14","url":"\/51.5\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12761,"edition_id":1,"name":"Persons With Disabilities","identifier":"51.5","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":236393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12761,"identifier":"51.5","token":"51.5","url":"\/51.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":85763,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-130","catch_line":"Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services","url":"\/51.5-130\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-130","metadata":false},{"id":72429,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-131","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Commissioner","url":"\/51.5-131\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-131","metadata":false},{"id":69032,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-132","catch_line":"Commissioner to establish regulations regarding human research","url":"\/51.5-132\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-132","metadata":false},{"id":68758,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-133","catch_line":"Cooperation with local authorities","url":"\/51.5-133\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-133","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85763,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-130","catch_line":"Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services","url":"\/51.5-130\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-130","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69032,"structure_id":16449,"section_number":"51.5-132","catch_line":"Commissioner to establish regulations regarding human research","url":"\/51.5-132\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-132","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.5-131\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 11 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 635; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1982, chapter 12; in 1985, chapter 421; in 1989, chapter 176; in 1992, chapter 755; in 2008, chapters 584<\/a> and 754<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 813<\/a> and 840<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 542<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 728<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":68650,"section_number":"2.2-2001.1","catch_line":"Program for mental health and rehabilitative services","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2001.1\/"},{"id":67324,"section_number":"51.5-123","catch_line":"Community Rehabilitation Case Management System","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-123\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236865,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72429,"identifier":"51.5-131","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-131","url":"\/51.5-131\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.5-131\/","token":"51.5\/14\/2\/51.5-131","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of Commissioner","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.5-131","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Commissioner<\/span> shall have the following powers and duties:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To employ such personnel, qualified by knowledge, skills, and abilities, as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter relating to the Department<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To make and enter into all contracts<\/span> and agreements necessary for or incidental to the performance of the Department<\/span>’s duties and the execution of its powers under this title, including but not limited to contracts<\/span> with the United States, other states, agencies, and governmental subdivisions of the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To accept grants from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof and any other source and, to these ends, to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To perform all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> To develop and analyze information on the needs of older Virginians<\/span> and persons with disabilities; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> To establish plans, policies, and programs for the delivery of services to older Virginians<\/span> and persons with disabilities for consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly. Such policies, plans, and programs for services for those who cannot benefit from vocational rehabilitation shall be prepared over time and as funds become available for such efforts; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> To operate and maintain the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and to organize, supervise, and provide other necessary services and facilities (i) to prepare persons with disabilities for useful and productive lives, including suitable employment, and (ii) to enable persons with disabilities, to the degree possible, to become self-sufficient and have a sense of well-being; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> To develop criteria for the evaluation of plans and programs relative to the provision of aging services for older Virginians<\/span> and persons with disabilities as required by the Older Americans Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., as amended; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> To investigate the availability of funds from any source for planning, developing, and providing services to older Virginians<\/span> and persons with disabilities, particularly those not capable of being gainfully employed; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> To coordinate the Department<\/span>’s plans, policies, programs, and services, and such programs and services required under § 51.5-123<\/a>, with those of the other state agencies providing services to persons with disabilities so as to achieve maximum utilization of available resources to meet the needs of such persons; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> To compile and provide information on the availability of federal, state, regional, and local funds and services for older Virginians<\/span> and persons with disabilities; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> To accept, execute, and administer any trust in which the Department<\/span> may have an interest, under the terms of the instruments creating the trust, subject to the approval of the Governor; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> To promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth administered by the Department<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

14.<\/span> To work with the Department<\/span> of Veterans Services and the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program for mental health and rehabilitative services for Virginia veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service and their family members pursuant to § 2.2-2001.1<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

15.<\/span> To promote the use of technologies to realize communication access and increase livability across the Commonwealth; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

16.<\/span> To perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER (\u00a7 51.5-131)\n\nThe Commissioner shall have the following powers and duties:\n\n1. To employ such personnel, qualified by knowledge, skills, and abilities, as\nmay be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter relating to the\nDepartment;\n\n2. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary for or\nincidental to the performance of the Department’s duties and the execution\nof its powers under this title, including but not limited to contracts with the\nUnited States, other states, agencies, and governmental subdivisions of the\nCommonwealth;\n\n3. To accept grants from the United States government and agencies and\ninstrumentalities thereof and any other source and, to these ends, to comply\nwith such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary,\nconvenient, or desirable;\n\n4. To perform all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this\nchapter;\n\n5. To develop and analyze information on the needs of older Virginians and\npersons with disabilities;\n\n6. To establish plans, policies, and programs for the delivery of services to\nolder Virginians and persons with disabilities for consideration by the Governor\nand the General Assembly. Such policies, plans, and programs for services for\nthose who cannot benefit from vocational rehabilitation shall be prepared over\ntime and as funds become available for such efforts;\n\n7. To operate and maintain the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and to\norganize, supervise, and provide other necessary services and facilities (i) to\nprepare persons with disabilities for useful and productive lives, including\nsuitable employment, and (ii) to enable persons with disabilities, to the degree\npossible, to become self-sufficient and have a sense of well-being;\n\n8. To develop criteria for the evaluation of plans and programs relative to the\nprovision of aging services for older Virginians and persons with disabilities\nas required by the Older Americans Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq., as\namended;\n\n9. To investigate the availability of funds from any source for planning,\ndeveloping, and providing services to older Virginians and persons with\ndisabilities, particularly those not capable of being gainfully employed;\n\n10. To coordinate the Department’s plans, policies, programs, and\nservices, and such programs and services required under § 51.5-123, with\nthose of the other state agencies providing services to persons with\ndisabilities so as to achieve maximum utilization of available resources to meet\nthe needs of such persons;\n\n11. To compile and provide information on the availability of federal, state,\nregional, and local funds and services for older Virginians and persons with\ndisabilities;\n\n12. To accept, execute, and administer any trust in which the Department may\nhave an interest, under the terms of the instruments creating the trust, subject\nto the approval of the Governor;\n\n13. To promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the laws\nof the Commonwealth administered by the Department;\n\n14. To work with the Department of Veterans Services and the Department of\nBehavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish a program for mental\nhealth and rehabilitative services for Virginia veterans and members of the\nVirginia National Guard and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not\nin active federal service and their family members pursuant to §\n2.2-2001.1;\n\n15. To promote the use of technologies to realize communication access and\nincrease livability across the Commonwealth; and\n\n16. To perform such other duties as may be required by the Governor and the\nSecretary of Health and Human Resources.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 2.1-580, 22-330.4:3; 1978, c. 635; 1980, c. 559; 1982,\nc. 12; 1985, c. 421, \u00a7\u00a7 51.01-14, 51.5-14; 1989, c. 176; 1992, c. 755; 2008,\ncc. 584, 754; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2015, c. 542; 2020, c.\n728.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}