(1) The department shall certify for the purposes of this part and the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act, as amended, those persons who are blind persons as defined in this part who the department has determined are in need of vocational opportunities and are qualified to operate vending facilities.
(2) Any person or vendor operating a vending facility under the auspices of the blind vendor program administered by the department prior to October 1, 1981, may be certified as a blind vendor for the purposes of this part.
(3) Only certified blind persons are eligible for the vocational opportunities provided in this part.