1994 U.S. Code
Title 29 - LABOR
CHAPTER 15 - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
SUBCHAPTER V - RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY
Sec. 791 - Employment of individuals with disabilities

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§791. Employment of individuals with disabilities (a) Interagency Committee on Employees who are Individuals with Disabilities; establishment; membership; co-chairmen; availability of other Committee resources; purpose and functions

There is established within the Federal Government an Interagency Committee on Employees who are Individuals with Disabilities (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Committee”), comprised of such members as the President may select, including the following (or their designees whose positions are Executive Level IV or higher): the Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Commission”), the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Either the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Chairman of the Commission shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Committee or the Director or Chairman shall serve as the sole chairperson of the Committee, as the Director and Chairman jointly determine, from time to time, to be appropriate. The resources of the President's Committees on Employment of People With Disabilities and on Mental Retardation shall be made fully available to the Committee. It shall be the purpose and function of the Committee (1) to provide a focus for Federal and other employment of individuals with disabilities, and to review, on a periodic basis, in cooperation with the Commission, the adequacy of hiring, placement, and advancement practices with respect to individuals with disabilities, by each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch of Government, and to insure that the special needs of such individuals are being met; and (2) to consult with the Commission to assist the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section. On the basis of such review and consultation, the Committee shall periodically make to the Commission such recommendations for legislative and administrative changes as it deems necessary or desirable. The Commission shall timely transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress any such recommendations.

(b) Federal agencies; affirmative action program plans

Each department, agency, and instrumentality (including the United States Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission) in the executive branch shall, within one hundred and eighty days after September 26, 1973, submit to the Commission and to the Committee an affirmative action program plan for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities in such department, agency, or instrumentality. Such plan shall include a description of the extent to which and methods whereby the special needs of employees who are individuals with disabilities are being met. Such plan shall be updated annually, and shall be reviewed annually and approved by the Commission, if the Commission determines, after consultation with the Committee, that such plan provides sufficient assurances, procedures and commitments to provide adequate hiring, placement, and advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

(c) State agencies; rehabilitated individuals, employment

The Commission, after consultation with the Committee, shall develop and recommend to the Secretary for referral to the appropriate State agencies, policies and procedures which will facilitate the hiring, placement, and advancement in employment of individuals who have received rehabilitation services under State vocational rehabilitation programs, veterans’ programs, or any other program for individuals with disabilities, including the promotion of job opportunities for such individuals. The Secretary shall encourage such State agencies to adopt and implement such policies and procedures.

(d) Report to Congressional committees

The Commission, after consultation with the Committee, shall, on June 30, 1974, and at the end of each subsequent fiscal year, make a complete report to the appropriate committees of the Congress with respect to the practices of and achievements in hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities by each department, agency, and instrumentality and the effectiveness of the affirmative action programs required by subsection (b) of this section, together with recommendations as to legislation which have been submitted to the Commission under subsection (a) of this section, or other appropriate action to insure the adequacy of such practices. Such report shall also include an evaluation by the Committee of the effectiveness of the activities of the Commission under subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(e) Federal work experience without pay; non-Federal status

An individual who, as a part of an individualized written rehabilitation program under a State plan approved under this chapter, participates in a program of unpaid work experience in a Federal agency, shall not, by reason thereof, be considered to be a Federal employee or to be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including those relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, unemployment compensation, and Federal employee benefits.

(f) Federal agency cooperation; special consideration for positions on President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities

(1) The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education are authorized and directed to cooperate with the President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities in carrying out its functions.

(2) In selecting personnel to fill all positions on the President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities, special consideration shall be given to qualified individuals with disabilities.

(g) Standards used in determining violation of section

The standards used to determine whether this section has been violated in a complaint alleging nonaffirmative action employment discrimination under this section shall be the standards applied under title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.) and the provisions of sections 501 through 504, and 510, of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12201–12204 and 12210), as such sections relate to employment.

(Pub. L. 93–112, title V, §501, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 390; Pub. L. 98–221, title I, §104(b)(3), Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 18; Pub. L. 99–506, title I, §103(d)(2)(C), title X, §§1001(f)(1), 1002(e)(1), (2)(A), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1843, 1844; Pub. L. 100–630, title II, §206(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3310; Pub. L. 102–54, §13(k)(1)(B), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 276; Pub. L. 102–569, title I, §102(p)(29), title V, §503, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4360, 4424; Pub. L. 103–73, title I, §112(a), Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 727.)

References in Text

Level IV of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a), is set out in section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (g), is Pub. L. 101–336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, as amended. Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§12111 et seq.) of chapter 126 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12101 of Title 42 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

Prior similar provisions were set out in section 38 of this title.

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–73 in first sentence inserted comma after “Veterans Affairs”.

1992—Pub. L. 102–569, §102(p)(29)(A), substituted “disabilities” for “handicaps” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–569, §503(a), substituted “the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs” for “the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and”, and amended second sentence generally. Prior to amendment, second sentence read as follows: “The Secretary of Education and the Chairman of the Commission shall serve as co-chairpersons of the Committee.”

Pub. L. 102–569, §102(p)(29)(B), (C), substituted “Interagency Committee on Employees who are Individuals with Disabilities” for “Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees” and “individuals with disabilities” for “individuals with handicaps” in two places.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–569, §102(p)(29)(C), (D), substituted “individuals with disabilities” for “individuals with handicaps” after “advancement of” and after “opportunities for” and “employees who are individuals with disabilities” for “employees with handicaps”.

Subsecs. (c), (d), (f)(2). Pub. L. 102–569, §102(p)(29)(C), substituted “individuals with disabilities” for “individuals with handicaps”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 102–569, §503(b), added subsec. (g).

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–54 substituted “Secretary of Veterans Affairs” for “Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs”.

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–630, §206(a)(1)–(4), inserted “(hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Commission’)” after first reference to “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission” and substituted “Commission” for “Equal Opportunity Employment Commission” wherever appearing, “Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretaries of Labor and Education and Health and Human Services” in first sentence, “co-chairpersons” for “co-chairmen” in second sentence, “Employment of People With Disabilities” for “Employment of the Handicapped” in second sentence which was executed to third sentence as the probable intent of Congress, and “Commission” for “Office” in cl. (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–630, §206(a)(2), (5), substituted “submit to the Commission” for “submit to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission”, “employees with handicaps” for “handicapped employees”, and “Commission, if the Commission determines” for “Office, if the Office determines”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 100–630, §206(a)(2), substituted “Commission” for “Equal Opportunity Employment Commission” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–630, §206(a)(6), substituted “an individualized” for “a individualized”.

Subsec. (f)(1), (2). Pub. L. 100–630, §206(a)(7), substituted “Employment of People With Disabilities” for “Employment of the Handicapped”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–506, §103(d)(2)(C), substituted “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals” in section catchline.

Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 99–506, §§103(d)(2)(C), 1002(e)(1), substituted “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission” for “Office of Personnel Management” and “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–506, §§103(d)(2)(C), 1002(e)(1), (2)(A), substituted “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission” for “Office of Personnel Management” wherever appearing, “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals”, and “of the activities” for “of the the activities”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–506, §1001(f)(1), substituted “a individualized” for “his individualized”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 99–506, §103(d)(2)(C), substituted “individuals with handicaps” for “handicapped individuals”.

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–221, §104(b)(3)(A)–(D), substituted “the Chairman of the Office of Personnel Management” and “Education and Health and Human Services” for “the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission” and “Health, Education, and Welfare”, respectively, in first sentence, “Secretary of Education and the Chairman of the Office of Personnel Management” for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission” in second sentence, “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in four places, and “Office” for “Commission”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–221, §104(b)(3)(C), (D), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” and substituted “Office” for “Commission” in two places.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–221, §104(b)(3)(C), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–221, §104(b)(3)(C), (E), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in two places and “the activities of the Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission's activities”.

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 98–221, §104(b)(3)(F), substituted “Secretary of Education” for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare”.

Executive Order No. 10640

Ex. Ord. No. 10640, Oct. 10, 1955, 20 F.R. 7717, formerly set out as a note under section 39 of this title, which related to President's Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped, was superseded by section 6(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 10994, Feb. 14, 1962, 27 F.R. 1447, which established President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

Executive Order No. 10994

Ex. Ord. No. 10994, Feb. 14, 1962, 27 F.R. 1447, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11018, Apr. 27, 1962, 27 F.R. 4143, which established the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11480, Sept. 9, 1969, 34 F.R. 14273, formerly set out as a note below.

Executive Order No. 11480

Ex. Ord. No. 11480, Sept. 9, 1969, 34 F.R. 14273, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12106, Dec. 26, 1978, 44 F.R. 1053; Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617, which established and provided for the functions of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12640, May 10, 1988, 53 F.R. 16996, set out below.

Ex. Ord. No. 11830. Enlarging Membership of Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees

Ex. Ord. No. 11830, Jan. 9, 1975, 40 F.R. 2411, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12106, Dec. 26, 1978, 44 F.R. 1053; Ex. Ord. No. 12450, Dec. 9, 1983, 48 F.R. 55409; Ex. Ord. No. 12672, Mar. 21, 1989, 54 F.R. 12167; Ex. Ord. No. 12704, §1, Feb. 26, 1990, 55 F.R. 6969, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 501(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93–112; 87 Stat. 390) [subsec. (a) of this section], it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. In accord with Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791) and Section 4 of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 (43 FR 19808) [set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees], the Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees is enlarged and composed of the following, or their designees whose positions are Executive level IV or higher:

(1) Secretary of Defense.

(2) Secretary of Labor.

(3) Secretary of Education, Co-Chairman.

(4) Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

(5) Administrator of Veterans Affairs.

(6) Administrator of General Services.

(7) Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

(8) Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Co-Chairman.

(9) Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(10) Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service.

(11) Chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (Ex Officio).

(12) Such other members as the President may designate.

Sec. 2. The Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees shall also be referred to as the Interagency Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

Ex. Ord. No. 12640. President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities

Ex. Ord. No. 12640, May 10, 1988, 53 F.R. 16996, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, and in order to provide for the carrying out of the provisions of the Joint Resolution approved July 11, 1949, ch. 302, 63 Stat. 409, as amended, and the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, P.L. 93–112, Section 501(a)–(f), as amended [29 U.S.C. 791(a)–(f)], it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment and Composition of the President's Committee. (a) There is hereby established the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as the Committee or as the President's Committee).

(b) The Committee shall be composed of a Chairman and not more than four Vice Chairmen, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President, and of so many other members as may be appointed thereto from time to time by the Chairman of the President's Committee from among persons (including representatives of organizations) who can contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Committee. Members appointed by the Chairman shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed. The Chairman of the President's Committee may at any time terminate the service of any member of the President's Committee, except any member appointed by the President.

(c) The Chairman of the President's Committee, upon the advice of the Executive Committee (hereinafter provided for), may designate as, or invite to be, associate members of the President's Committee any heads of Federal departments or agencies that have responsibility for training and rehabilitation services or advocate activities touching the field of interest of the Committee or that are leading employers of individuals with disabilities.

(d) Representatives of business, industry, labor, private organizations, public agencies, other concerned organizations, and individuals with disabilities who are not members may be invited to attend meetings of the Committee.

Sec. 2. Functions of the Committee. The President's Committee shall provide advice and information as to the development of maximum employment opportunities for people who are physically disabled, mentally retarded, and mentally ill. To this end the Committee shall advise the President as to information that can be used by employers, labor unions, and national and international organizations, suggest programs for public education, and suggest methods of enlisting cooperation among organizations and agencies, Federal, State, and local officials, Governors’ and local Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities, professional organizations, organized labor, and appropriate international organizations. In carrying out these functions vested in it by the Rehabilitation Act, as amended [29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.], the Committee shall be guided by the general policies of the National Council on the Handicapped and shall work closely with the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Veterans’ Administration, State employment security agencies, and State vocational rehabilitation agencies.

Sec. 3. Executive Committee. (a) There is hereby established the Executive Committee of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the President's Committee, who shall also be the Chairman of the Executive Committee, the Vice Chairman of the President's Committee, and so many additional members as will provide an Executive Committee of not less than 15 and not more than 30 members. The said additional members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years by the Chairman of the President's Committee from among the members of the President's Committee or otherwise. The Chairman of the President's Committee may at any time terminate the service of any member of the Executive Committee.

(b) The Executive Committee shall advise and assist the Chairman of the President's Committee in the conduct of the business of the President's Committee and, as authorized by the President's Committee or the Chairman thereof (with due regard for the responsibilities of other Federal agencies), shall study the problems of people with disabilities in obtaining and retaining suitable employment, invite authorities in the various professional, technical, and other pertinent fields to advise it in the exploration of those problems, and review plans and projects for advocating the employment of people with disabilities.

Sec. 4. Advisory Council. There is hereby established the Advisory Council on Employment of People with Disabilities, which shall advise the President's Committee with respect to the responsibilities of the Committee. The Council shall be composed of the Chairman of the President's Committee, who shall also be the Chairman of the Council, and of the following-named officers, or their respective alternates: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury; Secretary of Defense; The Attorney General; Secretary of the Interior; Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of Commerce; Secretary of Labor; Secretary of Health and Human Services; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Secretary of Transportation; Secretary of Education; Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Administrator of General Services; Director, Office of Personnel Management; Director, United States Information Agency; Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs; and the Postmaster General.

Sec. 5. Administrative and Incidental Matters. (a) The President's Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Advisory Council shall each meet on call of the Chairman of the President's Committee at a time and place designated by the Chairman. In the case of the President's Committee and the Executive Committee, the Chairman shall call at least one meeting and two meetings, respectively, to be held during each calendar year.

(b) In the absence of designation by the President, the Chairman of the President's Committee may from time to time designate a Vice Chairman of the President's Committee to be one or more of the following-named in the absence of the Chairman: Acting Chairman of the President's Committee, Acting Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Acting Chairman of the Advisory Council. The Chairman of the President's Committee shall from time to time assign other duties to the Vice Chairmen thereof.

(c) The Chairman of the President's Committee shall on behalf of the President direct the President's Committee and its functions.

(d) The Chairman may from time to time prescribe such necessary rules, procedures, and policies relating to the President's Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Advisory Council, and to their affairs, as are not inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this Order.

(e) The Vice Chairmen shall advise and counsel the Committee and shall represent the Committee on appropriate occasions.

(f) All members (including the Chairman and Vice Chairmen) of the President's Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Advisory Council shall serve without compensation. The Chairman and the Vice Chairmen of the President's Committee may receive transportation and per diem allowances as authorized by law for persons serving without compensation. Persons with disabilities serving as Chairman or Vice Chairmen may be compensated for attendant expenses, consistent with government procedures and practices.

(g) Employees of the President's Committee shall be appointed, subject to law, and shall be directed by the Chairman of the Committee. To such extent as may be mutually arranged by the Chairman of the Committee and the Secretary of Labor, employees of the Committee shall be subject to the administrative rules, regulations, and procedures of the Department of Labor.

(h) The Department of Labor is requested to make available to the President's Committee necessary office space and to furnish the Committee, under such arrangements respecting financing as may be appropriate, necessary equipment, supplies, and services. The estimates of appropriations for the operations of the Committee shall be included within the framework of the appropriations structure of the Department of Labor, in such manner as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget may prescribe. The Chairman of the Committee, in cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management of the Department of Labor, shall be responsible for the preparation and justification of the estimates of appropriations for the Committee.

Sec. 6. Reporting. The President's Committee shall report annually to the President, who may apprise the Congress, and other interested organizations and individuals on the progress and problems of maximizing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Sec. 7. Prior Orders; Transition. (a) To the extent that this Order is inconsistent with any provision of any prior order, or with any provisions of any regulation or other measure or disposition, heretofore issued, made, or taken by the President or by any other officer of the Executive branch of the Government, this Order shall control. Executive Order No. 11480 of September 9, 1969, as amended, is hereby superseded.

(b) Without further action by the President or the Chairman of the Committee, all members, employees, records, property, funds, and pending business of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped provided for in Executive Order No. 11480 of September 9, 1969, as amended, shall on the date of this Order become members, employees, records, property, funds, and pending business of the Committee established by this Order.

(c) The tenure of persons as members of the Committee in pursuance of the provisions of Section 7(b) of this Order, (i), in the case of persons appointed to the predecessor Committee by the President, shall be at the pleasure of the President, and (ii), in the case of other members, shall be for periods equal to their respective unexpired terms under Executive Order No. 11480, as amended, but shall also be subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section 1(b) of this Order.

Ronald Reagan.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 706, 794a of this title; title 2 section 1202; title 5 sections 2302, 3102, 7702; title 22 sections 3905, 4131; title 38 section 4214; title 40 section 166b–7; title 42 section 1981a.