1997 U.S. Code
Title 29 - LABOR
CHAPTER 24 - TECHNOLOGY RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
SUBCHAPTER I - GRANTS TO STATES
Sec. 2216 - Authorization of appropriations

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§2216. Authorization of appropriations (a) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter ,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998.

(b) Reservations (1) Provision of information and technical assistance (A) In general

Of the funds appropriated for any fiscal year under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall reserve at least 2 percent or ,500,000, whichever is greater, of such funds, for the purpose of providing information and technical assistance as described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) to States, individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives, community-based organizations, and protection and advocacy agencies.

(B) Technical assistance to States

In providing such information and technical assistance to States, the Secretary shall consider the input of the directors of consumer-responsive comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance, shall provide a clearinghouse for activities that have been developed and implemented through programs funded under this subchapter, and shall provide information and technical assistance that—

(i) facilitate service delivery capacity building, training of personnel from a variety of disciplines, and improvement of evaluation strategies, research, and data collection;

(ii) foster the development and replication of effective approaches to information referral, interagency coordination of training and service delivery, outreach to underrepresented populations and rural populations, and public awareness activities;

(iii) improve the awareness and adoption of successful approaches to increasing the availability of public and private funding for and access to the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services by appropriate State agencies;

(iv) assist in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating appropriate activities to further extend consumer-responsive comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance;

(v) promote effective approaches to the development of consumer-controlled systems that increase access to, funding for, and awareness of, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services;

(vi) provide technical assistance and training to the entities carrying out activities funded pursuant to this subchapter, to establish or participate in electronic communication activities with other States; and

(vii) provide any other appropriate information and technical assistance to assist the States in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter.

(C) Information and technical assistance to individuals with disabilities and other persons

The Secretary shall provide information and technical assistance to individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives, community-based organizations, and protection and advocacy agencies, on a nationwide basis, to—

(i) disseminate information about, and foster awareness and understanding of, Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to, funding for, and access to, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, to promote fuller independence, productivity, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities of all ages;

(ii) identify, collect, and disseminate information, and provide technical assistance, on effective systems change and advocacy activities;

(iii) improve the understanding and use of assistive technology funding decisions made as a result of policies, practices, and procedures, or through regulations, administrative hearings, or legal actions, that enhance access to funding for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities;

(iv) promote effective approaches to Federal-State coordination of programs for individuals with disabilities, through information dissemination and technical assistance activities in response to funding policy issues identified on a nationwide basis by organizations, and individuals, that improve funding for or access to assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities of all ages; and

(v) promote effective approaches to the development of consumer-controlled systems that increase access to, funding for, and awareness of, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, including the identification and description of mechanisms and means that successfully support self-help and peer mentoring groups for individuals with disabilities.

(D) Coordination

The Secretary shall coordinate the information and technical assistance activities carried out under subparagraph (B) or (C) with other activities funded under this chapter.

(E) Grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (i) In general

The Secretary shall provide the technical assistance and information described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with public or private agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, with documented experience, expertise, and capacity to carry out identified activities related to the provision of such technical assistance and information.

(ii) Entities with expertise in assistive technology service delivery, interagency coordination, and systems change and advocacy activities

For the purpose of achieving the objectives described in paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall reserve not less than 45 percent and not more than 55 percent of the funds reserved under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal year for grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private agencies or organizations with documented experience with and expertise in assistive technology service delivery, interagency coordination, and systems change and advocacy activities.

(iii) Entities with expertise in assistive technology systems change and advocacy activities, public funding options, and other services

For the purpose of achieving the objectives described in paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall reserve not less than 45 percent and not more than 55 percent of the funds reserved under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal year for grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private agencies or organizations with documented experience with and expertise in—

(I) assistive technology systems change and advocacy activities;

(II) public funding options; and

(III) services to increase nationwide the availability of funding for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.

(iv) Application

The Secretary shall make any grants, and enter into any contracts or cooperative agreements, under this subsection on a competitive basis. To be eligible to receive funds under this subsection an agency, organization, or institution shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information, as the Secretary may require.

(2) Onsite visits

The Secretary may reserve, from amounts appropriated for any fiscal year under subsection (a) of this section, such sums as the Secretary considers to be necessary for the purposes of conducting onsite visits as required by section 2215(a)(2) of this title.

(Pub. L. 100–407, title I, §106, Aug. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1058; Pub. L. 103–218, title I, §106, Mar. 9, 1994, 108 Stat. 82.)

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–218 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows:

“(a) In General.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter ,000,000 for the fiscal year 1989 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year ending before October 1, 1993.

“(b) Reservation.—

“(1) Provision of information.—The Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of funds appropriated in any fiscal year under subsection (a) of this section, or 0,000, whichever is greater, for the purpose of providing States with information and technical assistance with respect to the development and implementation of consumer-responsive statewide programs of technology-related assistance.

“(2) Onsite visits.—The Secretary may reserve from amounts appropriated in any fiscal year under subsection (a) of this section such sums as the Secretary considers necessary for the purposes of conducting onsite visits as required by section 2215(a)(2) of this title.”

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 2212, 2213, 2231 of this title.