The Commissioner may make grants to States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations to pay all or part of the costs of projects to demonstrate ways to increase client choice in the rehabilitation process, including the selection of providers of vocational rehabilitation services.
An entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant only-
Any eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Commissioner may require, including-
In selecting entities to receive grants under paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall take into consideration-
Entities that receive grants under paragraph (1) shall maintain such records as the Commissioner may require and comply with any request from the Commissioner for such records.
At least 80 percent of the funds awarded for any project under this subsection shall be used for direct services, as specifically chosen by eligible clients.
The Commissioner may conduct an evaluation of the demonstration projects with respect to the services provided, clients served, client outcomes obtained, implementation issues addressed, the cost-effectiveness of the project, and the effects of increased choice on clients and service providers. The Commissioner may reserve funds for the evaluation for a fiscal year from the amounts appropriated to carry out projects under this section for the fiscal year.
For the purposes of this subsection:
The term "direct services" means vocational rehabilitation services, as described in section 723(a) of this title.
The term "eligible client" means an individual with a disability, as defined in section 705(20)(A) of this title, who is not currently receiving services under an individualized plan for employment established through a designated State unit.
The Commissioner, subject to the provisions of section 776 of this title, may provide grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to pay all or part of the cost of programs that expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other services authorized under this chapter or that further the purposes of the chapter, including related research and evaluation activities.
To be eligible to receive a grant, or enter into a contract, under paragraph (1), an entity shall be a State vocational rehabilitation agency, community rehabilitation program, Indian tribe or tribal organization, or other public or nonprofit agency or organization, or as the Commissioner determines appropriate, a for-profit organization. The Commissioner may limit competitions to one or more types of organizations described in this subparagraph.
A grant or contract under paragraph (1) shall contain such terms and conditions as the Commissioner may require.
An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant, or enter into a contract, under paragraph (1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information and assurances as the Commissioner may require, including, if the Commissioner determines appropriate, a description of how the proposed project or demonstration program-
The programs that may be funded under this subsection may include-
In announcing competitions for grants and contracts under this subsection, the Commissioner shall give priority consideration to-
In announcing competitions for grants and contracts under this subsection, the Commissioner may require that applicants address one or more of the following:
The Commissioner is authorized to make grants to private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of establishing programs to provide training and information to enable individuals with disabilities, and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or other authorized representatives of the individuals to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the vocational, independent living, and rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities. Such grants shall be designed to meet the unique training and information needs of the individuals described in the preceding sentence, who live in the area to be served, particularly those who are members of populations that have been unserved or underserved by programs under this chapter.
An organization that receives a grant to establish training and information programs under this subsection shall use the grant to assist individuals with disabilities, and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals-
The Commissioner shall ensure that grants under this subsection-
In order to receive a grant under this subsection, an organization-
Each organization carrying out a program receiving assistance under this subsection shall consult with appropriate agencies that serve or assist individuals with disabilities, and the parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of the individuals, located in the jurisdiction served by the program.
The Commissioner shall provide coordination and technical assistance by grant or cooperative agreement for establishing, developing, and coordinating the training and information programs. To the extent practicable, such assistance shall be provided by the parent training and information centers established pursuant to section 1471 of title 20.
The board of directors or special governing committee of an organization receiving a grant under this subsection shall meet at least once in each calendar quarter to review the training and information program, and each such committee shall directly advise the governing board regarding the views and recommendations of the committee.
If a nonprofit private organization requests the renewal of a grant under this subsection, the board of directors or the special governing committee shall prepare and submit to the Commissioner a written review of the training and information program conducted by the organization during the preceding fiscal year.
From the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, 20 percent of such amount or $500,000, whichever is less, may be reserved to carry out paragraph (6).
The Commissioner shall make grants to, and enter into contracts with, States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to pay all or part of the cost of training in the use of braille for personnel providing vocational rehabilitation services or educational services to youth and adults who are blind.
Such grants shall be used for the establishment or continuation of projects that may provide-
To be eligible to receive a grant, or enter into a contract, under paragraph (1), an agency or organization shall submit an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commissioner may require.
For the purpose of carrying out this section there are authorized to be appropriated $5,796,000 for fiscal year 2015, $6,244,000 for fiscal year 2016, $6,373,000 for fiscal year 2017, $6,515,000 for fiscal year 2018, $6,668,000 for fiscal year 2019, and $6,809,000 for fiscal year 2020.
29 U.S.C. § 773
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(5)(B)(viii), is Pub. L. 113-128, 128 Stat. 1425. Subtitle B of title I of the Act is classified generally to part B (§3151 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 32 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3101 of this title and Tables.
PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 773, Pub. L. 93-112, title III, §304, formerly §303, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 95-602, title I, §113, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2968; Pub. L. 99-506, title I, §103(d)(2)(C), title X, §1001(d)(2), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1843; renumbered §304 and amended Pub. L. 102-569, title I, §102(p)(17), title III, §§301(b)(3), 304, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4358, 4411, 4417, related to loan guarantees for community rehabilitation programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105-220.A prior section 303 of Pub. L. 93-112 was classified to section 772 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105-220.
AMENDMENTS2014-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(A), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 776 of this title.Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(B), substituted "National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research" for "National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research".Subsec. (b)(5)(A)(i). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(C)(i)(I), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: "special projects and demonstration programs of service delivery for adults who are either low-functioning and deaf or low-functioning and hard of hearing;".Subsec. (b)(5)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(C)(i)(II), added cl. (iii) and struck out former cl. (iii) which read as follows: "model transitional planning services for youths with disabilities."Subsec. (b)(5)(B)(viii). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(C)(ii), substituted "under subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act" for "under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998".Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(1)(D), struck out par. (6) which read as follows: "The Commissioner may use funds made available to carry out this section for continuation awards for projects that were funded under sections 711 and 777a of this title (as such sections were in effect on the day before August 7, 1998)." Subsec. (c)(2)(F), (G). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(2)(A), added par. (F) and redesignated former par. (F) as (G).Subsec. (c)(4)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(2)(B)(i), inserted "the" after "closely with" and ", the community parent resource centers established pursuant to section 1472 of title 20, and the eligible entities receiving awards under section 1473 of title 20" after "section 1471 of title 20".Subsec. (c)(4)(C). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(2)(B)(ii), inserted ", and demonstrate the capacity for serving," after "shall serve".Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(2)(C), added par. (8).Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113-128, §442(3), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2003." 2004-Subsec. (c)(4)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 108-446, §305(h)(6), substituted "section 1471" for "section 1482(a)". Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 108-446, §305(h)(5), substituted "section 1471" for "section 1482(a)".