Rehabilitation Amendments

Summary

Rehabilitation Amendments - Title I: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Revises the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to: (1) extend the authorization of appropriations for grants for services for the handicapped and for studying the needs of the severely handicapped; and (2) extend, and set forth a formula for determining, the authorization for appropriations for vocational rehabilitation services. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants to Indian tribes for the development of vocational rehabilitation services. Amends: (1) the requirements for annual State vocational rehabilitation plans; (2) the scope of rehabilitation services; and (3) the formula for computing State allotments. Extends the appropriation for vocational rehabilitation research and for rehabilitation personnel training. Eliminates certain restrictions with respect to use of research funds. Authorizes research grants to profitmaking entities. Makes amendments concerning Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers. Directs the Secretary to develop a long-term rehabilitation manpower plan designed to target resources on areas of personnel shortages. Extends the authorization for appropriations for the following: (1) rehabilitation facility construction and operation; (2) vocational training services grants and contracts; (3) special projects and demonstrations; (4) the National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults; (5) program evaluations; (6) program projections; and (7) the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Provides for the development and delivery of psychiatric services as an integral part of rehabilitation programs. Title II: Comprehensive Services for the Severely Handicapped - Severely Handicapped Comprehensive Services Act - Establishes a program of grants to the States for programs of assistance to the severely handicapped. Requires each State receiving a Federal allotment for planning, providing comprehensive services, and for constructing and operating facilities for severely handicapped individuals to provide the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare with satisfactory assurances that each program: (1) has an individual plan for severely handicapped individuals; and (2) provides for an annual review of such plan. Requires each State receiving such an allotment to provide the Secretary with satisfactory assurances that the State has in effect a system to protect and advocate the rights of severely handicapped individuals. Requires each recipient of assistance under this Act to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified handicapped individuals. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1983 for grants for planning, provision of comprehensive services, and for construction and operation of facilities for severely handicapped individuals. Directs that the Federal share for such allotments not exceed 75 percent of the necessary cost as determined by the Secretary, except in rural areas where it may not exceed 90 percent. Directs the Secretary to allot such funds to the States on the basis of: (1) the population; (2) the need for services for severely handicapped; and (3) the financial need of the States. Requires any State desiring to receive such Federal funds to submit a State plan to the Secretary. Sets forth requirements which must be included in such plan. Directs the Secretary to discontinue funding State projects which fail to comply with the requirements of their plan. Authorizes States to seek judicial review of any such determination. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance, for the establishment and operation of area centers for the employment of the severely handicapped which will create and utilize the best methods of appraising and developing the employment potential of severely handicapped individuals. Enumerates the activities such centers must undertake. Requires the Secretary to establish a demonstration program of models for independent living for severely handicapped individuals. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or contracts to carry out such programs. Requires the Secretary to establish a demonstration program of models for infant and preschool services for severely handicapped children. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or contracts for such programs. Directs the Secretary to make grants to university affiliated facilities in meeting the cost of administering and operating: (1) interdisciplinary programs for professionals providing services to the severely handicapped; and (2) exemplary service programs which have as a purpose the prevention of severely handicapping conditions or which demonstrate innovative service approaches to the problems experienced by the severely handicapped. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to university affiliated facilities to assist in meeting the costs of the renovation or modernization of facilities being used in connection with such activities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance for the establishment and operation of community centers for severely handicapped individuals. Authorizes the Secretary, through the regional administrators of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, to make project grants to public agencies or private nonprofit institutions for: (1) projects concerning the establishment and improvement of comprehensive services to severely handicapped individuals in areas as parent counseling and training, seizure control systems, community based counseling, housing, and other necessary services and systems for the maintenance of severely handicapped individuals in the community; (2) public awareness and public education programs to assist in the elimination of social, attitudinal, and environmental barriers confronted by severely handicapped individuals; (3) technical assistance for services and facilities for severely handicapped individuals; and (4) gathering and dissemination of information concerning severely handicapped individuals. Directs the Secretary to appoint temporary panels of experts at the regional level to evaluate projects to be assisted. Authorizes the Secretary to establish and carry out a research program to determine the problems of severely handicapped individuals and discover solutions to such problems. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance for the cost of projects and programs for training, traineeships, and related activities designed to assist in increasing the numbers of personnel trained in providing services to severely handicapped individuals and in performing other functions necessary to the development of such services. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the continuing evaluation of all programs and activities conducted pursuant to this Title. Directs the Secretary to contract for the conduct of an objective study to: (1) determine the social and economic consequences of removing severely handicapped individuals from institutions and placing them in community living arrangements; and (2) determine the effect of such community living arrangements upon the lives of severely handicapped individuals removed from institutions. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress annually concerning the conditions affecting the severely handicapped. Directs the Secretary to prescribe general regulations for all the States to prescribe: (1) the kinds of services needed to provide adequate programs for severely handicapped individuals; (2) standards as to the scope and quality of services provided for severely handicapped individuals; (3) the general manner in which a State shall determine priorities for services and facilities; and (4) general standards of construction and equipment for facilities. States that, except as otherwise specifically provided, nothing in this title shall be considered as conferring on any Federal officer or employee the right to exercise any supervision or control over the administration, personnel, maintenance, or operation of any facility for severely handicapped individuals with respect to which any funds have been or may be expended under this Act. Title III: Federal Council on Handicapped Individuals - Establishes the Federal Council on Handicapped Individuals. States that the Council shall: (1) provide advice and assistance to the President concerning the problems and needs of handicapped and severely handicapped individuals; (2) review and evaluate on a continuing basis all policies, programs, and activities concerning handicapped and severely handicapped individuals conducted or assisted by all Federal Departments and agencies; (3) serve as an ombudsman on behalf of handicapped individuals by making recommendations to the President, to the Secretary and to the Congress with respect to Federal policies, programs, and activities concerning handicapped and severely handicapped individuals; (4) inform the public about the problems and needs of handicapped and severely handicapped individuals by collecting and disseminating information; and (5) provide public forums for discussing and publicizing the problems and needs of handicapped and severely handicapped individuals by conducting or sponsoring conferences, workshops, and other such meetings. Directs the Secretary: (1) to make available to the Council such assistance as it may require and (2) not to delegate any duties assigned to the Secretary under this Title to any person not assigned to the office of the Secretary.

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2 official files

• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

  summary · EN · 21 September 1978

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 28 February 1978

  Open at official source

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