Assistive Technology Information Act of 1998

Summary: Assistive Technology Information Act of 1998 - Amends the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 to direct the Secretary of Education to contract with an institution of higher education to establish a national public Internet site for providing to individuals with disabilities and the general public increased access to information on technology-related assistance and other related disability resources under the Act, including information on assistive technology devices and services. Requires the institution chosen to have demonstrated experience in assistive technology, among other requirements.  Outlines information features required on the Internet site. 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2003.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Assistive Technology Information Act 
of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Assistive technology devices and services enable 
        individuals with disabilities to assume greater control over 
        their lives and to contribute more fully to society.
            (2) Rapid advancements in assistive technology continue to 
        provide important new tools to help individuals with 
        disabilities to become more independent and participate in 
        activities related to home, school, work, and community.
            (3) Although substantial progress has been made in both the 
        development of new assistive technology devices and the 
        transfer and adaptation of existing assistive technology, 
        information relating to assistive technology devices is often 
        difficult to find and inconsistent.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a national 
public Internet site to provide to individuals with disabilities and 
the general public increased access to information on technology-
related assistance and other related disability resources under title 
II of the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With 
Disabilities Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2231 et seq.), including 
information on assistive technology devices and assistive technology 
services.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC INTERNET SITE FOR INCREASED 
              ACCESS TO INFORMATION UNDER THE TECHNOLOGY-RELATED 
              ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1988.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Technology-Related Assistance for 
Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (29 U.S.C. 2231 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subtitle C as subtitle D;
            (2) by redesignating section 221 as section 231; and
            (3) by inserting after subtitle B the following:

  ``Subtitle C--Internet Site for Increased Access to Information on 
                     Technology-Related Assistance

``SEC. 221. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNET SITE.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
an institution of higher education described in subsection (b) to 
establish a national public Internet site for the purpose of providing 
to individuals with disabilities and the general public increased 
access to information on technology-related assistance and other 
related disability resources under this Act, including information on 
assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.
    ``(b) Institution of Higher Education.--An institution of higher 
education described in this subsection is an institution of higher 
education that has a curriculum focus in science and engineering at the 
undergraduate and graduate education levels and that has an existing 
multidisciplinary research center and with demonstrated expertise in--
            ``(1) assistive technology and `intelligent agent' 
        interactive information dissemination systems;
            ``(2) managing libraries of assistive technologies and 
        disability resources;
            ``(3) delivering education, information, and referral 
        services to individuals with disabilities, including 
        technology-based curriculum development for adults with low-
        level reading skills;
            ``(4) developing cooperative partnerships with the private 
        sector, particularly with private sector computer software and 
        hardware and Internet services entities; and
            ``(5) advanced Internet site development and design.
    ``(c) Features of Internet Site.--The national public Internet site 
described in subsection (a) shall contain the following features:
            ``(1) Any member of the public may obtain information 
        posted on the site at any time.
            ``(2) The site shall be constructed with an innovative 
        automated `intelligent agent' that is a diagnostic tool for 
        assisting users in problem definition and the selection of 
        appropriate assistive technology devices and assistive 
        technology services resources.
            ``(3)(A) The site shall include access to a comprehensive 
        working library on assistive technology for all environments, 
        including the home, workplace, transportation, and other 
        environments.
            ``(B) The site shall include resources for the largest 
        number of disabilities, including resources relating to low-
        level reading skills.
            ``(4) To the extent feasible, relevant private sector 
        resources and information shall be linked to the site under 
        agreements developed between the university and cooperating 
        private sector entities.

``SEC. 222. APPLICATION.

    ``The Secretary may not enter into a contract under section 221 
with an institution of higher education unless the institution submits 
to the Secretary an application in such form and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.

``SEC. 223. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this subtitle--
            ``(1) $1,042,000 for fiscal year 1999;
            ``(2) $1,023,000 for fiscal year 2000;
            ``(3) $998,000 for fiscal year 2001;
            ``(4) $543,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
            ``(5) $565,000 for fiscal year 2003.
    ``(b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated under 
subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.

``SEC. 224. DEFINITION.

    ``As used in this subtitle, the term `Internet' means the 
international computer network of both Federal and non-Federal 
interoperable packet-switched data networks.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 231 of such Act, as redesignated 
by subsection (a)(2), is amended by inserting ``(except subtitle C)'' 
after ``to carry out this title''.