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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35954-35956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14910]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Chapter III

[Docket ID ED-2014-OSERS-0022]

Final Priority; National Institute on Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Final priority.

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[CFDA Number: 84.133B-5.]

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services announces a priority under the Rehabilitation 
Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program administered by the 
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). 
Specifically, this notice announces a priority for an RRTC on Improving 
Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities. We 
take this action to focus research attention on an area of national 
need. We intend this priority to contribute to improved employment 
outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective July 25, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-6211 or by 
email: patricia.barrett@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and 
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and 
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related 
activities, including international activities, to develop methods, 
procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full 
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, 
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals 
with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe 
disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized 
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

    The purpose of the RRTCs, which are funded through the Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve 
the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized 
under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training, 
technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topical 
areas, as specified by NIDRR. These activities are designed to benefit 
rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family 
members, policymakers, and other research stakeholders. Additional 
information on the RRTC program can be found at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/index.html#types.

    Program Authority:  29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).

    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
    We published a notice of proposed priority for this program in the 
Federal Register on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 (79 FR 16707). That 
notice contained background information and our reasons for proposing 
the particular priority.
    There are no differences between the proposed priority and this 
final priority as discussed in the Analysis of Comments and Changes 
section elsewhere in this notice.
    Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of 
proposed priority, four parties submitted comments on the proposed 
priority.
    Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes. In 
addition, we do not address the general comments we received that 
raised concerns not directly related to the proposed priority.
    Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and 
of any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of 
proposed priority follows.
    Comment: Two commenters suggested that NIDRR modify the priority to 
require a focus on promising practices that could enhance employment 
outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities and serve as the 
basis for research by the RRTC. One commenter suggested that NIDRR 
modify the priority to focus on psychiatric treatment programs that 
emphasize timely intervention following an initial psychiatric episode, 
as well as supported education programs for youth and young adults with 
psychiatric disabilities. The other commenter suggested that NIDRR 
modify the priority to focus on educational and supported housing 
interventions for adults with psychiatric disabilities, as well as 
early screening and assessment programs to identify children with 
psychiatric disabilities while they are in school.
    Discussion: Nothing in the priority precludes applicants from 
focusing on the topics described by the commenters. However, we do not 
wish to preclude applicants from proposing other areas of research by 
requiring all applicants to address the topics presented by the 
commenters. The peer review process will determine the merits of each 
proposal.
    Changes: None.

Final Priority

    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services establishes a priority for an RRTC on Improving Employment 
Outcomes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities. This priority 
will be jointly funded by NIDRR and the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For the purposes of this 
priority, ``employment outcomes'' may refer to, but are not limited to, 
obtaining employment, job retention, job advancement, or compensation.
    The RRTC must contribute to improving the employment outcomes of 
individuals with psychiatric disabilities by:
    (a) Conducting well-designed research activities, with an emphasis 
on

[[Page 35955]]

promising practices with currently limited evidence bases, in one or 
more of the following priority areas, focusing on individuals with 
psychiatric disabilities as a group or on individuals with a specific 
disability or on demographic subpopulations of individuals with 
psychiatric disabilities:
    (1) Technology to improve employment outcomes for individuals with 
psychiatric disabilities.
    (2) Individual, work environment, or employer factors associated 
with improved employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric 
disabilities.
    (3) Interventions that contribute to improved employment outcomes 
for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Interventions include 
any strategy, practice, program, policy, or tool that, when implemented 
as intended, contributes to improvements in employment outcomes for 
individuals with psychiatric disabilities, and may include 
interventions focused on individuals, families, employers, or service 
providers.
    (4) Effects of current or modified government practices, policies, 
and programs on employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric 
disabilities;
    (b) Focusing its research on one or more specific stages of 
research. If the RRTC is to conduct research that can be categorized 
under more than one of the research stages, or research that progresses 
from one stage to another, those stages should be clearly specified.

    Note: For purposes of this priority, the stages of research are 
from the notice of final priority published in the Federal Register 
on June 7, 2013 (78 FR 34261).

    (c) Serving as a national resource center related to employment for 
individuals with psychiatric disabilities, their families, and other 
stakeholders by conducting knowledge translation activities that 
include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Providing information and technical assistance to employment 
service providers, mental health service providers, employers, 
individuals with psychiatric disabilities and their representatives, 
and other key stakeholders. These activities will include providing 
technical assistance on evidence-based, supported employment to SAMHSA 
grantees that are awarded funds in FY 2014 to enhance State and 
community capacity to provide supported employment programs targeting 
adults with serious mental illnesses, including persons with co-
occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
    (2) Providing training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to vocational rehabilitation and other employment 
service providers, to facilitate more effective delivery of employment 
services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities. This training 
may be provided through conferences, workshops, public education 
programs, in-service training programs, and similar activities.
    (3) Disseminating research-based information and materials related 
to increasing employment levels for individuals with psychiatric 
disabilities.
    (4) Involving key stakeholder groups in the activities conducted 
under paragraph (a) of this priority to promote the new knowledge 
generated by the RRTC.

Types of Priorities

    When inviting applications for a competition using one or more 
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute, 
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal 
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
    Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only 
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
    Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference 
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1) 
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the 
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) 
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of 
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
    Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are 
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority. 
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a 
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
    This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional 
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject 
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through 
a notice in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Regulatory Impact Analysis

    Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether 
this regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to 
the requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order 
12866 defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely 
to result in a rule that may--
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, 
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to 
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
    (2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another agency;
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the 
Executive order.
    This final regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action 
subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866.
    We have also reviewed this final regulatory action under Executive 
Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in 
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 
13563 requires that an agency--
    (1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination 
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits 
and costs are difficult to quantify);
    (2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, 
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into 
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of 
cumulative regulations;
    (3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select 
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other 
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
    (4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather 
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must 
adopt; and
    (5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct 
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or 
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide 
information that enables the public to make choices.
    Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best 
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future 
benefits and costs as

[[Page 35956]]

accurately as possible.'' The Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these techniques may include 
``identifying changing future compliance costs that might result from 
technological innovation or anticipated behavioral changes.''
    We are issuing this final priority only on a reasoned determination 
that its benefits justify its costs. In choosing among alternative 
regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches that maximize net 
benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the Department believes 
that this regulatory action is consistent with the principles in 
Executive Order 13563.
    We also have determined that this regulatory action does not unduly 
interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of 
their governmental functions.
    In accordance with both Executive orders, the Department has 
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and 
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those 
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as 
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
    The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 
and Centers Program have been well established over the years. Projects 
similar to the one envisioned by the final priority have been completed 
successfully, and the proposed priority would generate new knowledge 
through research. The new RRTC would generate, disseminate, and promote 
the use of new information that would improve outcomes for individuals 
with disabilities in the areas of community living and participation, 
employment, and health and function.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: June 20, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-14910 Filed 6-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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