H. R. 1385—246
‘‘(B) develop model procedures for testing and evaluating
the employment needs of individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(C) develop model training programs to teach individuals
with disabilities skills which will lead to appropriate employ-
ment;
‘‘(D) develop new approaches for job placement of individ-
uals with disabilities, including new followup procedures relat-
ing to such placement;
‘‘(E) provide information services regarding education,
training, employment, and job placement for individuals with
disabilities; and
‘‘(F) develop new approaches and provide information
regarding job accommodations, including the use of rehabilita-
tion engineering and assistive technology.
‘‘(14) Research grants may be used to conduct a rehabilitation
research program under which financial assistance is provided in
order to—
‘‘(A) test new concepts and innovative ideas;
‘‘(B) demonstrate research results of high potential benefits;
‘‘(C) purchase prototype aids and devices for evaluation;
‘‘(D) develop unique rehabilitation training curricula; and
‘‘(E) be responsive to special initiatives of the Director.
No single grant under this paragraph may exceed $50,000 in any
fiscal year and all payments made under this paragraph in any
fiscal year may not exceed 5 percent of the amount available for
this section to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilita-
tion Research in any fiscal year. Regulations and administrative
procedures with respect to financial assistance under this paragraph
shall, to the maximum extent possible, be expedited.
‘‘(15) Research grants may be used to conduct studies of the
rehabilitation needs of American Indian populations and of effective
mechanisms for the delivery of rehabilitation services to Indians
residing on and off reservations.
‘‘(16) Research grants may be used to conduct a demonstration
program under which one or more projects national in scope shall
be established to develop procedures to provide incentives for the
development, manufacturing, and marketing of orphan technological
devices, including technology transfer concerning such devices,
designed to enable individuals with disabilities to achieve independ-
ence and access to gainful employment.
‘‘(17)(A) Research grants may be used to conduct a research
program related to quality assurance in the area of rehabilitation
technology.
‘‘(B) Activities carried out under the research program may
include—
‘‘(i) 
the 
development 
of 
methodologies 
to 
evaluate
rehabilitation technology products and services and the dissemi-
nation of the methodologies to consumers and other interested
parties;
‘‘(ii) identification of models for service provider training
and evaluation and certification of the effectiveness of the mod-
els;
‘‘(iii) identification and dissemination of outcome measure-
ment models for the assessment of rehabilitation technology
products and services; and
H. R. 1385—247
‘‘(iv) development and testing of research-based tools to
enhance consumer decisionmaking about rehabilitation tech-
nology products and services.
‘‘(18) Research grants may be used to provide for research
and demonstration projects and related activities that explore the
use and effectiveness of specific alternative or complementary medi-
cal practices for individuals with disabilities. Such projects and
activities may include projects and activities designed to—
‘‘(A) determine the use of specific alternative or complemen-
tary medical practices among individuals with disabilities and
the perceived effectiveness of the practices;
‘‘(B) determine the specific information sources, decision-
making methods, and methods of payment used by individuals
with disabilities who access alternative or complementary medi-
cal services;
‘‘(C) develop criteria to screen and assess the validity of
research studies of such practices for individuals with disabil-
ities; and
‘‘(D) determine the effectiveness of specific alternative or
complementary medical practices that show promise for promot-
ing increased functioning, prevention of secondary disabilities,
or other positive outcomes for individuals with certain types
of disabilities, by conducting controlled research studies.
‘‘(c)(1) In carrying out evaluations of covered activities under
this section, the Director is authorized to make arrangements for
site visits to obtain information on the accomplishments of the
projects.
‘‘(2) The Director shall not make a grant under this section
that exceeds $500,000 unless the peer review of the grant applica-
tion has included a site visit.
‘‘REHABILITATION RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL
‘‘SEC. 205. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall establish in the Department
of Education a Rehabilitation Research Advisory Council (referred
to in this section as the ‘Council’) composed of 12 members
appointed by the Secretary.
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Council shall advise the Director with respect
to research priorities and the development and revision of the
5-year plan required by section 202(h).
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Council shall be gen-
erally representative of the community of rehabilitation profes-
sionals, the community of rehabilitation researchers, the community
of individuals with disabilities, and the individuals’ representatives.
At least one-half of the members shall be individuals with disabil-
ities or the individuals’ representatives.
‘‘(d) TERMS OF APPOINTMENT.—
‘‘(1) LENGTH OF TERM.—Each member of the Council shall
serve for a term of up to 3 years, determined by the Secretary,
except that—
‘‘(A) a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
prior to the expiration of the term for which a predecessor
was appointed, shall be appointed for the remainder of
such term; and
‘‘(B) the terms of service of the members initially
appointed shall be (as specified by the Secretary) for such
H. R. 1385—248
fewer number of years as will provide for the expiration
of terms on a staggered basis.
‘‘(2) NUMBER OF TERMS.—No member of the Council may
serve more than two consecutive full terms. Members may
serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors
have taken office.
‘‘(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy occurring in the membership
of the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment for the position being vacated. The vacancy shall not
affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties
of the Council.
‘‘(f ) PAYMENT AND EXPENSES.—
‘‘(1) PAYMENT.—Each member of the Council who is not
an officer or full-time employee of the Federal Government
shall receive a payment of $150 for each day (including travel
time) during which the member is engaged in the performance
of duties for the Council. All members of the Council who
are officers or full-time employees of the United States shall
serve without compensation in addition to compensation
received for their services as officers or employees of the United
States.
‘‘(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Council may
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States
Code, for employees serving intermittently in the Government
service, for each day the member is engaged in the performance
of duties away from the home or regular place of business
of the member.
‘‘(g) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—On the request of the
Council, the Secretary may detail, with or without reimbursement,
any of the personnel of the Department of Education to the Council
to assist the Council in carrying out its duties. Any detail shall
not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges
of the Federal employee.
‘‘(h) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On the request of the Council,
the Secretary shall provide such technical assistance to the Council
as the Council determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
‘‘(i) TERMINATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Commit-
tee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Council.’’.
SEC. 406. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL PROJECTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS.
Title III of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 770 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘TITLE III—PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP-
MENT AND SPECIAL PROJECTS AND
DEMONSTRATIONS
‘‘SEC. 301. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE AND COMPETITIVE BASIS OF
GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this title to authorize grants
and contracts to—
‘‘(1)(A) provide academic training to ensure that skilled
personnel are available to provide rehabilitation services to
H. R. 1385—249
individuals with disabilities through vocational, medical, social,
and psychological rehabilitation programs (including supported
employment 
programs), 
through 
economic 
and 
business
development programs, through independent living services
programs, and through client assistance programs; and
‘‘(B) provide training to maintain and upgrade basic skills
and knowledge of personnel (including personnel specifically
trained to deliver services to individuals with disabilities whose
employment outcome is self-employment or telecommuting)
employed to provide state-of-the-art service delivery and
rehabilitation technology services;
‘‘(2) conduct special projects and demonstrations that
expand and improve the provision of rehabilitation and other
services (including those services provided through community
rehabilitation programs) authorized under this Act, or that
otherwise further the purposes of this Act, including related
research and evaluation;
‘‘(3) provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals
with disabilities who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers;
‘‘(4) initiate recreational programs to provide recreational
activities and related experiences for individuals with disabil-
ities to aid such individuals in employment, mobility, socializa-
tion, independence, and community integration; and
‘‘(5) provide training and information to individuals with
disabilities and the individuals’ representatives, and other
appropriate parties to develop the skills necessary for individ-
uals with disabilities to gain access to the rehabilitation system
and statewide workforce investment systems and to become
active decisionmakers in the rehabilitation process.
‘‘(b) COMPETITIVE BASIS OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that all grants and contracts are awarded under
this title on a competitive basis.
‘‘SEC. 302. TRAINING.
‘‘(a) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR PERSONNEL TRAINING.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commissioner shall make grants to,
and enter into contracts with, States and public or nonprofit
agencies and organizations (including institutions of higher edu-
cation) to pay part of the cost of projects to provide training,
traineeships, and related activities, including the provision of
technical assistance, that are designed to assist in increasing
the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of, qualified personnel
(especially rehabilitation counselors) who are trained in provid-
ing vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation
services, who are trained to assist individuals with communica-
tion and related disorders, who are trained to provide other
services provided under this Act, to individuals with disabilities,
and who may include—
‘‘(A) personnel specifically trained in providing employ-
ment assistance to individuals with disabilities through
job development and job placement services;
‘‘(B) personnel specifically trained to identify, assess,
and meet the individual rehabilitation needs of individuals
with disabilities, including needs for rehabilitation tech-
nology;