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(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(D) contains assurances that—
‘‘(i) all decisions affecting eligibility for vo-
cational rehabilitation services, the nature and
scope of available services, and the provision of
such services, will be made by a representative of
the tribal vocational rehabilitation program; and
‘‘(ii) such decisions will not be delegated to
another agency or individual.’’;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the first
sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘An appli-
cation approved under this part that complies
with the program requirements set forth in the
regulations promulgated to carry out this part
shall be effective for 5 years and shall be renewed
for additional 5-year periods if the Commis-
sioner determines that the grant recipient dem-
onstrated acceptable past performance and the
grant recipient submits a plan, including a pro-
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posed budget, to the Commissioner that the Com-
missioner approves that identifies future per-
formance criteria, goals, and objectives.’’; and
(C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(4) In allocating funds under this part, the Commis-
sioner shall give priority to paying the continuation costs
of projects in existence on the date of the allocation and
may provide for increases in funding for such projects that
the Commissioner determines to be necessary.’’.
SEC. 423. GAO STUDIES.
(a) STUDY ON TITLE I AND TICKET TO WORK.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of
the United States shall conduct a study on the inter-
action of programs carried out under title I of the Re-
habilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.) with
the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program es-
tablished under section 1148 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–19), including the impact of
the interaction on beneficiaries, community rehabili-
tation programs (as defined in section 7 of the Reha-
bilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705)), and State vo-
cational rehabilitation agencies.
(2) CONDUCT
OF
STUDY.—In conducting the
study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General
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of the United States shall consult with all types of
participants in the Ticket to Work and Self-Suffi-
ciency Program, including the Social Security Ad-
ministration, the Rehabilitation Services Administra-
tion, ticketholders, designated State agencies, entities
carrying out such community rehabilitation programs
(including employment networks and nonemployment
networks), 
protection 
and 
advocacy 
agencies,
MAXIMUS, and organizations representing the inter-
ests of ticketholders.
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
the study conducted pursuant to this subsection to the
appropriate committees of Congress.
(b) STUDY ON THE ALLOTMENT FORMULA.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of
the United States shall conduct a study on the rela-
tionship between the State allotment formula under
section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 730) and the ability of States to provide voca-
tional rehabilitation services in accordance with the
States’ State plans under section 101 of such Act (29
U.S.C. 721).
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(2) CONDUCT
OF
STUDY.—In conducting the
study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General
of the United States shall consult with appropriate
entities.
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 12
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
the study conducted pursuant to this subsection to the
appropriate committees of Congress.
Subtitle B—Research and Training
SEC. 431. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.
Section 200(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 760(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, in a timely and
efficient manner,’’ before ‘‘through’’.
SEC. 432. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 201 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 761) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘fiscal
years 1999 through 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal
years 2006 through 2011’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘fiscal
years 1999 through 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal
years 2006 through 2011’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(c) Of the sums appropriated under subsection (a)(1)
for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than
$200,000 for activities related to convening a national as-
sistive technology summit under section 202(b)(6).’’.
SEC. 433. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHA-
BILITATION RESEARCH.
Section 202 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 762) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (6), by inserting before
the semicolon the following: ‘‘, including con-
vening a national assistive technology summit,
to be held at or in conjunction with a national
conference relating to assistive technology with
respect to all categories of disabilities’’; and
(B) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘and
telecommuting’’ and inserting ‘‘, supported em-
ployment, and telecommuting’’;
(2) in subsection (f)(1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘Federal employees’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Department of Education employees’’;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘The peer review panel shall include a director
of a designated State unit. Such panel shall in-
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clude a member of the covered school community
(for an activity resulting in educational mate-
rials or a product to be used in a covered school),
a member of the business community (for an ac-
tivity resulting in a product to be used in an
employment activity), an assistive technology de-
veloper or manufacturer (for an activity relating
to assistive technology), or an accessible elec-
tronic and information technology vendor or
manufacturer (for an activity relating to acces-
sible electronic and information technology).’’;
(3) by redesignating subsections (i), (j), and (k)
as subsections (j), (k), and (l), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (h) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(i)(1) The Director, with the assistance of the Reha-
bilitation Research Advisory Council established under sec-
tion 205, shall determine if entities that receive financial
assistance under this title are complying with the applica-
ble requirements of this Act and achieving measurable goals,
described in section 204(d)(2), that are consistent with the
requirements of the programs under which the entities re-
ceived the financial assistance.
‘‘(2) To assist the Director in carrying out the respon-
sibilities described in paragraph (1), the Director shall re-