H. R. 6—426
physical impairment, mental impairment, or a combination of
physical and mental impairments.
‘‘SEC. 704. GRANTS TO STATES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make grants to States
on a competitive basis, in accordance with the provisions of this
part, to support systems change activities designed to assist States
to develop and implement, or expand and enhance, a statewide
system of family support for families of children with disabilities
that accomplishes the purposes described in section 702.
‘‘(b) AWARD PERIOD AND GRANT LIMITATION.—No grant shall
be awarded for a period greater than 3 years. A State shall be
eligible for not more than one grant.
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) GRANTS TO STATES.—
‘‘(A) FEDERAL MATCHING SHARE.—From amounts appro-
priated under section 716(a), the Secretary shall pay to
each State that has an application approved under section
705, for each year of the grant period, an amount that
is—
‘‘(i) equal to 75 percent of the cost of the systems
change activities to be carried out by the State; and
‘‘(ii) not less than $200,000 and not more than
$500,000.
‘‘(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal share of
payments under this paragraph may be in cash or in kind
fairly evaluated, including planned equipment or services.
‘‘(2) GRANTS TO TERRITORIES.—From amounts appropriated
under section 716(a) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall
pay to each territory that has an application approved under
section 705 not more than $100,000.
‘‘(3) CALCULATION OF AMOUNTS.—The Secretary shall cal-
culate a grant amount described in paragraph (1) or (2) on
the basis of the following:
‘‘(A) The amounts available for making grants under
this section.
‘‘(B) The child population of the State or territory con-
cerned.
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this subsection:
‘‘(A) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of the 50
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
‘‘(B) TERRITORY.—The term ‘territory’ means the
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the
Republic of Palau (upon the entry into force and effect
of the Compact of Free Association between the United
States and the Republic of Palau).
‘‘(d) PRIORITY
FOR
PREVIOUSLY
PARTICIPATING
STATES.—
Amounts appropriated for purposes of carrying out the provisions
of this section in each of the 2 fiscal years succeeding the fiscal
year in which amounts are first appropriated for such purposes
shall first be made available to a State that—
‘‘(1) received a grant under this section during the fiscal
year preceding the fiscal year concerned; and
‘‘(2) is making significant progress in accordance with sec-
tion 710.
H. R. 6—427
‘‘(e) PRIORITIES FOR DISTRIBUTION.—To the extent practicable,
the Secretary shall award grants to States under this section in
a manner that—
‘‘(1) is geographically equitable; and
‘‘(2) distributes the grants among States that have differing
levels of development of statewide systems of family support
for families of children with disabilities.
‘‘SEC. 705. APPLICATION.
‘‘A State that desires to receive a grant under this part shall
submit an application to the Secretary that contains the following
information and assurances:
‘‘(1) FAMILY-CENTERED AND FAMILY-DIRECTED APPROACH.—
An assurance that the State will use funds made available
under this part to accomplish the purposes described in section
702 and the goals, objectives, and family-centered outcomes
described in section 709(b) by carrying out systems change
activities in partnership with families and in a manner that
is family-centered and family-directed.
‘‘(2) DESIGNATION OF THE LEAD ENTITY.—Information identi-
fying the lead entity, and evidence documenting the abilities
of such entity.
‘‘(3) STATE POLICY COUNCIL FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES.—An assurance of the following:
‘‘(A) The State has designated or established Council
that meets the criteria set forth in section 707.
‘‘(B) The lead entity will seek and consider on a regular
and ongoing basis advice from the Council regarding the
development and implementation of the strategic plan
under section 709, and other policies and procedures of
general applicability pertaining to the provision of family
support for families of children with disabilities in the
State.
‘‘(C) The lead entity will include, in its annual progress
reports, a summary of advice provided by the Council,
including recommendations from the annual report of the
Council and the response of the lead entity to such advice
and recommendations.
‘‘(D) The lead entity will transmit to the Council any
other plans, reports, and other information required under
this part.
‘‘(4) FAMILY INVOLVEMENT.—A description of the following:
‘‘(A) The nature and extent of the involvement of fami-
lies of children with disabilities and individuals with
disabilities in the development of the application.
‘‘(B) Strategies for actively involving families of chil-
dren with disabilities and individuals with disabilities in
the development, implementation, and evaluation of the
statewide system of family support for families of children
with disabilities.
‘‘(C) Strategies and special outreach activities that will
be undertaken to ensure the active involvement of families
of children with disabilities who are members of unserved
and underserved populations.
‘‘(D) Strategies for actively involving families of chil-
dren with disabilities who use family support services in
decisions relating to such services.
H. R. 6—428
‘‘(5) AGENCY INVOLVEMENT.—A description of the nature
and extent of involvement of various State agencies or units
within State agencies in the preparation of the application
and the continuing role of each agency in the statewide system
of family support for families of children with disabilities.
‘‘(6) STATE
RESOURCES.—A description of the State
resources and other resources that are available to commit
to the statewide system of family support for families of children
with disabilities.
‘‘(7) UNMET NEEDS.—A description of unmet needs for fam-
ily support for families of children with disabilities within the
State.
‘‘(8) PRELIMINARY PLAN.—A preliminary plan that contains
information on the program to be carried out under the grant
with respect to the goals and objectives of the State for the
program and the activities that the State plans to carry out
under the program (including the process for appointing individ-
uals to the Council) and that is consistent with the purposes
of this part.
‘‘(9) ACTIVITIES.—An assurance that, except for the first
year of the grant, the State shall expend not less than 65
percent of the funds made available to a State under this
part for grants and contracts to conduct the activities described
in section 708.
‘‘(10) LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—An assurance that
the lead entity that receives funding under this part in any
fiscal year shall use not more than 5 percent of such funds
in such year for administrative expenses. Such administrative
expenses shall not include expenses related to the activities
of the Council.
‘‘(11) STRATEGIC PLAN.—A description of the measures that
will be taken by the State to develop a strategic plan in accord-
ance with section 709.
‘‘(12) EVALUATION.—An assurance that the State will con-
duct an annual evaluation of the statewide system of family
support for families of children with disabilities in accordance
with section 710.
‘‘(13) COORDINATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL COUNCILS.—
An assurance that the lead entity will coordinate the activities
funded through a grant made under this part with the activities
carried out by other relevant councils within the State.
‘‘(14) SUPPLEMENT
OTHER
FUNDS.—An assurance, with
respect to amounts received under a grant, of the following:
‘‘(A) Such grant will be used to supplement and not
supplant amounts available from other sources that are
expended for programs of family support for families of
children with disabilities, including the provision of family
support.
‘‘(B) Such grant will not be used to pay a financial
obligation for family support for families of children with
disabilities that would have been paid with amounts avail-
able from other sources if amounts under such grant had
not been available.
‘‘(15) OTHER INFORMATION AND ASSURANCES.—Such other
information and assurances as the Secretary may reasonably
require.
H. R. 6—429
‘‘SEC. 706. DESIGNATION OF THE LEAD ENTITY.
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Chief Executive Officer of a State that
desires to receive a grant under section 704, shall designate the
office or entity (referred to in this part as the ‘‘lead entity’’) respon-
sible for—
‘‘(1) submitting the application under section 705 on behalf
of the State;
‘‘(2) administering and supervising the use of the amounts
made available under the grant;
‘‘(3) coordinating efforts related to and supervising the
preparation of the application;
‘‘(4) coordinating the planning, development, implementa-
tion (or expansion and enhancement), and evaluation of a state-
wide system of family support services for families of children
with disabilities among public agencies and between public
agencies and private agencies, including coordinating efforts
related to entering into interagency agreements; and
‘‘(5) coordinating efforts related to the meaningful participa-
tion by families in activities carried out under a grant awarded
under this part.
‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—In designating the lead entity, the Chief
Executive Officer may designate—
‘‘(1) an office of the Chief Executive Officer;
‘‘(2) a commission appointed by the Chief Executive Officer;
‘‘(3) a public agency;
‘‘(4) a council established under Federal or State law; or
‘‘(5) another appropriate office, agency, or entity.
‘‘(c) CAPABILITIES OF THE LEAD ENTITY.—The State shall pro-
vide, in accordance with the requirements of section 705, evidence
that the lead entity has the capacity—
‘‘(1) to promote a statewide system of family support for
families of children with disabilities throughout the State;
‘‘(2) to promote and implement systems change activities;
‘‘(3) to maximize access to public and private funds for
family support services for families of children with disabilities;
‘‘(4) to implement effective strategies for capacity building,
family and professional training, and access to and funding
for family support services for families of children with disabil-
ities across agencies;
‘‘(5) to promote and facilitate the implementation of family
support services for families of children with disabilities that
are family-centered and family-directed, and flexible, and that
provide families with the greatest possible decisionmaking
authority and control regarding the nature and use of services
and supports;
‘‘(6) to promote leadership by families in planning, policy
development, implementation, and evaluation of family support
services for families of children with disabilities, and parent-
professional partnerships; and
‘‘(7) to promote and develop interagency coordination and
collaboration.
‘‘SEC. 707. STATE POLICY COUNCIL FOR FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMI-
LIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION OR ESTABLISHMENT.—A State that desires
to receive financial assistance under this part shall, prior to the
receipt of funds under this part, designate an existing Council,