•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(i) promote access to such funding in
public programs that were in existence on the
date of the initiation of the demonstration ac-
tivities; and
‘‘(ii) establish additional options for ob-
taining such funding;
‘‘(C) the education and training activities car-
ried out through the Federal initiatives to promote
such access in public programs and the health care
system and the efforts carried out through such ac-
tivities to train professionals in a variety of relevant
disciplines, and increase the competencies of the
professionals with respect to technology-related as-
sistance;
‘‘(D) the education and training activities car-
ried out through the Federal initiatives to train in-
dividuals with disabilities and their family members,
guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives,
individuals who work for public agencies, or for pri-
vate entities (including insurers), that have contact
with individuals with disabilities, educators and re-
lated services personnel, technology experts (includ-
ing engineers), employers, and other appropriate in-
dividuals, about technology-related assistance;
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(E) the education and training activities car-
ried out through Federal initiatives to promote
awareness of available funding in public programs;
‘‘(F) the research activities carried out through
the Federal initiatives to improve understanding of
the costs and benefits of access to assistive tech-
nology for individuals with disabilities who rep-
resent a variety of ages and types of disabilities;
‘‘(G) the program outreach activities to rural
and inner-city areas that are carried out through
the Federal initiatives;
‘‘(H) the activities carried out through the
Federal initiatives that are targeted to reach
underrepresented populations and rural populations;
and
‘‘(I) the consumer involvement activities in the
programs carried out under this Act.
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DE-
VICES AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.—As soon
as practicable, the Secretary shall include in the annual
report required by this subsection information on the
availability of assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services. When a national classification sys-
tem for assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services is developed pursuant to section 201, the
•HRES 351 EH
Secretary shall report such information in a manner con-
sistent with such national classification system.
‘‘(f) INTERAGENCY DISABILITY COORDINATING COUN-
CIL.—
‘‘(1) CONTENTS.—On or before October 1, 1995,
the Interagency Disability Coordinating Council estab-
lished under section 507 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 (29 U.S.C. 794c) shall prepare and submit to the
President and to the Congress a report containing—
‘‘(A) the response of the Interagency Disability
Coordinating Council to—
‘‘(i) the findings of the National Council
on Disability resulting from the study entitled
‘Study on the Financing of Assistive Tech-
nology Devices and Services for Individuals
with Disabilities’, carried out in accordance
with section 201 of this Act, as in effect on the
day before the date of the enactment of this
subsection; and
‘‘(ii) the recommendations of the National
Council on Disability for legislative and admin-
istrative change, resulting from such study;
and
‘‘(B) information on any other activities of the
Interagency Disability Coordinating Council that fa-
•HRES 351 EH
cilitate the accomplishment of section 2(b)(1) with
respect to the Federal Government.
‘‘(2) COMMENTS.—The report shall include any
comments submitted by the National Council on Disabil-
ity as to the appropriateness of the response described
in paragraph (1)(A) and the effectiveness of the activi-
ties described in paragraph (1)(B) in meeting the needs
of individuals with disabilities for assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services.
‘‘(g) EFFECT ON OTHER ASSISTANCE.—This title may
not be construed as authorizing a Federal or a State agency
to reduce medical or other assistance available or to alter eli-
gibility under any other Federal law.’’.
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 106 (29 U.S.C. 2216) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998.
‘‘(b) RESERVATIONS.—
‘‘(1) PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds appropriated
for any fiscal year under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall reserve at least 2 percent or
$1,500,000, whichever is greater, of such funds, for
the purpose of providing information and technical
assistance as described in subparagraphs (B) and
(C) to States, individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, or author-
ized representatives, community-based organiza-
tions, and protection and advocacy agencies.
‘‘(B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES.—In
providing such information and technical assistance
to States, the Secretary shall consider the input of
the directors of consumer-responsive comprehensive
statewide programs of technology-related assistance,
shall provide a clearinghouse for activities that have
been developed and implemented through programs
funded under this title, and shall provide informa-
tion and technical assistance that—
‘‘(i) facilitate service delivery capacity
building, training of personnel from a variety
of disciplines, and improvement of evaluation
strategies, research, and data collection;
‘‘(ii) foster the development and replica-
tion of effective approaches to information re-
•HRES 351 EH
ferral, interagency coordination of training and
service delivery, outreach to underrepresented
populations and rural populations, and public
awareness activities;
‘‘(iii) improve the awareness and adoption
of successful approaches to increasing the
availability of public and private funding for
and access to the provision of assistive tech-
nology devices and assistive technology services
by appropriate State agencies;
‘‘(iv) assist in planning, developing, imple-
menting, and evaluating appropriate activities
to further extend consumer-responsive com-
prehensive statewide programs of technology-
related assistance;
‘‘(v) promote effective approaches to the
development of consumer-controlled systems
that increase access to, funding for, and aware-
ness of, assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services;
‘‘(vi) provide technical assistance and
training to the entities carrying out activities
funded pursuant to this title, to establish or
participate in electronic communication activi-
ties with other States; and
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(vii) provide any other appropriate infor-
mation and technical assistance to assist the
States in accomplishing the purposes of this
Act.
‘‘(C) INFORMATION
AND
TECHNICAL
ASSIST-
ANCE
TO
INDIVIDUALS
WITH
DISABILITIES
AND
OTHER PERSONS.—The Secretary shall provide in-
formation and technical assistance to individuals
with disabilities and their family members, guard-
ians, advocates, or authorized representatives, com-
munity-based organizations, and protection and ad-
vocacy agencies, on a nationwide basis, to—
‘‘(i) disseminate information about, and
foster awareness and understanding of, Fed-
eral, State, and local laws, regulations, policies,
practices, procedures, and organizational struc-
tures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to,
funding for, and access to, assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services, to
promote fuller independence, productivity, and
inclusion for individuals with disabilities of all
ages;
‘‘(ii) identify, collect, and disseminate in-
formation, and provide technical assistance, on
•HRES 351 EH
effective systems change and advocacy activi-
ties;
‘‘(iii) improve the understanding and use
of assistive technology funding decisions made
as a result of policies, practices, and proce-
dures, or through regulations, administrative
hearings, or legal actions, that enhance access
to funding for assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services for individuals
with disabilities;
‘‘(iv) promote effective approaches to Fed-
eral-State coordination of programs for individ-
uals with disabilities, through information dis-
semination and technical assistance activities
in response to funding policy issues identified
on a nationwide basis by organizations, and in-
dividuals, that improve funding for or access to
assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services for individuals with disabilities
of all ages; and
‘‘(v) promote effective approaches to the
development of consumer-controlled systems
that increase access to, funding for, and aware-
ness of, assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services, including the
•HRES 351 EH
identification and description of mechanisms
and means that successfully support self-help
and peer mentoring groups for individuals with
disabilities.
‘‘(D) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co-
ordinate the information and technical assistance
activities carried out under subparagraph (B) or
(C) with other activities funded under this Act.
‘‘(E) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, OR COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
provide the technical assistance and informa-
tion described in subparagraphs (B) and (C)
through grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements with public or private agencies and
organizations, including institutions of higher
education, with documented experience, exper-
tise, and capacity to carry out identified activi-
ties related to the provision of such technical
assistance and information.
‘‘(ii) 
ENTITIES
WITH
EXPERTISE
IN
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
SERVICE
DELIVERY,
INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION, AND
SYSTEMS
CHANGE AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES.—For the
purpose of achieving the objectives described in
•HRES 351 EH
paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall reserve
not less than 45 percent and not more than 55
percent of the funds reserved under subpara-
graph (A) for each fiscal year for grants to, or
contracts or cooperative agreements with, pub-
lic or private agencies or organizations with
documented experience with and expertise in
assistive technology service delivery, inter-
agency coordination, and systems change and
advocacy activities.
‘‘(iii) ENTITIES
WITH
EXPERTISE
IN
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS
CHANGE
AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES, PUBLIC FUNDING
OPTIONS, AND
OTHER
SERVICES.—For the
purpose of achieving the objectives described in
paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall reserve
not less than 45 percent and not more than 55
percent of the funds reserved under subpara-
graph (A) for each fiscal year for grants to, or
contracts or cooperative agreements with, pub-
lic or private agencies or organizations with
documented experience with and expertise in—
‘‘(I) 
assistive 
technology 
systems
change and advocacy activities;
‘‘(II) public funding options; and
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(III) services to increase nationwide
the availability of funding for assistive
technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services.
‘‘(iv) APPLICATION.—The Secretary shall
make any grants, and enter into any contracts
or cooperative agreements, under this sub-
section on a competitive basis. To be eligible to
receive funds under this subsection an agency,
organization, or institution shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information, as
the Secretary may require.
‘‘(2) ONSITE VISITS.—The Secretary may reserve,
from amounts appropriated for any fiscal year under
subsection (a), such sums as the Secretary considers to
be necessary for the purposes of conducting onsite visits
as required by section 105(a)(2).’’.
SEC. 107. REPEALS.
Section 107 (20 U.S.C. 2217) is repealed.
TITLE II—PROGRAMS OF
NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
SEC. 201. NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
Title II (29 U.S.C. 2231 et seq.) is amended by repeal-
ing part A and inserting the following:
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘Subtitle A—National Classification
System
‘‘SEC. 201. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
‘‘(a) SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In fiscal year 1995, the Sec-
retary shall initiate a system development project, based
on a plan developed in consultation and coordination
with other appropriate Federal and State agencies, to
develop a national classification system for assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services, with
the goal of obtaining uniform data through such a sys-
tem on such devices and services across public programs
and information and referral networks.
‘‘(2) PROJECT PLAN.—
‘‘(A) REPRESENTATIVES.—In developing a
plan for the system development project, the Sec-
retary shall consult with, and coordinate activities
with—
‘‘(i) representatives of Federal agencies,
including agencies that are headed by members
of the Interagency Disability Coordinating
Council established under section 507 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794c);
and
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(ii) as determined by the Secretary, rep-
resentatives of State agencies and other appro-
priate organizations that have responsibility for
or are involved in the development and modi-
fication of assistive technology devices, the pro-
vision of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services, or the dissemina-
tion of information about assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services, in-
cluding recipients of grants or contracts for the
provision of technical assistance to State
assistive technology projects under section
106(b), assistive technology reimbursement
specialists, 
representatives 
of 
the 
State
assistive technology projects, and representa-
tives of organizations involved in information
and referral activities.
‘‘(B) ISSUES.—The Secretary shall conduct
such consultation, and such coordination of activi-
ties, with respect to the following:
‘‘(i) The costs and benefits, on an agency-
by-agency basis, of obtaining uniform data
through a national classification system for
assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
•HRES 351 EH
nology services across public programs and in-
formation and referral networks.
‘‘(ii) The types of data that should be col-
lected, including data regarding funding,
across a range of programs, including the pro-
grams listed in subsection (c)(2), as appro-
priate.
‘‘(iii) A methodology for developing a sin-
gle taxonomy and nomenclature for both
assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services across a range of programs, in-
cluding the programs listed in subsection
(c)(2), as appropriate.
‘‘(iv) The process for developing an appro-
priate data collection instrument or instru-
ments.
‘‘(v) A methodology for collecting data
across a range of programs, including the pro-
grams listed in subsection (c)(2), as appro-
priate.
‘‘(vi) The use of a national classification
system by the Internal Revenue Service and
State finance agencies to determine whether
devices and services are assistive technology
devices or assistive technology services for the
•HRES 351 EH
purpose of determining whether a deduction or
credit is allowable under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 or State tax law.
‘‘(3) 
CONTRACTS
AND
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—The Secretary may carry out this section di-
rectly, or, if necessary, by entering into contracts or co-
operative agreements with appropriate entities.
‘‘(b) SINGLE TAXONOMY.—In conducting the system de-
velopment project, the Secretary shall develop a national clas-
sification system that includes a single taxonomy and nomen-
clature for assistive technology devices and assistive tech-
nology services.
‘‘(c) DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT.—In conducting
the system development project, the Secretary shall develop
a data collection instrument to—
‘‘(1) collect data regarding funding for assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services; and
‘‘(2) collect such data from public programs, includ-
ing, at a minimum—
‘‘(A) programs carried out under title I, VI, or
VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
720 et seq., 795 et seq., or 796 et seq.);
‘‘(B) programs carried out under part B or H
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq. or 1471 et seq.);
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(C) programs carried out under title V or
XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et
seq. or 1396 et seq.);
‘‘(D) programs carried out under the Older
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.);
and
‘‘(E) programs carried out under the Devel-
opmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights
Act (42 U.S.C. 6000 et seq.).
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct the
system development project in consultation with the Federal
agencies that were consulted in developing the project plan.
‘‘(e) REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS
ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM DATA COLLECTION SYS-
TEM.—Not later than July 1, 1997, the Secretary shall pre-
pare and submit to the President and the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report containing—
‘‘(1) the results of the system development project;
and
‘‘(2) the recommendations of the Secretary concern-
ing implementation of a national classification system,
including uniform data collection.
‘‘(f) RESERVATION.—From the amounts appropriated
under subtitle C for fiscal year 1995, the Secretary shall re-
serve up to $200,000 to carry out this subtitle.’’.
•HRES 351 EH
SEC. 202. TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
Title II (29 U.S.C. 2231 et seq.) is amended by repeal-
ing parts B, C, and D and inserting the following:
‘‘Subtitle B—Training and
Demonstration Projects
‘‘SEC. 211. TRAINING.
‘‘(a) TECHNOLOGY TRAINING.—
‘‘(1) GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall
make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative
agreements with, appropriate public or private agencies
and organizations, including institutions of higher edu-
cation and community-based organizations, for the pur-
poses of—
‘‘(A) conducting training sessions;
‘‘(B) developing, demonstrating, disseminating,
and evaluating curricula, materials, and methods
used to train individuals regarding the provision of
technology-related assistance, to enhance opportuni-
ties for independence, productivity, and inclusion of
individuals with disabilities; and
‘‘(C) providing training to develop awareness,
skills, and competencies of service providers, con-
sumers, and volunteers, who are located in rural
areas, to increase the availability of technology-re-
lated assistance in community-based settings for
rural residents who are individuals with disabilities.
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Activities conducted
under grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may address the training needs
of individuals with disabilities and their family members,
guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives, in-
dividuals who work for public agencies, or for private en-
tities (including insurers), that have contact with indi-
viduals with disabilities, educators and related services
personnel, technology experts (including engineers), em-
ployers, and other appropriate individuals.
‘‘(3) USES OF FUNDS.—An agency or organization
that receives a grant or enters into a contract or cooper-
ative agreement under paragraph (1) may use amounts
made available through the grant, contract, or agree-
ment to—
‘‘(A) pay for a portion of the cost of courses
of training or study related to technology-related as-
sistance; and
‘‘(B) establish and maintain scholarships relat-
ed to such courses of training or study, with such
stipends and allowances as the Secretary may deter-
mine to be appropriate.
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a
grant or enter into a contract or cooperative agree-
•HRES 351 EH
ment under paragraph (1), an agency or organiza-
tion shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the Secretary may require.
‘‘(B) STRATEGIES.—At a minimum, any such
application shall include a detailed description of
the strategies that the agency or organization will
use to recruit and train persons to provide tech-
nology-related assistance, in order to—
‘‘(i) increase the extent to which such per-
sons reflect the diverse populations of the
United States; and
‘‘(ii) increase the number of individuals
with disabilities, and individuals who are mem-
bers of minority groups, who are available to
provide such assistance.
‘‘(5) PRIORITIES.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in fiscal year
1994, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(i) establish priorities for activities car-
ried out with assistance under this subsection;
‘‘(ii) publish such priorities in the Federal
Register for the purpose of receiving public
comment; and
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(iii) publish such priorities in the Federal
Register in final form not later than the date
on which the Secretary publishes announce-
ments for assistance provided under this sub-
section.
‘‘(B) EXPLANATION
OF
DETERMINATION
OF
PRIORITIES.—Concurrent with the publications re-
quired by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
publish in the Federal Register an explanation of
the manner in which the priorities were determined.
‘‘(b) TECHNOLOGY CAREERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(A) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make
grants to assist public or private agencies and orga-
nizations, including institutions of higher education,
to prepare students and faculty working in specific
fields for careers relating to the provision of
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services.
‘‘(B) FIELDS.—The specific fields described in
subparagraph (A) may include—
‘‘(i) engineering;
‘‘(ii) industrial technology;
‘‘(iii) computer science;
‘‘(iv) communication disorders;
100
•HRES 351 EH
‘‘(v) special education and related services;
‘‘(vi) rehabilitation; and
‘‘(vii) social work.
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to the inter-
disciplinary preparation of personnel who provide or who
will provide technical assistance, who administer pro-
grams, or who prepare other personnel, in order to—
‘‘(A) support the development and implementa-
tion of consumer-responsive comprehensive state-
wide programs of technology-related assistance to
individuals with disabilities; and
‘‘(B) enhance the skills and competencies of in-
dividuals involved in the provision of technology-re-
lated assistance, including assistive technology de-
vices and assistive technology services, to individ-
uals with disabilities.
‘‘(3) USES OF FUNDS.—An agency or organization
that receives a grant under paragraph (1) may use
amounts made available through the grant to—
‘‘(A) pay for a portion of the cost of courses
of training or study related to technology-related as-
sistance; and
‘‘(B) establish and maintain scholarships relat-
ed to such courses of training or study, with such
101
•HRES 351 EH
stipends and allowances as the Secretary may deter-
mine to be appropriate.
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a
grant under this section, an agency or organization
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require.
‘‘(B) STRATEGIES.—At a minimum, any such
application shall include a detailed description of
the strategies that the agency or organization will
use to recruit and train persons to provide tech-
nology-related assistance, in order to—
‘‘(i) increase the extent to which such per-
sons reflect the diverse populations of the
United States; and
‘‘(ii) increase the number of individuals
with disabilities, and individuals who are mem-
bers of minority groups, who are available to
provide such assistance.
‘‘(c) GRANTS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES.—In
exercising the authority granted in subsections (a) and (b),
the Secretary shall reserve an adequate amount for grants to
historically black colleges and universities and other institu-