I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2785
To reauthorize and improve a program of grants to States to promote the
provision of technology-related assistance to individuals with disabilities,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 28, 1993
Mr. OWENS (by request) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and Labor
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve a program of grants to States
to promote the provision of technology-related assistance
to individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act may be cited as the ‘‘Technology-Related
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Amendments
of 1993’’.
FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
SEC. 2. Section 2(b) of the Technology-Related As-
sistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988 (29
U.S.C. 2201 et seq.; hereinafter referred to as ‘‘the Act’’)
is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in the material that precedes subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘comprehensive,’’ after
‘‘implement a’’;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking out
‘‘policies, practices, and procedures’’ and insert-
ing in lieu thereof ‘‘laws, regulations, policies,
practices, procedures, and organizational struc-
tures’’;
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking out
‘‘of and funding for the provision of’’ and in-
serting in lieu thereof ‘‘of, access to, provision
of, and funding for’’;
(D) in subparagraph (F), by striking out
‘‘and’’ at the end thereof;
(E) in subparagraph (G), by striking out
the period at the end thereof and inserting in
lieu thereof a semicolon and ‘‘and’’; and
(F) by adding at the end thereof a new
subparagraph to read as follows:
‘‘(H) increase the involvement of individ-
uals with disabilities (and, if appropriate, their
family members, guardians, advocates, and au-
thorized representatives) in the planning, devel-
opment, implementation, and assessment of
technology-related assistance programs, and in
decisions related to the provision of assistive
technology devices and assistive technology
services.’’;
(2) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking out ‘‘,
information, and training and public aware-
ness’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘and infor-
mation’’; and
(B) by striking out subparagraph (B) and
inserting in lieu thereof a new subparagraph to
read as follows:
‘‘(B) other assistance needed to ensure
that the comprehensive, consumer-responsive
statewide system developed with Federal sup-
port under this Act will continue after such
support has ended.’’; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof a new para-
graph to read as follows:
‘‘(4) To promote systems change, in order to
facilitate access to, provision of, and funding for
technology-related assistance to individuals with dis-
abilities.’’.
DEFINITIONS
SEC. 3. Section 3 of the Act is amended—
(1) by adding at the end thereof three new
paragraphs to read as follows:
‘‘(9) 
CONSUMER-RESPONSIVE.—The 
term
‘consumer-responsive’ means—
‘‘(A) accessible to individuals with disabil-
ities and, if requested or required by such indi-
viduals, their family members, guardians, advo-
cates, or authorized representatives;
‘‘(B) meeting the needs of individuals with
disabilities in a timely and appropriate manner;
and
‘‘(C) facilitating the full participation and
inclusion of individuals with disabilities in deci-
sions relating to—
‘‘(i) the provision of assistive tech-
nology devices and assistive technology
services to particular individuals; and
‘‘(ii) the planning, development, im-
plementation, and assessment of the state-
wide system of technology-related assist-
ance to individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(10) PROTECTION
AND
ADVOCACY
SERV-
ICES.—The term ‘protection and advocacy services’
means services that are authorized under part C of
the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6041 et seq.), the Protection
and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of
1986 (42 U.S.C. 10801 et seq.), and section 509 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e) and
that assist individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, and author-
ized representatives to gain access to assistive tech-
nology devices and assistive technology services.
‘‘(11) SYSTEMS CHANGE.—The term ‘systems
change’ means reform that results in laws, regula-
tions, policies, procedures, practices, or organiza-
tional structures that facilitate access to, provision
of, and funding for assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services to individuals with dis-
abilities and other appropriate individuals or organi-
zations, in order to empower individuals with disabil-
ities to achieve greater independence, productivity,
and inclusion within the community and the work
force.’’; and
(2) by striking out paragraph (4); and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (5), (6),
(7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) as paragraphs (4), (6),
(7), (9), (10), (3), (5), and (8), respectively.
MANDATED ACTIVITIES
SEC. 4. Section 101 of the Act is amended by striking
out subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof a new sub-
section to read as follows:
‘‘(b) MANDATED ACTIVITIES.—Any State that re-
ceives a grant under this title shall undertake activities
to implement systems change, as defined in section 3.
These activities shall include—
‘‘(1) a review and, where appropriate, modifica-
tion of laws, regulations, policies, practices, proce-
dures, and organizational structures that affect ac-
cess to, provision of, and funding for assistive tech-
nology devices and assistive technology services;
‘‘(2) coordination among State agencies, in
order to facilitate access to, provision of, and fund-
ing for assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services; and
‘‘(3) information dissemination and other activi-
ties, including training, that empower individuals
with disabilities to obtain technology-related assist-
ance and that facilitate a consumer-responsive sys-
tem.’’.
AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES
SEC. 5. Section 101(c) of the Act is amended—
(1) in the material preceding paragraph (1), by
striking out ‘‘functions described in subsection (b)’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘purposes of this Act’’;
(2) in paragraph (1)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by adding ‘‘and’’
at the end thereof;
(B) by striking out subparagraph (C); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (C);
(3) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking out subparagraph (G); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (H)
and (I) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respec-
tively;
(4) in paragraph (4)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking out
‘‘and’’ at the end thereof;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking out
the period at the end thereof and inserting in
lieu thereof a semicolon and ‘‘and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end thereof a new
subparagraph to read as follows:
‘‘(D) outreach activities to underserved
groups.’’
(5) in paragraph (6)—
(A) by inserting after the first sentence, a
new sentence to read as follows: ‘‘The informa-
tion system may be organized on an interstate
basis or as part of a regional consortium of
States, thereby facilitating the establishment of
compatible, linked information systems.’’; and
(B) by striking out ‘‘preceding sentence’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘preceding sen-
tences’’;
(6) by redesignating paragraph (8) as para-
graph (15); and
(7) by inserting after paragraph (7) seven new
paragraphs to read as follows:
‘‘(8) 
ALTERNATIVE
STATE-FINANCED
SYS-
TEMS.—The State may support development and im-
plementation of alternative State-financed systems of
subsidies or loan mechanisms for the provision of
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services to individuals with disabilities who need but
cannot afford such devices or services without assist-
ance, including—
‘‘(A) a loan system for assistive technology
devices;
‘‘(B) a low-interest loan fund;
‘‘(C) a revolving fund;
‘‘(D) a loan insurance program; and
‘‘(E) a partnership with private entities for
the purchase, lease, or other acquisition or pro-
vision of such devices or services.
‘‘(9) SUPPORT FOR EXPENSES.—The State may
use funds under this title for program-related ex-
penses of individuals with disabilities who are in-
volved in the planning, development, implementation,
or assessment of the statewide system, including
payments for travel, qualified interpreters, readers,
personal care assistants, and other services needed
for participation by these individuals.
‘‘(10) DEMONSTRATION OF EQUIPMENT.—The
State may support a program of demonstration and
try-outs of assistive technology devices, including a
mechanism that allows the ultimate user of such de-
vice to use that device on a trial basis prior to its
purchase, in order to determine whether the device
meets the needs of that user.
‘‘(11) PARTNERSHIPS.—The State may support
partnerships with private non-profit and for-profit
agencies and organizations to promote greater par-
ticipation by business and industry in the develop-
ment, demonstration, and distribution of assistive
technology devices, and in the on-going provision of
information about new assistive technology devices
to assist individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(12) CASE
MANAGEMENT.—The State may
provide case management services to help individuals
with disabilities to identify and obtain access to the
assistive technology devices and assistive technology
services they need, including, as appropriate, sources
of funding to obtain such devices and services.
‘‘(13) ADA ASSISTANCE.—The State may sup-
port activities to assist employers and others who
are subject to the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111 et
seq.) on the uses of technology-related assistance to
meet the requirements of that Act.
‘‘(14) RECYCLING ACTIVITIES.—The State may
support activities, including the establishment of in-
formation systems and recycling centers, for the re-
distribution of assistive technology devices and other
devices that may be used to create assistive tech-
nology devices.’’.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
SEC. 6. (a) DESIGNATION
OF RESPONSIBLE EN-
TITY.—Section 102(e)(1) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through
(F) as clauses (i) through (vi);
(2) by inserting the subparagraph designation
‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘DESIGNATION
OF
RESPONSIBLE
EN-
TITY.—’’; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following
new subparagraph:
‘‘(B) The entity designated under subparagraph
(A) shall provide evidence of its ability to—
‘‘(i) exercise leadership in identifying and
responding statewide to the assistive technology
needs of all individuals with disabilities in the
State;
‘‘(ii) promote and accomplish systems
change;
‘‘(iii) promote and accomplish public-pri-
vate partnerships and interagency coordination;
‘‘(iv) promote consumer confidence, re-
sponsiveness, and advocacy; and
‘‘(v) exercise leadership in developing and
implementing effective strategies for capacity
building, including training, and enhancement
of access to funding.
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall apply only at
the time that a State is applying for a grant
under this title, or wishes to redesignate its re-
sponsible State entity.’’.
(b) AGENCY INVOLVEMENT AND COORDINATION.—
Section 102(e)(2) of the Act is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘AND
COORDINATION’’ after
‘‘INVOLVEMENT’’;
(2) by inserting the subparagraph designation
‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘AND COORDINATION.—’’;
(3) by striking out the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (A) and inserting in lieu thereof a comma
and ‘‘including the identification of the available re-
sources and the responsibility of each agency for
providing assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services; and’’; and
(4) by adding at the end thereof a new subpara-
graph to read as follows:
‘‘(B) an assurance that the State will coordi-
nate its activities under this grant with State coun-
cils established under the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act, section 1916(e) of
the Public Health Service Act, and the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973.’’.
(c) CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT.—Section 102(e)(3) of
the Act is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT.—A description
of—
‘‘(A) the nature and extent of involvement
of individuals with disabilities, their family
members, guardians, advocates, authorized rep-
resentatives, and other appropriate individuals
in—
‘‘(i) the development of the applica-
tion for a grant under this Act;
‘‘(ii) the designation of the responsible
entity described in paragraph (1);
‘‘(iii) the development of the plan for
systems change described in paragraph (6);
and
‘‘(iv) the annual assessment described
in paragraph (7);
‘‘(B) the process the State engaged in (in-
cluding outreach activities to obtain input from
underserved groups) to obtain input on its ap-
plication and plan for systems change from the
individuals described in paragraph (A), a sum-
mary of the comments the State received from
such individuals, and an analysis of how the
State addressed these comments in preparing
its application and plan for systems change;
and
‘‘(C) the ways in which the State will pro-
mote the involvement of individuals with dis-
abilities or, if appropriate, their family mem-
bers, guardians, advocates, or authorized rep-
resentatives in—
‘‘(i) decisions relating to the provision
of assistive technology devices and assistive
technology services to particular individ-
uals; and
‘‘(ii) the planning, development, im-
plementation, and assessment of the state-
wide system of technology-related assist-
ance.’’.
(d) 
PLAN
FOR
SYSTEMS
CHANGE.—Section
102(e)(6) of the Act is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(6) PLAN FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE.—A descrip-
tion of—
‘‘(A) the goals and objectives for
achieving systems change within the State,
and the State’s plan for accomplishing
these goals and objectives, including a de-
scription of how the State will carry out
the systems change activities required
under section 101(b); and
‘‘(B) the gaps that remain in the de-
velopment or implementation of a com-
prehensive, consumer-responsive statewide
system of technology-related assistance,
and a description of the strategies that the
State will pursue during the grant period
to remedy these gaps.’’.
(e) ASSESSMENT.—Section 102(e)(7) of the Act is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(7) ASSESSMENT.—An assurance that the
State will conduct an annual assessment of the
statewide system of technology-related assistance, in
order to determine—
‘‘(A) the extent to which the State’s goals
and objectives for systems change, as identified
in the State plan under paragraph (6), have
been achieved; and
‘‘(B) the areas of need that require atten-
tion in the next year.’’
(f) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—Section 102(e) of
the Act is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (17) as para-
graph (21); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (16) a new
paragraph to read as follows:
‘‘(17) UNDERSERVED GROUPS.—A description
of how the State will address the needs of individ-
uals with disabilities who are part of an underserved
group, as defined in section 3, including a descrip-
tion of the State’s plan to conduct outreach activi-
ties to these individuals.
‘‘(18) TRAINING.—An assurance that the State
will develop and implement strategies for incorporat-
ing training on assistive technology in the training
that the State provides, using State or Federal
funds, to special education teachers and related serv-
ices personnel, rehabilitation professionals, and other
appropriate service providers.
‘‘(19) CONSUMER
ASSISTANCE, PROTECTION,
AND ADVOCACY.—Assurances that the State will—
‘‘(A) provide protection and advocacy serv-
ices, as required under section 106, using not
less than the amount specified by the Secretary
each fiscal year for this purpose; and
‘‘(B) inform individuals with disabilities,
or, if appropriate, their family members, guard-
ians, advocates, or authorized representatives,
of the availability of protection and advocacy
services, and of assistance under the client as-
sistance program authorized under section 112
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
732).
‘‘(20) INDIRECT COSTS.—An assurance that no
more than 15 percent of grant funds will be used for
indirect costs.’’.
EXTENSION GRANTS
SEC. 7. (a) ADDITIONAL GRANT; CORRECTIVE AC-
TION.—Section 103(a) of the Act is amended—
(1) by inserting the paragraph designation
‘‘(1)’’ and ‘‘INITIAL
EXTENSION
GRANT.—’’ after
‘‘GENERAL AUTHORITY.—’’;
(2) by striking out ‘‘implementing’’ and all that
follows through the end thereof and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘implementing a comprehensive, consumer-
responsive statewide system of technology-related as-
sistance that incorporates the mandatory activities
required by section 101(b) and other activities facili-
tating systems change.’’;
(3) by adding at the end thereof two new para-
graphs to read as follows:
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
EXTENSION
GRANT.—The
Secretary may award an additional extension grant,
of not more than 5 years, to any State that dem-
onstrates to the Secretary that the State—
‘‘(A) has made significant progress in
meeting the goals of the initial extension grant
it received under paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) needs additional Federal support to
complete systems change activities and achieve
the purposes of this Act.
‘‘(3) LACK OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.—If the
Secretary determines that, at the time that the State
applies for an extension grant under paragraph (1)
or an additional extension grant under paragraph
(2), the State has not made significant progress to
warrant award of the applicable grant, the State
may be subject to penalties or the Secretary may re-
quire the State to carry out a corrective action plan,
as provided in section 201(b).’’.
(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 103(c)
of the Act is amended—
(1) in the phrase preceding paragraph (1), by
striking out ‘‘under this section’’ and all that follows
through the colon and inserting in lieu thereof
‘‘under subsection (a)(1) or an additional extension
grant under subsection (a)(2) shall submit an appli-
cation that contains the information and assurances
required for a development grant described in sec-
tion 102(e), except the preliminary needs assessment
described in section 102(e)(4). The State shall follow
the requirements for the designation or redesigna-
tion of a responsible entity under subparagraphs (B)
and (C) of section 102(e)(1). The application for an
initial extension grant or additional extension grant
shall also contain the following:’’;
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking out ‘‘families
or’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘the family mem-
bers, guardians, advocates, or authorized’’;
(3) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS UNDER PRE-
VIOUS GRANT.—A description of the specific activi-
ties carried out under the development grant re-
ceived under section 102, or, if applicable, under the
extension grant received under subsection (a)(1), in-
cluding a description of the relationship of these ac-
tivities to, and the progress made toward, the devel-
opment and implementation of a comprehensive,
consumer-responsive statewide system of technology-
related assistance.’’;
(4) in paragraph (4)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
‘‘under section 102 or the extension grant
under section 103(a)(1), as appropriate’’ after
‘‘development grant’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
‘‘under section 102 or the extension grant
under section 103(a)(1), as appropriate’’ after
‘‘development grant’’;
(5) by striking out paragraph (6); and
(6) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (6).
(c) ON-GOING EFFORTS AND FEDERAL CONTRIBU-
TION.—Section 103 of the Act is amended by adding at
the end thereof two new subsections to read as follows:
‘‘(d) APPLICATION
FOR ADDITIONAL EXTENSION
GRANT.—Any State that desires to receive an extension
grant under section 103(a)(2) shall submit an application
that contains, in addition to the requirements set forth
in subsection (c), a description of the steps it has taken
or will take to continue on a permanent basis a com-
prehensive, consumer-responsive statewide system of tech-
nology-related assistance to individuals with disabilities,
which system shall be able to maintain, at a minimum,
the activities mandated in section 101(b).
‘‘(e) FEDERAL AWARD FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT.—
(1) The amount awarded to a State under subsection
(a)(2) for the fourth year of the grant period shall not
exceed 80 percent of the amount awarded to the State for
the third year of the grant period.
‘‘(2) The amount awarded to a State under sub-
section (a)(2) for the fifth year of the grant period shall
not exceed 60 percent of the amount awarded to the State
for the third year of the grant period.’’.
PROGRESS REPORTS
SEC. 8. Section 104 of the Act is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘SEC. 104. PROGRESS REPORTS.
‘‘Any State that receives a grant under this title shall
annually submit to the Secretary a report that—
‘‘(1) describes the progress the State has made,
as determined in the State’s annual assessment, in
achieving the State’s goals and objectives for sys-
tems change, as identified in the State plan under
section 102(e)(6), and areas of need that require at-
tention in the next year;
‘‘(2) analyzes the laws, regulations, policies,
practices, procedures, and organizational structures
that the State has changed, has attempted to
change, or will attempt to change during the next
grant period, to facilitate the accessibility, provision,
or funding of assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services;
volvement, such as consumer training and outreach
activities; and
‘‘(7) describes unanticipated problems with the
achievement of the State’s plan for systems change
and activities the State has undertaken or plans to
undertake to rectify these problems.’’.
STATE AND NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
SEC. 9. The Act is amended—
(1) in title II—
(A) by amending the heading to read as
follows: ‘‘STATE AND NATIONAL RE-
SPONSIBILITIES’’; and
(B) by repealing parts A through D; and
(2) by redesignating sections 105, 106, and
107, as sections 201, 204, and 202, respectively.
SYSTEMS CHANGE PLANS; PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY
SEC. 10. Title I of the Act is amended by adding at
the end thereof two new sections to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 105. TIMETABLE FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE PLAN.
‘‘Any State that receives a grant under this title shall
transmit to the Secretary a plan for systems change, as
described in section 102(e)(6), by the earlier of—
‘‘(1) 12 months after enactment of the Tech-
nology-Related Assistance Amendments of 1993; or
‘‘(2) the date on which the State submits an
application for an extension grant under section
103(a)(1) or 103(a)(2).
‘‘SEC. 106. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State receiving a grant
under this title shall provide protection and advocacy serv-
ices relating to technology-related assistance to individuals
with disabilities, using not less than the amount specified
by the Secretary for this purpose, as provided in sub-
section (b).
‘‘(b) CALCULATION OF EXPENDITURES.—(1) For fis-
cal years 1994 through 1996, the Secretary shall calculate
the minimum amount each State receiving a grant under
this title shall use to provide protection and advocacy serv-
ices, based on the same ratio as the population of that
State bears to the population of all States receiving funds
under this title, subject to paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) For fiscal years 1994 through 1996—
‘‘(A) such minimum amount shall be not less
than $40,000 or greater than $100,000; and
‘‘(B) the total amount specified by the Sec-
retary to be used by States for such services shall
be not less than $2,500,000.
‘‘(3) For fiscal year 1997, the minimum amount spec-
ified for each State by the Secretary shall equal 80 percent
of the minimum amount specified to be used for fiscal year
1996 for such purpose.
‘‘(4) For fiscal year 1998, the minimum amount spec-
ified for each State by the Secretary shall equal 60 percent
of the minimum amount specified to be used for fiscal year
1996 for such purpose.
‘‘(c) SELECTION OF ORGANIZATION.—(1) Except as
provided under paragraph (2), from the minimum amount
specified by the Secretary under subsection (b) and such
other funds as the State may allocate, the responsible
State entity designated under section 102(e)(1) shall
award a contract or grant to the entity established for pro-
tection and advocacy services under the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C.
6041 et seq.).
‘‘(2)(A) The responsible State entity may select an
organization other than the entity specified in paragraph
(1), if the responsible State entity—
‘‘(i) can demonstrate good cause for such selec-
tion, to the satisfaction of the Governor; and
‘‘(ii) has given the entity specified in paragraph
(1) and individuals with disabilities, or, as appro-
priate, their family members, guardians, advocates,
or authorized representatives, 30 days notice of its
intention to make such a selection, including an ex-
planation for making such a selection, and an oppor-
tunity to respond to the assertion that good cause
has been shown.
‘‘(B) The entity specified under paragraph (1) may
appeal the selection provided in subparagraph (A) to the
Secretary on the basis that the selection was not for good
cause.
‘‘(d) TERRITORIES.—For purposes of this section,
the term ’State’ does not include the Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the North-
ern Mariana Islands, or the Republic of Palau.’’.
ASSISTANCE UNDER OTHER LAWS
SEC. 11. Section 201(c) of the Act (as redesignated
in section 9 of this Act) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘any other Federal laws, in-
cluding’’ after ‘‘under’’; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking out ‘‘or’’ and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘and’’.
EVALUATION AND DATA COLLECTION
SEC. 12. Section 202 of the Act (as redesignated in
section 9 of this Act) is amended—
(1) by striking out subsections (a) and (b);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (a); and
(3) by adding at the end thereof a new sub-
section to read as follows:
‘‘(b) OTHER EVALUATION AND DATA COLLECTION
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary may conduct such evaluation
activities as the Secretary deems necessary to monitor the
progress of States and evaluate program effectiveness. In
order to conduct such activities, the Secretary may collect
data and other types of information from States receiving
grants under this Act, or from other sources.’’.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
SEC. 13. Title II of the Act is amended by inserting
after section 202 a new section to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION.
‘‘(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—(1) The Secretary
shall provide technical assistance with respect to the plan-
ning, development, implementation, and assessment of
comprehensive, consumer-responsive statewide systems of
technology-related assistance. Such assistance shall in-
clude—
‘‘(A) the provision of information and technical
assistance regarding—
‘‘(i) effective approaches to carrying out
the activities mandated under section 101(b);
‘‘(ii) effective approaches to carrying out
the activities authorized under section 101(c),
including effective approaches to carrying out
outreach activities to underserved groups;
‘‘(iii) mechanisms for making a successful
transition from planning for systems change to
its development and implementation, including
mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of
the system;
‘‘(iv) Federal, State, and local laws, regula-
tions, and practices that facilitate access to,
provision of, and funding for, assistive tech-
nology devices and assistive technology services;
and
‘‘(v) State and local initiatives that are di-
rected toward achieving the goals of this Act;
and
‘‘(B) such other activities as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate.
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall make such assistance avail-
able to—
‘‘(A) States;
‘‘(B) organizations providing client assistance
or protection and advocacy services for individuals
with disabilities; and
‘‘(C) other appropriate public or private organi-
zations or agencies.
‘‘(b) INFORMATION AND DISSEMINATION.—(1) The
Secretary shall periodically collect, analyze, and dissemi-
nate, on a national basis, information on Federal, State,
and local policies and decisions (including decisions as a
result of administrative or judicial hearings) that relate
to obtaining funding for assistive technology devices and
assistive technology services for individuals with disabil-
ities.
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall make such information
available to—
‘‘(A) States;
‘‘(B) organizations providing client assistance
or protection and advocacy services for individuals
with disabilities;
‘‘(C) other appropriate public or private organi-
zations or agencies;
‘‘(D) individuals with disabilities and their fam-
ily members, guardians, advocates, and authorized
representatives;
‘‘(E) individuals who work in appropriate public
or private organizations (including insurers);
‘‘(F) employers; and
‘‘(G) other appropriate individuals.’’.
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 14. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 204(a) of the
Act (as redesignated in section 9 of this Act) is amended
by striking out ‘‘title $9,000,000’’ and all that follows
through the end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘Act
$37,744,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through
1998.’’.
(b) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—Section 204(b) of the
Act is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking out ‘‘reserve 1 percent’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘reserve at least 2
percent’’;
(B) by striking out ‘‘$500,000’’ and insert-
ing in lieu thereof ‘‘not less than $1,500,000’’;
and
(C) by striking out ‘‘States’’ and all that
follows through the end thereof and inserting in
lieu thereof ‘‘technical assistance and informa-
tion, as required by section 203.’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking out ‘‘ONSITE VISITS’’ and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘REVIEW AND EVALUA-
TION’’; and
(B) by striking out ‘‘conducting’’ and all
that follows through the end thereof and insert-
ing in lieu thereof ‘‘reviewing participating
States, as required by section 201(a), including
the conduct of onsite visits and use of field
readers, and evaluating State programs, as pro-
vided in section 202, including data collection
activities.’’.
TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
SEC. 15. The Act is further amended—
(1) by striking out ‘‘the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands’’ each place it appears and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘the Republic of Palau (until the
Compact of Free Association with Palau takes ef-
fect)’’;
(2) by striking out ‘‘statewide program’’ each
place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘state-
wide system’’;
(3) by striking out ‘‘statewide programs’’ each
place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘state-
wide systems’’;
(4) in section 1, by striking out ‘‘With’’ and in-
serting in lieu thereof ‘‘with’’;
(5) in section 3—
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking out ‘‘in-
dividual with a disability’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘individual with disabilities’’;
(B) in paragraph (7), by striking out
‘‘functions performed and’’; and
(C) in paragraph (8), by striking out
‘‘have’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘has’’;
(6) in section 101—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking out ‘‘of
Education’’; and
(B) in subsection (c)—
(i) in paragraph (4), by striking out
‘‘a program’’ each place it appears and in-
serting in lieu thereof ‘‘program’’;
(ii) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking
out ‘‘sources, conditions of and criteria
for’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘sources,
and conditions of, and criteria for,’’; and
(iii) in paragraph (7), by striking out
‘‘of all ages’’;
(7) in section 102—
(A) by striking out ‘‘under section 106’’
each place it appears and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘under section 204’’;
(B) in subsection (c)(3)(C), by striking out
‘‘State relating to the development of a state-
wide’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘State or
territory concerned relating to the development
of a statewide or territory-wide’’;
(C) in subsection (e)—
(i) in paragraph (4), by striking out
‘‘tentative’’ and inserting in lieu thereof
‘‘preliminary’’;
(ii) in paragraph (6)—
(I) 
by 
striking 
out 
‘‘FUNC-
TIONS,’’;
(II) by striking out ‘‘functions,’’;
and
(III) by striking out ‘‘section
2(b)(1)’’ and inserting in lieu thereof
‘‘section 2(b)’’; and
(iii) in paragraph (10), by striking out
‘‘title’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘Act’’;
(8) in section 103—
(A) in subsection (b), by striking out
‘‘under section 106’’ each place it appears and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘under section 204’’;
(9) in section 201 (as redesignated in section 9
of this Act)—
(A) in subsection (a)(3)—
(i) by inserting a comma after ‘‘mini-
mum’’; and
(ii) by striking out ‘‘section 2(b)(1)’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘section
2(b)’’; and
(B) in subsection (c)—
(i) by striking out ‘‘in this title’’ and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘in this Act’’; and
(ii) by inserting a comma after ‘‘avail-
able’’ and ‘‘eligibility’’;
(10) in section 202(a) (as redesignated in sec-
tion 9 of this Act), by striking out ‘‘this title’’ and
inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘title I’’;
EFFECTIVE DATE
SEC. 16. This Act shall take effect on October 1,
1993.
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