Source: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/722?quicktabs_8=1
Timestamp: 2013-12-21 14:24:09
Document Index: 142054642

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 722', '§ 722', '§ 722', '§ 102', '§ 404', '§ 101', '§ 402', '§ 401', '§ 1381', '§ 102', '§ 111', '§ 111', '§ 103', '§ 104', '§ 103', '§ 203', '§ 1001', '§ 202', '§ 102', '§ 107']

29 USC § 722 - Eligibility and individualized plan for employment | Title 29 - Labor | U.S. Code | LII / Legal Information Institute
USC › Title 29 › Chapter 16 › Subchapter I › Part A › § 722	prevnext
29 USC § 722 - Eligibility and individualized plan for employment
Criterion for eligibility An individual is eligible for assistance under this subchapter if the individual—
is an individual with a disability under section 705
(20)(A) of this title; and
Presumption of benefit (A)
Demonstration For purposes of this section, an individual shall be presumed to be an individual that can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services under section 705
(20)(A) of this title, unless the designated State unit involved can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that such individual is incapable of benefiting in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services due to the severity of the disability of the individual.
Methods In making the demonstration required under subparagraph (A), the designated State unit shall explore the individual’s abilities, capabilities, and capacity to perform in work situations, through the use of trial work experiences, as described in section 705
(2)(D) of this title, with appropriate supports provided through the designated State unit, except under limited circumstances when an individual cannot take advantage of such experiences. Such experiences shall be of sufficient variety and over a sufficient period of time to determine the eligibility of the individual or to determine the existence of clear and convincing evidence that the individual is incapable of benefiting in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services due to the severity of the disability of the individual.
Presumption of eligibility (A)
In general For purposes of this section, an individual who has a disability or is blind as determined pursuant to title II or title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq. and 1381 et seq.) shall be—
considered to be an individual with a significant disability under section 705
Construction Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create an entitlement to any vocational rehabilitation service.
Use of existing information (A)
In general To the maximum extent appropriate and consistent with the requirements of this part, for purposes of determining the eligibility of an individual for vocational rehabilitation services under this subchapter and developing the individualized plan for employment described in subsection (b) of this section for the individual, the designated State unit shall use information that is existing and current (as of the date of the determination of eligibility or of the development of the individualized plan for employment), including information available from other programs and providers, particularly information used by education officials and the Social Security Administration, information provided by the individual and the family of the individual, and information obtained under the assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs.
Determinations by officials of other agencies Determinations made by officials of other agencies, particularly education officials described in section 721
(a)(11)(D) of this title, regarding whether an individual satisfies one or more factors relating to whether an individual is an individual with a disability under section 705
(20)(A) of this title or an individual with a significant disability under section 705
(21)(A) of this title shall be used, to the extent appropriate and consistent with the requirements of this part, in assisting the designated State unit in making such determinations.
Basis The determination of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services shall be based on—
the review of existing data described in section 705
(2)(A)(i) of this title; and
to the extent that such data is unavailable or insufficient for determining eligibility, the provision of assessment activities described in section 705
(2)(A)(ii) of this title.
Determination of ineligibility If an individual who applies for services under this subchapter is determined, based on the review of existing data and, to the extent necessary, the assessment activities described in section 705
(2)(A)(ii) of this title, not to be eligible for the services, or if an eligible individual receiving services under an individualized plan for employment is determined to be no longer eligible for the services—
the individual or, as appropriate, the individual’s representative, shall be informed in writing (supplemented as necessary by other appropriate modes of communication consistent with the informed choice of the individual) of the ineligibility determination, including—
any ineligibility determination that is based on a finding that the individual is incapable of benefiting in terms of an employment outcome shall be reviewed—
Timeframe for making an eligibility determination The designated State unit shall determine whether an individual is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services under this subchapter within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days, after the individual has submitted an application for the services unless—
Development of an individualized plan for employment (1)
Options for developing an individualized plan for employment If an individual is determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services as described in subsection (a) of this section, the designated State unit shall complete the assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs, as appropriate, and shall provide the eligible individual or the individual’s representative, in writing and in an appropriate mode of communication, with information on the individual’s options for developing an individualized plan for employment, including—
as appropriate—
Mandatory procedures (A)
Written document An individualized plan for employment shall be a written document prepared on forms provided by the designated State unit.
Informed choice An individualized plan for employment shall be developed and implemented in a manner that affords eligible individuals the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting an employment outcome, the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided under the plan, the entity that will provide the vocational rehabilitation services, and the methods used to procure the services, consistent with subsection (d) of this section.
Signatories An individualized plan for employment shall be—
Copy A copy of the individualized plan for employment for an eligible individual shall be provided to the individual or, as appropriate, to the individual’s representative, in writing and, if appropriate, in the native language or mode of communication of the individual or, as appropriate, of the individual’s representative.
Review and amendment The individualized plan for employment shall be—
reviewed at least annually by—
the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual’s representative; and
amended, as necessary, by the individual or, as appropriate, the individual’s representative, in collaboration with a representative of the designated State agency or a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor (to the extent determined to be appropriate by the individual), if there are substantive changes in the employment outcome, the vocational rehabilitation services to be provided, or the service providers of the services (which amendments shall not take effect until agreed to and signed by the eligible individual or, as appropriate, the individual’s representative, and by a qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor employed by the designated State unit).
Mandatory components of an individualized plan for employment Regardless of the approach selected by an eligible individual to develop an individualized plan for employment, an individualized plan for employment shall, at a minimum, contain mandatory components consisting of—
a description of the specific vocational rehabilitation services that are—
needed to achieve the employment outcome, including, as appropriate, the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, and personal assistance services, including training in the management of such services; and
the terms and conditions of the individualized plan for employment, including, as appropriate, information describing—
the responsibilities of the eligible individual, including—
the responsibility of the eligible individual with regard to applying for and securing comparable benefits as described in section 721
the responsibilities of other entities as the result of arrangements made pursuant to comparable services or benefits requirements as described in section 721
(a)(8) of this title;
for an eligible individual with the most significant disabilities for whom an employment outcome in a supported employment setting has been determined to be appropriate, information identifying—
In general Each State shall establish procedures for mediation of, and procedures for review through an impartial due process hearing of, determinations made by personnel of the designated State unit that affect the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to applicants or eligible individuals.
Rights and assistance The procedures shall provide that an applicant or an eligible individual or, as appropriate, the applicant’s representative or individual’s representative shall be notified of—
the right to pursue mediation with respect to the determinations under paragraph (4); and
the availability of assistance from the client assistance program under section 732 of this title.
Timing Such notification shall be provided in writing—
Evidence and representation The procedures required under this subsection shall, at a minimum—
Mediation (A)
Procedures Each State shall ensure that procedures are established and implemented under this subsection to allow parties described in paragraph (1) to disputes involving any determination described in paragraph (1) to resolve such disputes through a mediation process that, at a minimum, shall be available whenever a hearing is requested under this subsection.
Requirements Such procedures shall ensure that the mediation process—
List of mediators The State shall maintain a list of individuals who are qualified mediators and knowledgeable in laws (including regulations) relating to the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under this subchapter, from which the mediators described in subparagraph (B) shall be selected.
Cost The State shall bear the cost of the mediation process.
Scheduling Each session in the mediation process shall be scheduled in a timely manner and shall be held in a location that is convenient to the parties to the dispute.
Agreement An agreement reached by the parties to the dispute in the mediation process shall be set forth in a written mediation agreement.
Confidentiality Discussions that occur during the mediation process shall be confidential and may not be used as evidence in any subsequent due process hearing or civil proceeding. The parties to the mediation process may be required to sign a confidentiality pledge prior to the commencement of such process.
Construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the parties to such a dispute from informally resolving the dispute prior to proceedings under this paragraph or paragraph (5), if the informal process used is not used to deny or delay the right of the applicant or eligible individual to a hearing under this subsection or to deny any other right afforded under this subchapter.
Officer A due process hearing described in paragraph (2) shall be conducted by an impartial hearing officer who shall issue a decision based on the provisions of the approved State plan, this chapter (including regulations implementing this chapter), and State regulations and policies that are consistent with the Federal requirements specified in this subchapter. The officer shall provide the decision in writing to the applicant or eligible individual, or, as appropriate, the applicant’s representative or individual’s representative, and to the designated State unit.
List The designated State unit shall maintain a list of qualified impartial hearing officers who are knowledgeable in laws (including regulations) relating to the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under this subchapter from which the officer described in subparagraph (A) shall be selected. For the purposes of maintaining such list, impartial hearing officers shall be identified jointly by—
members of the Council or commission, as appropriate, described in section 721
Selection Such an impartial hearing officer shall be selected to hear a particular case relating to a determination—
by agreement between—
Procedures for seeking review A State may establish procedures to enable a party involved in a hearing under this paragraph to seek an impartial review of the decision of the hearing officer under subparagraph (A) by—
the chief official of the designated State agency if the State has established both a designated State agency and a designated State unit under section 721
Review request If the State establishes impartial review procedures under subparagraph (D), either party may request the review of the decision of the hearing officer within 20 days after the decision.
Reviewing official The reviewing official described in subparagraph (D) shall—
Finality of hearing decision A decision made after a hearing under subparagraph (A) shall be final, except that a party may request an impartial review if the State has established procedures for such review under subparagraph (D) and a party involved in a hearing may bring a civil action under subparagraph (J).
Finality of review A decision made under subparagraph (F) shall be final unless such a party brings a civil action under subparagraph (J).
Implementation If a party brings a civil action under subparagraph (J) to challenge a final decision of a hearing officer under subparagraph (A) or to challenge a final decision of a State reviewing official under subparagraph (F), the final decision involved shall be implemented pending review by the court.
Civil action (i)
Hearing board (A)
In general A fair hearing board, established by a State before January 1, 1985, and authorized under State law to review determinations or decisions under this chapter, is authorized to carry out the responsibilities of the impartial hearing officer under this subsection.
Application The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) that relate to due process hearings do not apply, and paragraph (5) (other than subparagraph (J)) does not apply, to any State to which subparagraph (A) applies.
Impact on provision of services Unless the individual with a disability so requests, or, in an appropriate case, the individual’s representative, so requests, pending a decision by a mediator, hearing officer, or reviewing officer under this subsection, the designated State unit shall not institute a suspension, reduction, or termination of services being provided for the individual, including evaluation and assessment services and plan development, unless such services have been obtained through misrepresentation, fraud, collusion, or criminal conduct on the part of the individual, or the individual’s representative.
Information collection and report (A)
In general The Director of the designated State unit shall collect information described in subparagraph (B) and prepare and submit to the Commissioner a report containing such information. The Commissioner shall prepare a summary of the information furnished under this paragraph and include the summary in the annual report submitted under section 710 of this title. The Commissioner shall also collect copies of the final decisions of impartial hearing officers conducting hearings under this subsection and State officials conducting reviews under this subsection.
Information The information required to be collected under this subsection includes—
information on the number of the hearing decisions that were reviewed by the State reviewing officials, and, based on such reviews, the number of hearing decisions that were—
Confidentiality The confidentiality of records of applicants and eligible individuals maintained by the designated State unit shall not preclude the access of the Commissioner to those records for the purposes described in subparagraph (A).
Policies and procedures Each designated State agency, in consultation with the State Rehabilitation Council, if the State has such a council, shall, consistent with section 720
(a)(3)(C) of this title, develop and implement written policies and procedures that enable each individual who is an applicant for or eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services under this subchapter to exercise informed choice throughout the vocational rehabilitation process carried out under this subchapter, including policies and procedures that require the designated State agency—
to provide or assist eligible individuals in acquiring information that enables those individuals to exercise informed choice under this subchapter in the selection of—
(Pub. L. 93–112, title I, § 102, as added Pub. L. 105–220, title IV, § 404,Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1138; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 402(c)(5)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–415.)
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended. Titles II and XVI of the Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§ 401 et seq.) and XVI (§ 1381 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
A prior section 722,Pub. L. 93–112, title I, § 102,Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 368; Pub. L. 93–516, title I, § 111(e),Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1620; Pub. L. 93–651, title I, § 111(e),Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–5; Pub. L. 95–602, title I, §§ 103, 122(b)(1),Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2959, 2987; Pub. L. 98–221, title I, §§ 104(a)(3), 112,Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 18, 20; Pub. L. 99–506, title I, § 103(d)(2)(A), (B), title II, § 203, title X, § 1001(b)(5),Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1815, 1842; Pub. L. 100–630, title II, § 202(c),Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3305; Pub. L. 102–569, title I, §§ 102(p)(8), 123,Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4357, 4375; Pub. L. 103–73, title I, § 107(b),Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 720, related to individualized written rehabilitation program, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–220.
1998—Subsec. (c)(5)(F)(iv). Pub. L. 105–277added cl. (iv).