An Act to replace the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, to extend and revise the authorization of grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe handicaps, to expand special Federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to handicapped individuals, to establish special responsibilities in the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for coordination of all programs with respect to handicapped individuals within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for other purposes.
PL 93-112 (H.R.8070), enacted 09/26/1973

87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
355 
"(e) If the High Commissioner does not concur in the taking of 
an appeal to the Secretary, the party aggrieved may seek relief by 
suit in the District Court of Guam, if the claim is otherwise within 
its jurisdiction. No later than thirty days following the date of the 
decision of the Secretary of the Interior, the party aggrieved or the 
High Commissioner, on behalf of the head of the department con-
cerned, may seek relief by suit in the District Court of Guam, if 
the claim is otherwise within its jurisdiction. 
"(f) The government comptroller is authorized to communicate 
directly wnth any person or with any department officer or person 
having official relation with his office. He may summon witnesses and 
administer oaths. 
" (g) As soon after the close of each fiscal year as the accounts of said co^^mi'slio°n"/l^d 
fiscal year may be examined and adjusted, the government compt^roller secretary o
f the 
shall submit to the High Commissioner and the Secretary ^f the ^"*^"°''-
Interior an annual report of the fiscal condition of the government, 
showing the receipts and disbursements of the various departments 
and agencies of the government. The Secretary of the Interior shall ^ent ^7the sl^nate 
submit such report along with his comments and recommendations and speaker o" the 
to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of House. 
Representatives. 
"(h) The government comptroller shall make such other reports 
as may be required by the High Commissioner, the Comptroller 
General of the United States, or the Secretary of the Interior. 
"(i) The office and activities of the government comptroller pur-
suant to this section shall be subject to review by the Comptroller 
General of the United States, and reports thereon shall be made by 
him to the High Commissioner, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives. 
"(j) All departments, agencies, and establishments shall furnish a^^^^ia™^*t°_"' 
to the government comptroller such information regarding the 
powers, duties, activities, organization, financial transactions, and 
methods of business of their respective offices as he may from time 
to time require of them; and the government comptroller, or any of 
his assistants or employees, when duly authorized by him, shall, for 
the purpose of securing such information, have access to and the 
right to examine any books, documents, papers, or records of any 
such department, agency, or establishment." 
Approved September 21, 1973. 
Public Law 93-112 
A N A C T 
September 26, 1973 
fH R 80701 
To replace the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, to extend and revise the authoriza- 
*
• ' ' 
-' 
tion of grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services, with special 
emphasis on services to those with the most severe handicaps, to expand special 
Federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to 
handicapped individuals, to establish special responsibilities in the Secretary 
of Health, Education, and Welfare for coordination of all programs with 
respect to handicapped individuals within the Department of Health, Educa-
tion, and Welfare, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act, with A^^<^/^97'3^*'°" 
the following table of contents, may be cited as the "Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973": 
356 
PUBLIC L
A
W 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Sec. 2. Declaration of purpose. 
Sec. 3. Rehabilitation Services Administration. 
Sec. 4. Advance funding. 
Sec. 5. Joint funding. 
Sec. 6. Consolidated rehabilitation plan. 
Sec. 7. Definitions. 
Sec. 8. Allotment percentage. 
Sec. 9. Audit. 
Sec. 10. Nonduplication. 
TITLE I—VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES 
PART A—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 100. Declaration of purpose; authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 101. State plans. 
Sec. 102. Individualized written rehabilitation program. 
Sec. 103. Scope of vocational rehabilitation services. 
Sec. 104. Non-Federal share for construction. 
PART B — B A S I C VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES 
Sec. 110. State allotments. 
Sec. 111. Payments to States. 
Sec. 112. Client assistance. 
PART C—INNOVATION AND EXPANSION GRANTS 
Sec. 120. State allotments. 
Sec. 121. Payments to States. 
PART D—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE NEEDS 
Sec. 130. Special study. 
TITLE II—RESEARCH AND TRAINING 
Sec. 200. Declaration of purpose. 
Sec. 201. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 202. Research. 
Sec. 203. Training. 
Sec. 204. Reports. 
TITLE III—SPECIAL FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES 
Sec. 300. Declaration of purpose. 
Sec. 301. Grants for construction of rehabilitation facilities. 
Sec. 302. Vocational training services for handicapped individuals. 
Sec. 303. Mortgage insurance for rehabilitation facilities. 
Sec, 304. Special projects and demonstrations. 
Sec. 305. National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. 
Sec. 306. General grant and contract requirements. 
TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM AND 
PROJECT EVALUATION 
Sec. 400. Administration. 
Sec. 401. Program and project evaluation. 
Sec. 402. Obtaining information from Federal agencies. 
Sec. 403. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 404. Reports. 
Sec. 405. Secretarial responsibility. 
Sec. 406. Sheltered workshop study. 
Sec. 407. State allocation study. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 500. Effect on existing laws. 
Sec. 501. Employment of handicapped individuals. 
Sec. 502. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. 
Sec. 503. Employment under Federal contracts. 
Sec. 504. Nondiscrimination under Federal grants. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
357 
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE 
SEC. 2. The purpose of this Act is to provide a statutory basis for the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, and to authorize programs 
to— 
(1) develop and implement comprehensive and continuing State 
plans for meeting the current and future needs for providing 
vocational rehabilitation services to handicapped individuals and 
to provide such services for the benefit of such individuals, serving 
jfirst those with the most severe handicaps, so that they may pre-
pare for and engage in gainful employment; 
(2) evaluate the rehabilitation potential of 
handicapped 
individuals; 
(3) conduct a study to develop methods of providing rehabili-
tation services to meet the current and future needs of handicapped 
individuals for whom a vocational goal is not possible or feasible 
so that they may improve their ability to live with greater inde-
pendence and self-sufficiency; 
(4) assist in the construction and improvement of rehabilitation 
facilities; 
(5) develop new and innovative methods of applying the most 
advanced medical technology, scientific achievement, and psycho-
logical and social knowledge to solve rehabilitation problems and 
develop new and innovative methods of providing rehabilitation 
services to handicapped individuals through research, special 
projects, and demonstrations; 
(6) initiate and expand services to groups of handicapped indi-
viduals (including those who are homebound or institutionalized) 
who have been underserved in the past; 
(7) conduct various studies and experiments to focus on long 
neglected problem areas; 
(8) promote and expand employment opportunities in the 
public and private sectors for handicapped individuals and to 
place such individuals in employment; 
(9) establish client assistance pilot projects; 
(10) provide assistance for the purpose of increasing the num-
ber of rehabilitation personnel and increasing their skills through 
training; and 
(11) evaluate existing approaches to architectural and trans-
portation barriers confronting handicapped individuals, develop 
new such approaches, enforce statutory and regulatory standards 
and requirements regarding barrier-free construction of public 
facilities and study and develop solutions to existing architectural 
and transportation barriers impeding handicapped individuals. 
REHABILITATION 
SERVICES 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 3. (a) There is established in the Department of Health, Educa- 
Establishment. 
tion, and Welfare a Rehabilitation Services Administration which 
358 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Post, pp. 385, 
390. 
Delegation of 
functions, sub-
mittal of plan to 
Congress. 
Research, co-
ordination and 
consultation. 
Post, p. 375. 
68 Stat. 652. 
shall be headed by a Commissioner (hereinafter in this Act referred to 
as the "Commissioner") appointed by the President. Except for titles 
IV and V and as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, such 
Administration shall be the principal agency for carrying out this Act. 
The Secretary shall not approve any delegation of the functions of the 
Commissioner to any other officer not directly responsible to the Com-
missioner unless the Secretary shall first submit a plan for such delega-
tion to the Congress. Such delegation is eflfective at the end of the first 
period of sixty calendar days of continuous session of Congress after 
the date on which the plan for such delegation is transmitted to it: 
Provided, however, That within thirty days of such transmittal, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Committee on Labor and Public Wel-
fare of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives respecting such proposed delegation. For the 
purposes of this section, continuity of session is broken only by an 
adjournment of Congress sine die, and the days on which either House 
is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three days to 
a day certain are excluded in the computation of the thirty-day and 
sixty-day periods. 
(b) The Secretary, through the Commissioner in coordination with 
other appropriate programs in the Department of Health, Education, 
and Welfare, in carrying out research under this Act shall establish 
the expertise and technological competence to, and shall, in consulta-
tion with, the National Science Foundation and the National Academy 
of Sciences develop and support, and stimulate the development and 
utilization (including production and distribution of new and existing 
devices) of, innovative methods of applying advanced medical tech-
nology, scientific achievement, and psychological and social knowledge 
to solve rehabilitation problems, and be responsible for carrying out 
the activities described in section 202 (b)(2). 
(c) The Secretary shall take whatever action is necessary to insure 
that funds appropriated pursuant to this Act, as well as unexpended 
appropriations for carrying out the Vocational Rehabilitation Act (29 
U.S.C. 31-42), are expended only for the programs, personnel, and 
administration of programs carried out under this Act. 
ADVANCE FUNDING 
SEC. 4. (a) For the purpose of affording adequate notice of funding 
available under this Act, appropriations under this Act are authorized 
to be included in the appropriation Act for the fiscal year preceding 
the fiscal year for which they are available for obligation. 
(b) In order to effect a transition to the advance funding method of 
timing appropriation action, the authority provided by subsection (a) 
of this section shall apply notwithstanding that its initial application 
will result in the enactment in the same year (whether in the same 
appropriation Act or otherwise) of two separate appropriations, one 
for the then current fiscal year and one for the succeeding fiscal year. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
359 
JOINT FUNDING 
SEC. 5. Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the President, and to 
the extent consistent with the other provisions of this Act, where funds 
are provided for a single project by more than one Federal agency to 
an agency or organization assisted under this Act, the Federal agency 
principally involved may be designated to act for all in administering 
the funds provided, and, in such cases, a single non-Federal share 
requirement may be established according to the proportion of funds 
advanced by each agency. When the principal agency involved is the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, it may waive any grant or 
contract requirement (as defined by such regulations) under or pur-
suant to any law other than this Act, which requirement is inconsistent 
with the similar requirements of the administering agency under or 
pursuant to this Act. 
CONSOLIDATED REHABILITATION PLAN 
SEC. 6. (a) In order to secure increased flexibility to respond to the 
varying needs and local conditions within the State, and in order to 
permit more effective and interrelated planning and operation of its 
rehabilitation programs, the State may submit a consolidated rehabili-
tation plan which includes the State's plan under section 101 (a) of this 
Act and its program for persons with developmental disabilities under 
the Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction 
Amendments of 1970: Provided^ That the agency administering such 
State's program under such Act concurs in the submission of such a 
consolidated rehabilitation plan. 
(b) Such a consolidated rehabilitation plan must comply with, and 
be administered in accordance with, all the requirements of this Act 
and the Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construc-
tion Amendments of 1970. If the Secretary finds that all such require-
ments are satisfied, he may approve the plan to serve in all respects as 
the substitute for the separate plans which would otherwise be required 
with respect to each of the programs included therein, or he may advise 
the State to submit separate plans for such programs. 
(c) Findings of noncompliance in the administration of an 
approved consolidated rehabilitation plan, and any reductions, suspen-
sions, or terminations of assistance as a result thereof, shall be carried 
out in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsections (c) and 
(d) of section 101 of this Act. 
Election by 
State; agency 
concurrence. 
Post, p. 363. 
84 Stat. 1316. 
42 use 2670 
note. 
Noncompliance. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 7. For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term "construction" means the construction of new build-
ings, the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, alteration, and renovation 
of existing buildings, and initial equipment of such buildings, and the 
term "cost of construction" includes architects' fees and acquisition of 
land in connection with construction but does not include the cost of 
offsite improvements. 
(2) The term "criminal act" means any crime, including an act, 
omission, or possession under the laws of the United States or a State 
or unit of general local government which poses a substantial threat of 
personal injury, notwithstanding that by reason of age, insanity, 
intoxication or otherwise the person engaging in the act, omission, or 
possession was legally incapable of committing a crime. 
360 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
(3) The term "establishment of a rehabilitation facility" means the 
acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings 
necessary to adapt them to rehabilitation facility purposes or to 
increase their effectiveness for such purposes (subject, however, to such 
limitations as the Secretary may determine, in accordance with regula-
tions he shall prescribe, in order to prevent impairment of the objec-
tives of, or duplication of, other Federal laws providing Federal 
assistance in the construction of such facilities), and the initial equip-
ment for such buildings, and may include the initial staffing thereof. 
(4) The term "evaluation of rehabilitation potential" means, as 
appropriate in each case: 
(A) a preliminary diagnostic study to determine that the indi-
vidual has a substantial handicap to employment, and that voca-
tional rehabilitation services are needed ; 
(B) a diagnostic study consisting of a comprehensive evalua-
tion of pertinent medical, psychological, vocational, educational, 
cultural, social, and environmental factors which bear on the 
individual's handicap to employment and rehabilitation potential 
including, to the degree needed, an evaluation of the individual's 
personality, intelligence level, educational achievements, work 
experience, vocational aptitudes and interests, personal and social 
adjustments, employment opportunities, and other pertinent data 
helpful in determining the nature and scope of services needed; 
(C) an appraisal of the individual's patterns of work behavior 
and ability to acquire occupational skill, and to develop work atti-
tudes, work habits, work tolerance, and social and behavior pat-
terns suitable for successful job performance, including the 
utilization of work, simulated or real, to assess and develop the 
individual's 
capacities to perform 
adequately 
in a 
work 
environment; 
(D) any other goods or services provided for the purpose of 
ascertaining the nature of the handicap and whether it may rea-
sonably be expected that the individual can benefit from vocational 
rehabilitation services; 
(E) referral; 
(F) the administration of these evaluation services; and 
(G) (i) the provision of vocational rehabilitation services to 
any individual for a total period not in excess of eighteen months 
for the purpose of determining whether such individual is a han-
dicapped individual, a handicapped individual for whom a voca-
tional goal is not possible or feasible (as determined in accordance 
Post, p. 36S. 
with section 102(c)), or neither such individual; and (ii) an 
assessment, at least once in every ninety-day period during which 
such services are provided, of the results of the provision of such 
services to an individual to ascertain whether any of the determi-
nations described in subclause (i) may be made. 
(5) The term "Federal share" means 80 per centum, except that it 
shall mean 90 per centum for the purposes of part C of title I of this 
Post, pp. 372, 
Act and as specifically set forth in section 301 (b) (3) : Provided, That 
^^p'ost, p. 370. 
with respect to payments pursuant to part B of title I of this Act to 
any State which are used to meet the costs of construction of those 
Post, p. 368. 
rehabilitation facilities identified in section 103(b) (2) in such State, 
the Federal share shall be the percentages determined in accordance 
with the provisions of section 301(b)(3) applicable with respect to 
that State and that, for the purpose of determining the non-Federal 
share with respect to any State, expenditures by a political subdivision 
thereof or by a local agency shall, subject to such limitations and con 
ditions as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe, be regarded af 
expenditures by such State. 
26 use 501. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-U2-SEPT. 26, 1973 
361 
(6) The term "handicapped individual" means any individual who 
(A) has a physical or mental disability which for such individual 
constitutes or results in a substantial handicap to employment and (B) 
can reasonably be expected to benefit in terms of employability from 
vocational rehabilitation services provided pursuant to titles I and III 
of this Act. 
_ 
3^^°*^' pp- 363, 
(7) The term "local agency" means an agency of a unit of general 
local government or of an Indian tribal organization (or combination 
of such units or organizations) which has an agreement with the State 
agency designated pursuant to section 101(a) (1) to conduct a voca- 
^°®'' P- 363. 
tional rehabilitation program under the supervision of such State 
agency in accordance with the State plan approved under section 101. 
Nothing in the preceding sentence of this paragraph or in section 101 
shall be construed to prevent the local agency from utilizing another 
local public or nonprofit agency to provide vocational rehabilitation 
services: Provided^ That such an arrangement is made part of the 
agreement specified in this paragraph. 
(8) The term "nonprofit", when used with respect to a rehabilita-
tion facility, means a rehabilitation facility owned and operated by a 
corporation or association, no part of the net earnings of which inures, 
or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or indi-
vidual and the income of which is exempt from taxation under section 
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. 
68A stat. lea. 
(9) The term "public safety officer" means a person serving the 
United States or a State or unit of general local government, with or 
without compensation, in any activity pertaining to— 
(A) the enforcement of the criminal laws, including highway 
patrol, or the maintenance of civil peace by the National Guard or 
the Armed Forces, 
(B) a correctional program, facility, or institution where the 
activity is potentially dangerous because of contact with criminal 
suspects, defendants, prisoners, probationers, or parolees, 
(C) a court having criminal or juvenile delinquent jurisdiction 
where the activity is potentially dangerous because of contact with 
criminal suspects, defendants, prisoners, probationers, or parolees, 
or 
(D) firefighting, fire prevention, or emergency rescue missions. 
(10) The term "rehabilitation facility" means a facility which is 
operated for the primary purpose of providing vocational rehabilita-
tion services to handicapped individuals, and which provides singly or 
in combination one or more of the following services for handicapped 
individuals: (A) vocational rehabilitation services which shall include, 
under one management, medical, psychological, social, and vocational 
services, (B) testing, fitting, or training in the use of prosthetic and 
orthotic devices, (C) pre 
vocational conditioning or recreational ther-
apy, (D) physical and occupational therapy, (E) speech and hearing 
therapy, (F) psychological and social services, (G) evaluation of 
rehabilitation potential, (H) personal and work adjustment, (I) 
vocational training with a view toward career advancement (in com-
bination with other rehabilitation services), (J) evaluation or control 
of specific disabilities, (K) orientation and mobility services to the 
blind, and (L) extended employment for those handicapped individ-
uals who cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market, 
except that all medical and related health services must be prescribed 
by, or under the formal supervision of, persons licensed to prescribe 
or supervise the provision of such services in the State. 
(11) The term "Secretary", except when the context otherwise 
requires, means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. 
362 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Post, 
p. 363, 
Post, 
p. 368. 
(12) The term "severe handicap" means the disability which 
requires multiple services over an extended period of time and results 
from amputation, blindness, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, deaf-
ness, heart disease, hemiplegia, mental retardation, mental illness, 
multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, neurological disorders (includ-
ing stroke and epilepsy), paraplegia, quadriplegia and other spinal 
cord conditions, renal failure, respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction, 
and any other disability specified by the Secretary in regulations he 
shall prescribe. 
(13) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Virgin 
Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Terri-
tory of the Pacific Islands, and for the purposes of American Samoa 
and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the appropriate State 
agency designated as provided in section 101(a) (1) shall be the Gov-
ernor of American Samoa or the High Commissioner of the Trust 
Territory of the Pacific Islands, as the case may be. 
(14) The term "vocational rehabilitation services" means those 
services identified in section 103 which are provided to handicapped 
individuals under this Act. 
Promulgation, 
computation. 
"United 
States." 
Population 
determination. 
ALLOTMENT 
PERCENTAGE 
SEC. 8. (a) (1) The allotment percentage for any State shall be 100 
per centum less that percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 per 
centum as the per capita income of such State bears to the per capita 
income of the United States, except that (A) the allotment percentage 
shall in no case be more than 75 per centum or less than 33% per 
centum, and (B) the allotment percentage for the District of Colum-
bia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and 
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands shall be 75 per centum. 
(2) The allotment percentages shall be promulgated by the Secre-
tary between July 1 and September 30 of each even-numbered year, 
on the basis of the average of the per capita incomes of the States 
and of the United States for the three most recent consecutive years 
for which satisfactory data are available from the Department of 
Commerce. Such promulgation shall be conclusive for each of the 
two fiscal years in the period beginning on the July 1 next succeeding 
such promulgation. 
(3) The term "United States" means (but only for purposes of this 
subsection) the fifty States and the District of Columbia. 
(b) The population of the several States and of the United States 
shall be determined on the basis of the most recent data available, to 
be furnished by the Department of Commerce by October 1 of the year 
preceding the fiscal year for which funds are appropriated pursuant 
to statutory authorizations. 
AUDIT 
SEC. 9. Each recipient of a grant or contract under this Act shall 
keep such records as the Secretary may prescribe, including records 
which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of 
the proceeds of such grant or contract, the total cost of the project or 
undertaking in connection with which such grant or contract is made 
or funds thereunder used, the amount of that portion of the cost of 
the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such records 
as will facilitate an effective audit. The Secretary and the Comptroller 
General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized repre-
sentatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examina-
tion to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient of 
any grant or contract under this Act which are pertinent to such grant 
or contract. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26,1973 
363 
NONDUPLICATIOX 
SEC. 10. In determining the amount of any State's Federal share of 
expenditures for planning, administration, and services incurred by it 
under a State plan approved in accordance with section 101, there 
shall be disregarded (1) any portion of such expenditures which are 
financed-by Federal funds provided under any other provision of law, 
and (2) the amount of any non-Federal funds required to be expended 
as a condition of receipt of such Federal funds. No payment may be 
made from funds provided under one provision of this Act relating 
to any cost with respect to which any payment is made under any other 
provision of this Act. 
TITLE I—VOCATIONAL EEHABILITATION SERVICES 
PART A—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Infra, 
Prohibition, 
DECLARATION OF PURPOSE; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 100. (a) The purpose of this title is to authorize grants to assist 
States to meet the current and future needs of handicapped individ-
uals, so that such individuals may prepare for and engage in gainful 
employment to the extent of their capabilities. 
(b) (1) For the purpose of making grants to States under part B 
of this title to assist them in meeting costs of vocational rehabilitation 
services provided in accordance with State plans under section 101, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $650,000,000 for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1974, and $680,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1975. 
(2) For the purpose of carrying out part C of this title (relating to 
grants to States and public and nonprofit agencies to assist them in 
meeting the cost of projects to initiate or expand services to handi-
capped individuals, especially those with the most severe handicaps) 
and part D of this title (relating to the study of comprehensive service 
needs of individuals with the most severe handicaps), there is author-
ized to be appropriated $37,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1974, and $39,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30,1975, and there 
is further authorized to be appropriated for such purposes for each 
such year such additional sums as the Congress may determine to be 
necessary. Of the sums appropriated under this paragraph for each 
such fiscal year, $1,000,000 in each such year shall be available only for 
the purpose of carrying out Part D of this title. 
Federal grsmts. 
STATE PLANS 
SEC. 101. (a) For each fiscal year in which a State desires to par-
ticipate in programs under this title, a State shall submit to the Secre-
tary for his approval an annual plan for vocational rehabilitation 
services which shall— 
(1) (A) designate a State agency as the sole State agency to 
administer the plan, or to supervise its administration by a local 
agency, except that (i) where under the State's law the State 
agency for the blind or other agency which provides assistance or 
services to the adult blind, is authorized to provide vocational 
rehabilitation services to such individuals, such agency may be 
designated as the sole State agency to administer the part of the 
plan under which vocational rehabilitation services are provided 
for the blind (or to supervise the administration of such part by 
Sta 
plan 
tion. 
te agency for 
administra-
designation. 
364 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112~SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
State rehabili' 
tation bureau, 
director, staff. 
a local agency) and a separate State agency may be designated 
as the sole State agency with respect to the rest of the State plan, 
and (ii) the Secretary, upon the request of a State, may authorize 
such agency to share funding and administrative responsibility 
with another agency of the State or with a local agency in order 
to permit such agencies to carry out a joint program to provide 
Waiver authority, services to handicapped individuals, and may waive compliance 
with respect to vocational rehabilitation services furnished under 
such programs with the requirement of clause (4) of this sub-
section that the plan be in effect in all political subdivisions of 
that State; 
(B) provide that the State agency so designated to administer 
or supervise the administration of the State plan, or (if there are 
two State agencies designated under subclause (A) of this clause) 
to supervise or administer the part of the State plan that does not 
relate to services for the blind, shall be (i) a State agency pri-
marily concerned with vocational rehabilitation, or vocational and 
other rehabilitation, of handicapped individuals, (ii) the State 
agency administering or supervising the administration of educa-
tion or vocational education in the State, or (iii) a State agency 
which includes at least two other major organizational units each 
of which administers one or more of the major public education, 
public health, public welfare, or labor programs of the State; 
(2) provide, except in the case of agencies described in clause 
( l ) ( B ) ( i ) - 
^ . 
(A) that the State agency designated pursuant to para-
graph (1) (or each State agency if two are so designated) 
shall include a vocational rehabilitation bureau, division, or 
other organizational unit which (i) is primarily concerned 
with vocational rehabilitation, or vocational and other reha-
bilitation, of handicapped individuals, and is responsible 
for the vocational rehabilitation program of such State 
agency, (ii) has a full-time director, and (iii) has a staff 
employed on such rehabilitation work of such organizational 
unit all or substantially all of whom are employed full time 
on such work; and 
(B) (i) that such unit shall be located at an organizational 
level and shall have an organizational status within such State 
agency comparable to that of other major organizational units 
of such agency, or (ii) in the case of an agency described in 
clause (1) (B) (ii), either that such unit shall be so located and 
have such status, or that the director of such unit shall be the 
executive officer of such State agency; except that, in the case 
of a State which has designated only one State agency pur-
suant to clause (1) of this subsection, such State may, if it so 
desires, assign responsibility for the part of the plan under 
which vocational rehabilitation services are provided for the 
blind to one organizational unit of such agency, and assign 
responsibility for the rest of the plan to another organiza-
tional unit of such agency, with the provisions of this clause 
applying separately to each of such units; 
(3) provide for financial participation by the State, or if the 
State so elects, by the State and local agencies to meet the amount 
of the non-Federal share; 
(4) provide that the plan shall be in effect in all political sub-
divisions, except that in the case of any activity which, in the 
judgment of the Secretary, is likely to assist in promoting the voca-
tional rehabilitation of substantially larger numbers of handi-
State financial 
participation. 
Political sub-
divisions, partici-
pation, waiver. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
365 
capped individuals or groups of handicapped individuals the 
Secretary may waive compliance with the requirement herein that 
the plan be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State to the 
extent and for such period as may be provided in accordance with 
regulations prescribed by him, but only if the non-Federal share 
of the cost of such vocational rehabilitation services is met from 
funds made available by a local agency (including, to the extent 
permitted by such regulations, funds contributed to such agency 
by a private agency, organization, or individual); 
(5) (A) contain the plans, policies, and methods to be followed 
in carrying out the State plan and in its administration and super-
vision, including a description of the method to be used to expand 
and improve services to handicapped individuals with the most 
severe handicaps; and, in the eYent that vocational rehabilitation 
services cannot be provided to all eligible handicapped individuals 
who apply for such services, show (i) the order to be followed in 
selecting individuals to whom vocational rehabilitation services 
will be provided, and (ii) the outcomes and service goals, and the 
time within which they may be achieved, for the rehabilitation of 
such individuals, which order of selection for the provision of 
vocational rehabilitation services shall be determined on the basis 
of serving first those individuals with the most severe handicaps 
and shall be consistent with priorities in such order of selection so 
determined, and outcome and service goals for serving handi-
capped individuals, established in regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary; and 
(B) provide satisfactory assurances to the Secretary that the 
State has studied and considered a broad variety of means for pro-
viding services to individuals with the most severe handicaps ; 
(6) provide for such methods of administration, other than 
methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of person-
nel standards, as are found by the Secretary to be necessary for 
the proper and efficient administration of the plan; 
(7) contain (A) provisions relating to the establishment and 
maintenance of personnel standards, which are consistent with 
any State licensure laws and regulations, including provisions 
relating to the tenure, selection, appointment, and qualifications of 
personnel, and (B) provisions relating to the establishment and 
maintenance of minimum standards governing the facilities and 
personnel utilized in the provision of vocational rehabilitation 
services, but the Secretary shall exercise no authority with respect 
to the selection, method of selection, tenure of office, or compensa-
tion of any individual employed in accordance with such 
provision; 
(8) provide, at a minimum, for the provision of the vocational 
rehabilitation services specified in clauses (1) through (3) of sub-
section (a) of section 103, and the remainder of such services 
specified in such section after full consideration of eligibility for 
similar benefits under any other program, except that, in the case 
of the vocational rehabilitation services specified in clauses (4) 
and (5) of subsection (a) of such section, such consideration shall 
not be required where it would delay the provision of such serv-
ices to any individual; 
(9) provide that (A) an individualized written rehabilitation 
individualized 
program meeting the requirements of section 102 will be devel- uo"program^"''^' 
oped for each handicapped individual eligible for vocational 
rehabilitation services under this Act, (B) such services will be 
366 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT.' 
Reports. 
Intergovern-
mental cooper-
ation. 
Community re-
sources, utiliza-
tion. 
Disabled 
Federal employ-
e e s . 
Disabled public 
safety officers. 
Residence re-
quirement, pro-
hibition. 
Continuing 
studies. 
provided under the plan in accordance with such program, and 
(C) records of the characteristics of each applicant will be kept 
specifying, as to those individuals who apply for services under 
this title and are determined not to be eligible therefor, the reasons 
for such determinations; 
(10) provide that the State agency will make such reports in 
such form, containing such information (including the data 
described in subclause (C) of clause (9) of this subsection, 
periodic estimates of the population of handicapped individuals 
eligible for services under this Act in such State, specifications of 
the number of such individuals who will be served with funds pro-
vided under this Act and the outcomes and service goals to be 
achieved for such individuals in each priority category specified 
in accordance with clause (5) of this subsection, and the service 
costs for each such category), and at such time as the Secretary 
may require to carry out his functions under this title, and com-
ply with such provisions as he may find necessary to assure the 
correctness and verification of such reports; 
(11) provide for entering into cooperative arrangements with, 
and the utilization of the services and facilities of, the State agen-
cies administering the State's public assistance programs, other 
programs for handicapped individuals, veterans programs, man-
power programs, and public employment offices, and the Social 
Security Administration of the Department of Health, Educa-
tion, and Welfare, the Veterans' Administration, and other Fed-
eral, State, and local public agencies providing services related to 
the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals; 
(12) provide satisfactory assurances to the Secretary that, in 
the provision of vocational rehabilitation services, maximum 
utilization shall be made of public or other vocational or technical 
training 
facilities 
or 
other 
appropriate 
resources 
in 
the 
community; 
(13) (A) provide that vocational rehabilitation services pro-
vided under the State plan shall be available to any civil employee 
of the United States disabled while in the performance of his 
duty on the same terms and conditions as apply to other persons, 
and 
(B) provide that special consideration will be given to the 
rehabilitation under this Act of a handicapped individual whose 
handicapping condition arises from a disability sustained in the 
line of duty while such individual was performing as a public 
safety officer and the proximate cause of such disability was a 
criminal act, apparent criminal act, or a hazardous condition 
resulting directly from the officer's performance of duties in 
direct connection with the enforcement, execution, and adminis-
tration of law or fire prevention, firefighting, or related public 
safety activities; 
(14) provide that no residence requirement will be imposed 
which excludes from services under the plan any individual who 
is present in the State; 
(15) provide for continuing statewide studies of the needs of 
handicapped individuals and how these needs may be most 
effectively met (including the State's needs for rehabilitation 
facilities) with a view toward the relative need for services to 
significant segments of the population of handicapped individuals 
and the need for expansion of services to those individuals with 
the most severe handicaps; 
r 
- 
. 
v 
, . - c 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
367 
(16) provide for (A) periodic review and reevaluation of the 
status of handicapped individuals placed in extended employment 
in rehabilitation facilities (including workshops) to determine 
the feasibility of their employment, or training for employment, 
in the competitive labor market, and (B) maximum efforts to 
place such individuals in such employment or training whenever 
it is determined to be feasible; 
(17) provide that where such State plan includes provisions 
for the construction of rehabilitation facilities— 
(A) the Federal share of the cost of construction thereof 
for a fiscal year will not exceed an amount equal to 10 per 
centum of the State's allotment for such year, 
(B) the provisions of section 306 shall be applicable to 
such construction and such provisions shall be deemed to 
apply to such construction, and 
(C) there shall be compliance with regulations the Secre-
tary shall prescribe designed to assure that no State will 
reduce its efforts in providing other vocational rehabilitation 
services (other than for the establishment of rehabilitation 
facilities) because its plan includes such provisions for 
construction ; 
(18) provide satisfactory assurances to the Secretary that the 
State agency designated pursuant to clause (1) (or each State 
agency if two are so designated) and any sole local agency 
administering the plan in a political subdivision of the State will 
take into account, in connection with matters of general policy 
arising in the administration of the plan, the views of individuals 
and groups thereof who are recipients of vocational rehabilitation 
services (or, in appropriate cases, their parents or guardians), 
working in the field of vocational rehabilitation, and providers of 
vocational rehabilitation services; and 
(19) provide satisfactory assurances to the Secretary that the 
continuing studies required under clause (15) of this subsection, 
as well as an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the program 
in meeting the goals and priorities set forth in the plan, will form 
the basis for the submission, from time to time as the Secretary 
may require, of appropriate amendments to the plan. 
(b) The Secretary shall approve any plan which he finds fulfills the 
conditions specified in subsection (a) of this section, and he shall dis-
approve any plan which does not fulfill such conditions. Prior to such 
disapproval, the Secretary shall notify a State of his intention to dis-
approve its plan, and he shall afford such State reasonable notice and 
opportunity for hearing. 
(c) Whenever the Secretary, after reasonable notice and opportu-
nity for hearing to the State agency administering or supervising the 
administration of the State plan approved under this section, finds 
that— 
(1) the plan has been so changed that it no longer complies 
with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section; or 
(2) in the administration of the plan there is a failure to comply 
substantially with any provision of such plan, 
the Secretary shall notify such State agency that no further payments 
will be made to the State under this title (or, in his discretion, that 
such further payments will be reduced, in accordance with regulations 
the Secretary shall prescribe, or that further payments will not be 
made to the State only for the projects under the parts of the State 
plan affected by such failure), until he is satisfied there is no longer 
Employment 
review and reeval-
uation. 
State facilities, 
construction <;Ost£ 
Federal share. 
Post. p. 384. 
Policy plan-
ning, trainee 
participation. 
Plan disap-
proval, hearing 
opportunity. 
Noncompliance, 
payment limita-
tion. 
368 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Judicial review. 
5 use 701. 
any such failure. Until he is so satisfied, the Secretary shall make no 
further payments to such State under this title (or shall limit pay-
ments to projects under those parts of the State plan in which there is 
no such failure). 
(d) If any State is dissatisfied with the Secretary's action under sub-
section (b) or (c) of this section, such State may appeal to the United 
States district court for the district where the capital of such State is 
located and judicial review of such action shall be on the record in 
accordance with the provisions of chapter 7 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
Annual review. 
Ineligibility. 
INDIVIDUALIZED WRITTEN REHABILITATION PROGRAM 
SEC. 102. (a) The Secretary shall insure that the individualized 
w^ritten rehabilitation program required by section 101(a) (9) in the 
case of each handicapped individual is developed jointly by the voca-
tional rehabilitation counselor or coordinator and the handicapped 
individual (or, in appropriate cases, his parents or guardians), and 
that such program meets the requirements set forth in subsection (b) 
of this section. Such written program shall set forth the terms and 
conditions, as well as the rights and remedies, under which goods and 
services will be provided to the individual. 
(b) Each individualized written rehabilitation program shall be 
reviewed on an annual basis at which time each such individual (or, in 
appropriate cases, his parents or guardians) will be afforded an oppor-
tunity to review such program and jointly redevelop its terms. Such 
program shall include, but not be limited to (1) a statement of 
long-range rehabilitation goals for the individual and intermediate 
rehabilitation objectives related to the attainment of such goals, (2) a 
statement of the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be pro-
vided, (3) the projected date for the initiation and the anticipated 
duration of each such service, (4) objective criteria and an evaluation 
procedure and schedule for determining whether such objectives and 
goals are being achieved, and, (5) where appropriate, a detailed expla-
nation of the availability of a client assistance project established in 
such area pursuant to section 112. 
(c) The Secretary shall also insure that (1) in developing and 
carrying out individualized written rehabilitation program required 
by section 101 in the case of each handicapped individual primary 
emphasis is placed upon the determination and achievement of a voca-
tional goal for such individual, (2) a decision that such an individual 
is not capable of achieving such a goal and thus not eligible for voca-
tional rehabilitation services provided with assistance under this part, 
is made only in full consultation with such individual (or, in appro-
priate cases, his parents or guardians), and only upon the certification, 
as an amendment to such written program, that the evaluation of reha-
bilitation potential has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt 
that such individual is not then capable of achieving such a goal, and 
(3) any such decision shall be reviewed at least annually in accordance 
with the procedure and criteria established in this section. 
SCOPE o r VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES 
SEC. 103. (a) Vocational rehabilitation services provided under this 
Act are any goods or services necessary to render a handicapped indi-
vidual employable, including, but not limited to, the following: 
(1) evaluation of rehabilitation potential, including diagnostic 
and related services, incidental to the determination of eligibility 
for, and the nature and scope of, services to be provided, including, 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
369 
where appropriate, examination by a physician skilled in the 
diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders, or by a licensed 
psychologist in accordance with State laws and regulations, or 
both; 
(2) counseling, guidance, referral, and placement services for 
handicapped individuals, including followup, follow-alon^, and 
other postemployment services necessary to assist such individuals 
to maintain their employment and services designed to help handi-
capped individuals secure needed services from other agencies, 
w^here such services are not available under this Act; 
(3) vocational and other training services for handicapped 
individuals, which shall include personal and vocational adjust-
ment, books, and other training materials, and services to the 
families of such individuals as are necessary to the adjustment or 
rehabilitation of such individuals: Provided^ That no training 
services in institutions of higher education shall be paid for with 
funds under this title unless maximum eiforts have been made to 
secure grant assistance, in whole or in part, from other sources to 
pay for such training; 
(4) physical and mental restoration services, including, but not 
limited to, (A) corrective surs:ery or therapeutic treatment neces-
sarv to correct or substantially modify a physical or mental con-
dition which is stable or slowly progressive and constitutes a 
substantial handicap to employment, but is of such nature that 
such correction or modification may reasonablv be expected to 
eliminate or substantially reduce the handicap within a reasonable 
length of time, (B) necessary hospitalization in connection with 
surgery or treatment, (C) prosthetic and orthotic devices, (D) 
eyeglas'-es and visual services as prescribed by a physician skilled 
in the diseases of the eve or bv an optometrist, whichever the indi-
vidual may select, (E) special services (including transplantation 
and dialvsis^l. artificial kidneys, and supplies necessary for the 
treatment of individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease, 
and (F) diagnosis and treatment for mental and emotional dis-
orders by a physician or licensed psychologist in accordance with 
State licensure laws; 
(5) maintenance, not exceeding the estimated cost of subsist-
ence, during rehabilitation; 
(6) interpreter services for deaf individuals, and reader serv-
ices for those individuals determined to be blind after an exami-
nation by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye or by an 
optometrist, whichever the individual may select; 
(7) recruitment and training services for handicapped individ-
uals to provide them with new employment opportunities in the 
fields of rehabilitation, health, welfare, public safety, and law 
enforcement, and other appropriate service employment; 
(8) rehabilitation teaching services and orientation and mobil-
ity services for the blind; 
(9) occupational licenses, tools, equipment, and initial stocks 
and supplies; 
(10) transportation in connection with the rendering of any 
vocational rehabilitation service; and 
(11) telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids 
and devices. 
(b) Vocational rehabilitation services, when provided for the benefit 
of groups of individuals, may also include the following: 
(1) in the case of any type of small business operated by indi-
viduals with the most severe handicaps the operation of which 
22-150 O - 75 - 26 
370 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
can be improved by management services and supervision pro-
vided by the State agency, the provision of such services and 
supervision, along or together with the acquisition by the State 
agency of vending facilities or other equipment and initial stocks 
and supplies; and 
(2) the construction or establishment of public or nonprofit 
rehabilitation facilities and the provision of other facilities and 
services which promise to contribute substantially to the rehabili-
tation of a group of individuals but which are not related directly 
to the individualized rehabilitation w^ritten program of any one 
handicapped individual. 
NOX-FEDERAL SHARE FOR CONSTRUCTION 
SEC. 104. For the purpose of determining the amount of payments to 
States for carrying out part B of this title, the non-Federal share, sub-
ject to such limitations and conditions as may be prescribed in regu-
lations by the Secretary, shall include contributions of funds made by 
any private agency, organization, or individual to a State or local 
agency to assist in meeting the costs of construction or establishment 
of a public or nonprofit rehabilitation facility, which would be 
regarded as State or local funds except for the condition, imposed by 
the contributor, limiting use of such funds to construction or estab-
lishment of such facility. 
PART B—BASIC VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES 
Additional 
payments. 
79 Stat. 1282. 
29 u s e 32. 
Unused funds, 
distribution. 
STATE 
ALLOTMENTS 
SEC. 110. (a) For each fiscal year, each State shall be entitled to an 
allotment of an amount bearing the same ratio to the amount author-
ized to be appropriated under subsection (b) (1) of section 100 for 
allotment under this section as the product of (1) the population of 
the State and (2) the square of its allotment percentage bears to the 
sum of the corresponding products for all the States. The allotment to 
any State (other than Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and 
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) under the first sentence of 
this subsection for any fiscal year which is less than one-quarter of 1 
per centum of the amount appropriated under subsection (b) (1) of 
section 100, or $2,000,000, whichever is greater, shall be increased to 
that amount, the total of the increases thereby required being derived 
by proportionately reducing the allotments to each of the remaining 
such States under the first sentence of this subsection, but with such 
adjustments as may be necessary to prevent the allotment of any such 
remaining States from being thereby reduced to less than that amount. 
(b) If the payment to a State under section 111(a) for a fiscal year 
is less than the total payments such State received under section 2 of 
the Vocational Rehabilitation Act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1973, such State shall be entitled to an additional payment (subject 
to the same terms and conditions applicable to other payments under 
this part) equal to the difference between such payment under section 
111(a) and the amount so received by it. Payments attributable to the 
additional payment to a State under this subsection shall be made only 
from appropriations specifically made to carry out this subsection, and 
such additional appropriations are hereby authorized. 
(c) Whenever the Secretary determines, after reasonable oppor-
tunity for the submission to him of comments by the State agency 
administering or supervising the program established under this title, 
that any payment of an allotment to a State under section 111 (a) for 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
371 
any fiscal year will not be utilized by such State in carrying out the 
purposes of this title, he shall make such amount available for carry-
ing out the purposes of this title to one or more other States to the 
extent he determines such other State will be able to use such additional 
amount during such year for carrying out such purposes. Any amount 
made available to a State for any fiscal year pursuant to the preceding-
sentence shall, for the purposes of this part, be regarded as an increase 
of such State's allotment (as determined under the peceding provi-
sions of this section) for such year. 
PAYMENTS TO STATES 
SEC. 111. (a) From each State's allotment under this part for any 
fiscal year (including any additional payment to it under section 110 
(b)), the Secretary shall pay to such State an amount equal to the 
Federal share of the cost of vocational rehabilitation services under 
the plan for such State approved under section 101, including expendi-
tures for the administration of the State plan, except that the total of 
such payments to such State for such fiscal year may not exceed its 
allotment under subsection (a) (and its additional payment under 
subsection (b), if any) of section 110 for such year and such payments 
shall not be made in an amount which would result in a violation of 
the provisions of the State plan required by clause (17) of section 
101 (a), and except that the amount otherwise payable to such State for 
such year under this section shall be reduced by the amount (if any) 
by which expenditures from non-Federal sources during such year 
under this title are less than expenditures under the State plan for 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, under the Vocational Rehabilita-
tion Act. 
68 Stat. 652. 
(b) The method of computing and paying amounts pursuant to sub- 
^^ ^^^ ^^ "°*^' 
section (a) shall be as follows: 
(1) The Secretary shall, prior to the beginning of each calendar 
quarter or other period prescribed by him, estimate the amount to be 
paid to each State under the provisions of such subsection for such 
period, such estimate to be based on such records of the State and 
information furnished by it, and such other investigation, as the 
Secretary may find necessary. 
(2) The Secretary shall pay, from the allotment available therefor, 
the amount so estimated by him for such period, reduced or increased, 
as the case may be, by any sum (not previously adjusted under this 
paragraph) by which he finds that his estimate of the amount to be 
paid the State for any prior period under such subsection was greater 
or less than the amount which should have been paid to the State for 
such prior period under such subsection. Such payment shall be made 
prior to audit or settlement by the General Accounting Office, shall be 
made through the disbursing facilities of the Treasury Department, 
and shall be made in such installments as the Secretary may determine. 
CLIENT ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 112. (a) From funds appropriated under section 304 for special 
p"°^' ^'^"asV^* 
projects and demonstrations in excess of an amount equal to the 
amount obligated for expenditure for carrying out such projects and 
demonstrations from appropriations under the Vocational Rehabilita-
tion Act in the fiscal year ending June 30,1973, the Secretary shall set 
aside up to $1,500,000, but no less than $500,000 for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1974, and up to $2,500,000 but no less than $1,000,000 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, to establish in no less than 7 
372 
PUBIJC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Regulations, 
requirements. 
Annual reports, 
submittal to con-
gressional com-
mittees. 
Ante, p. 363. 
Graduate stu-
dent services.' 
nor more than 20 geographically dispersed regions client assistance 
pilot projects (hereinafter in this section referred to as "projects") 
to provide counselors to inform and advise all clients and client appli-
cants in the project area of all available benefits under this Act and, 
upon request of such client or client applicant, to assist such clients 
or applicants in their relationships with projects, programs, and facili-
ties providing services to them under this Act. 
(b) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations which shall include 
the following requirements: 
(1) No employees of such projects shall be presently serving as staff 
or consultants or receiving benefits of any kind directly or indirectly 
from any rehabilitation project, program, or facility receiving assist-
ance under this Act in the project area. 
(2) Each project shall be afforded reasonable access to policymaking 
and administrative personnel in State and local rehabilitation pro-
grams, projects, and facilities. 
(3) The project shall submit an annual report, through the State 
agency designated pursuant to section 101, to the Secretary on the 
operation of the project during the previous year, including a sum-
mary of the work done and a uniform statistical tabulation of all cases 
handled by such project. A copy of each such report shall be submitted 
to the appropriate committees of the Congress by the Secretary, 
together with a summary of such reports and his evaluation of such 
projects, including appropriate recommendations. 
(4) Each State agency may enter into cooperative arrangements 
with institutions of higher education to secure the services in such 
projects of graduate students who are undergoing clinical training 
activities in related fields. No compensation with funds appropriated 
under this Act shall be provided to such students. 
(5) Reasonable assurance shall bs given by the appropriate State 
agency that all clients or client applicants within the project area shall 
have the opportunity to receive adequate service under the project and 
shall not be pressured against or otherwise discouraged from availing 
themselves of the services available under such project. 
(6) The project shall be funded, administered, and operated directly 
by and w^ith the concurrence of the State agency designated pursuant 
to section 101. 
PART C—INNOVATION AND EXPANSION GRANTS 
Ante, p. 363. 
82 Stat. 299. 
29 use 34. 
STATE ALLOTMENTS 
SEC. 120. (a) (1) From the sums available pursuant to section 100 
(b) (2) for any fiscal year for grants to States to assist them in meet-
ing the costs described in section 121, each State shall be entitled to an 
allotment of an amount bearing the same ratio to such sums as the 
population of the State bears to the population of all the States. The 
allotment to any State under the preceding sentence for any fiscal year 
which is less than $50,000 shall be increased to that amount, and for 
the fiscal year ending June 30,1974, no State shall receive less than the 
amount necessary to cover up to 90 per centum of the cost of continu-
ing projects assisted under section 4(a)(2)(A) of the Vocational 
Rehabilitation Act, except that no such project may receive financial 
assistance under both the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and this Act 
for a total period of time in excess of three years. The total of the 
increase required by the preceding sentence shall be derived by propor-
Unused funds, 
redistribution. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
373 
tionately reducing tlie allotments to each ot the remaining States under 
the first sentence of this section, but with such adjustments as may be 
necessary to prevent the allotment of any of such remaining States 
from thereby being reduced to less than $5(),0()(). 
(b) Whenever the Secretary determines that any amount of an allot-
ment to a State for any fiscal year will not be utilized by such State in 
cairying out the purposes of this section, he shall make such amount 
available for carrying out the purposes of this section to one or more 
other States which he determines will be able to use additional amounts 
during such year for carrying out such purposes. Any amount made 
available to a State for any fiscal year pursuant to the preceding sen-
tence shall, for purposes of this part, be regarded as an increase of 
such State's allotment (as determined under the preceding provisions 
of this section) for such year*. 
PAYMENTS TO STATES 
SJ<:C. l^L (a) From each State's allotment under this part for any 
Hscal year, the Secretary shall pay to such State or, at the option of 
the State agency designated pursuant to section 101 (a) (1), to a public 
^"'^' P- 363. 
or nonprofit organization or agency, a portion of the cost of planning, 
preparing for, and initiating special programs under the State plan 
approved pursuant to section 101 to expand vocational rehabilitation 
sei-vices, including programs to initiate or expand such services to 
individuals with the most severe handicaps, or of special programs 
under such State plan to initiate or expand services to classes of handi-
capped individuals who have unusual and difficult problems in connec-
tion with their rehabilitation.^ particularly handicapped individuals 
who are poor, and responsibility for whose treatment, education, 
and i-ehabilitation is shai-ed by the State agency designated in section 
101 with other- agencies. The Secretary may require that any portion 
of a State's allotment under this section, but not more than 50 per 
centum of such allotment, may be expended in connection with only 
such projects as have first been approved by the Secretary. Any grant 
of funds under this section which will be used for direct services to 
handicapped individuals or for establishing or maintaining facilities 
which will render direct services to such individuals must have the 
prior approval of the appropriate State agency designated pursuant to 
section 101. 
(b) Payments under this section with respect to any project may be 
made for a period of not to exceed three years beginning Avith the com-
mencement of the project as approved, and sums appropriated for 
grants under this section shall remain available for such grants 
through the fiscal year- ending June 80,1976. Payments with respect to 
any project may not exceed 90 per centum of the cost of such project. 
The non-Federal share of the cost of a project may be in cash or in kind 
and may include funds spent for project purposes by a cooperating 
|)ublic or nonprofit agency provided that it is not included as a cost in 
any other federally financed program. 
(c) l^ayments under this section may be made in advance or by way 
of reimbureement for services performed and purchases made, as may 
be determined by the Secretary, and shall be made on such conditions 
as the Secretary finds necessary to carry out the puri)oses of tliis 
section. 
374 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
PART D—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE NEEDS 
SPECIAL STUDY 
SEC. 130. (a) The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive study, 
including research and demonstration projects of the feasibility of 
methods designed (1) to prepare individuals with the most severe 
handicaps for entry into programs under this Act who would not 
otherwise be eligible to enter such programs due to the severity of their 
handicap, and (2) to assist individuals with the most severe handicaps 
who, due to the severity of their handicaps or other factors such as 
their age, cannot reasonably be expected to be rehabilitated for 
employment but for whom a program of rehabilitation could improve 
their ability to live independently or function normally within their 
family and community. Such study shall encompass the extent to 
which other programs administered by the Secretary do or might con-
tribute to the objectives set forth in clauses (1) and (2) of the preced-
ing sentence and the methods by which all such programs can be 
coordinated at Federal, State, and local levels with those carried out 
under this Act to the end that individuals with the most severe handi-
caps are assured of receiving the kinds of assistance necessary for them 
to achieve such objectives. 
c^g^esVand 
(^) ^he Secretary shall report the findings of the study, research, 
President. 
and demoustrations directed by subsection (a) of this section to the 
Congress and to the President together with such recommendations for 
legislative or other action as he may find desirable, not later than 
February 1,1975. 
TITLE II—RESEAKCH AND TRAINING 
DECLARATION 
OF PURPOSE 
SEC. 200. The purpose of this title is to authorize Federal assistance 
to State and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations to— 
(a) plan and conduct research, demonstrations, and related 
activities in the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals, and 
(b) plan and conduct courses of training and related activities 
designed to provide increased numbers of trained rehabilitation 
personnel, to increase the levels of skills of such personnel, and to 
develop improved methods of providing such training. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 201. (a) In order to make grants and contracts to carry out the 
purposes of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated: 
(1) For the purpose of carrying out section 202 of this title, 
$25,000,000 each for the fiscal years ending June 30,1974, and June 30, 
1975; and there is further authorized to be appropriated for such pur-
pose for each such year such additional sums as the Congress may deter-
mine to be necessary. Of the sums appropriated under this paragraph, 
20 per centum, and 25 per centum of the amounts appropriated in the 
first and second such fiscal years, respectively, shall be available only 
for the purpose of carrying out activities under section 202(b)(2). 
(2) For the purpose of carrying out section 203 of this title, there is 
authorized to be appropriated $27,700,000 each for the fiscal years 
ending June 30, 1974, and June 30, 1975; and there is further author-
ized to be appropriated for such purpose for each such year such 
additional sums as the Congress may determine to be necessary. 
(b) Funds appropriated under this title shall remain available 
until expended. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
375 
RESEARCH 
SEC. 202. (a) The Secretary, through the Commissioner, and in 
Federal grants, 
coordination with other appropriate programs in the Department of 
Health, Education, and Welfare, is authorized to make grants to and 
contracts with States and public or nonprofit agencies and organiza-
tions, including institutions of higher education, to pay part of the 
cost of projects for the purpose of planning and conducting research, 
demonstrations, and related activities which bear directly on the devel-
opment of methods, procedures, and devices to assist in the provision 
of vocational rehabilitation services to handicapped individuals, espe-
cially those with the most severe handicaps, under this Act. Such proj-
ects may include medical and other scientific, technical, methodological, 
and other investigations into the nature of disability, methods of ana-
lyzing it, and restorative techniques; studies and analyses of industrial, 
vocational, social, psychological, economic, and other factors affecting 
rehabilitation of handicapped individuals; special problems of home-
bound and institutionalized individuals; studies and analyses of 
architectural and engineering design adapted to meet the special needs 
of handicapped individuals; and related activities which hold promise 
of increasing knowledge and improving methods in the rehabilitation 
of handicapped individuals and individuals with the most severe 
handicaps. 
(b) In addition to carrying out projects under subsection (a) of this 
section, the Secretary, through the Commissioner, and in coordination 
with other appropriate programs in the Department of Health, Educa-
tion, and Welfare, is authorized to make grants to pay part or all of 
the cost of the following specialized research activities: 
(1) Establishment and support of Rehabilitation Research and ^f/^^^^^J^^^^*^^^"" 
Training Centers to be operated in collaboration with institutions of Training centers, 
higher education for the purpose of providing coordinated and establishment. 
advanced programs of research in rehabilitation and training of reha-
bilitation research personnel, including, but not limited to, graduate 
training. Grants may include funds for services rendered by such a 
center to handicapped individuals in connection with such research and 
training activities. 
(2) Establishment and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Eiflneerin^Re-
Research Centers to (A) develop innovative methods of applying search centers,' 
advanced medical technology, scientific achievement, and psychologi- establishment. 
cal and social knowledge to solve rehabilitation problems through plan-
ning and conducting research, including cooperative research with 
public or private agencies and organizations, designed to produce new 
scientific knowledge, equipment, and devices suitable for solving prob-
lems in the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals and for reduc-
ing environmental barriers, and to (B) cooperate with State agencies 
designated pursuant to section 101 in developing systems of informa- 
^"*^' P" ^^^• 
tion exchange and coordination to promote the prompt utilization of 
engineering and other scientific research to assist in solving problems 
in the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals. 
(3) Conduct of a program for spinal cord injury research, to include ^^^^/"^g ''"''^ch 
support of spinal cord injuries projects and demonstrations estab- '"^""^^ fesearc 
lished pursuant to section 303(b), which will (A) insure dissemi- 
Post. p. 379. 
nation of research findings among all such centers, (B) provide 
encouragement and support for initiatives and new approaches by 
individual and institutional investigators, and (C) establish and main-
tain close working relationships with other governmental and volun-
tary institutions and organizations engaged in similar efforts, in order 
to unify and coordinate scientific efforts, encourage joint planning, and 
promote the interchange of data and reports among spinal cord injury 
investigators. 
376 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
End-stage 
renal disease 
research. 
International 
rehabilitation, re-
search and 
development. 
Post, p. 384. 
(4) Conduct a program for end-stage renal disease research, to 
include support of projects and demonstrations for providing special 
services (including ti-ansplantation and dialysis), artificial kidneys, 
and supplies necessary for the rehabilitation of individuals suffering 
from such disease and which will (A) insure dissemination of research 
findings, (B) provide encouragement and support for initiatives and 
new approaches by individual and institutional investigators, and (C) 
establish and maintain close working relationships with other govern-
mental and voluntary institutions and organizations engaged in simi-
lar efforts, in order to unify and coordinate scientific efforts, encourage 
joint planning, ^nd promote the interchange of data and reports 
among investigators in the field of end-stage renal disease. No person 
shall be selected to participate in such program who is eligible for 
services for such disease under any other provision of law. 
(5) Conduct of a program for international rehabilitation research, 
demonstration, and training for the purpose of developing new knowl-
edge and methods in the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals in 
the United States, cooperating with and assisting in developing and 
sharing information found useful in other nations in the rehabilita-
tion of handicapped individuals, and initiating a program to exchange 
experts and technical assistance in the field of rehabilitation of handi-
capped individuals with other nations as a means of increasing the 
levels of skill of rehabilitation personnel. 
(c) The provisions of sexjtion 306 shall apply to assistance provided 
under this section, unless the context indicates to the contrary. 
Federal grants. 
Limitation. 
TRAINING 
SEC. 203. (a) The Secretary, through the Commissioner, in coordi-
nation with other appropriate programs in the Department of Health, 
Education, and Welfare, is authorized to make grants to and contracts 
with States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, includ-
ing institutions of higher education, to pay part of the cost of projects 
for training, traineeships, and related activities designed to assist 
in increasing the numbers of personnel trained in providing vocational 
services to handicapped individuals and in performing other functions 
necessary to the development of such services. 
(b) In making such grants or contracts, funds made available for 
any year will be utilized to provide a balanced program of assistance 
to meet the medical, vocational, and other personnel training needs 
of both public and private rehabilitation programs and institutions, 
to include projects in rehabilitation medicine, rehabilitation nursing, 
rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation social work, rehabilitation 
psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology 
and audiology, workshop and facility administration, prosthetics and 
orthotics, specialized personnel in providing services to blind and deaf 
individuals, recreation for ill and handicapped individuals, and other 
fields contributing to the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals, 
including homebound and institutionalized individuals and handi-
capped individuals with limited English-speaking ability. No grant 
shall be made under this section for furnishing to an individual any 
one course of study extending for a period in excess of four years. 
Post, p. 387. 
REPORTS 
SEC. 204. There shall be included in the annual report to the Con-
gress required by section 404 a full report on the research and training 
activities carried out under this title and the extent to which such 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
377 
research and training has contributed directly to the development of 
methods, procedures, devices, and trained personnel to assist in the 
provision of vocational rehabilitation services to handicapped individ-
uals and those with the most severe handicaps under this Act. 
TITLE III—SPECIAL FEDEKAL KESPONSIBILITIES 
DECLARATION" OF 
PURPOSE 
SEC. 300. The purpose of this title is to— 
(1) authorize grants and contracts to assist in the construction 
and initial staffing of rehabilitation facilities; 
(2) authorize grants and contracts to assist in the provision of 
vocational training services to handicapped individuals; 
(3) authorize grants for special projects and demonstrations 
which hold promise of expanding or otherwise improving rehabili-
tation services to handicapped individuals, including individuals 
with spinal cord injuries, older blind individuals, and deaf individ-
uals whose maximum vocational potential has not been reached, 
which experiment with new types of patterns of services or devices 
for the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals (including 
opportunities for new careers for handicapped individuals, and 
for other individuals in programs serving handicapped individ-
uals) and which provide vocational rehabilitation services to 
handicapped migratory agricultural workers or seasonal farm-
workers ; 
(4) establish and operate a National Center for Deaf-Blind 
Youths and Adults; and 
(5) establish uniform grant and contract requirements for pro-
grams assisted under this title and certain other provisions of this 
Act. 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION 
OF REHABILITATION 
FACILITIES 
SEC. 301. (a) For the purpose of making grants and contracts under 
this section for construction of rehabilitation facilities, initial staffing, 
and planning assistance, there is authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary for the fiscal years ending June 30,1974, and 
June 30, 1975. Amounts so appropriated shall remain available for 
expenditure with respect to construction projects funded or initial 
staffing grants made under this section prior to July 1, 1977. 
(b)(1) The Secretary is authorized to make grants to assist in meet-
ing the costs of construction of public or nonprofit rehabilitation 
facilities. Such grants may be made to States and public or nonprofit 
organizations and agencies for projects for which applications are 
approved by the Secretary under this section. 
(2) To be approved, an application for a grant for a construction 
project under this section must conform to the provisions of section 
306. 
(3) The amount of a grant under this section with respect to any 
construction project in any State shall be equal to the same percentage 
of the cost of such project as the Federal share which is applicable in 
the case of rehabilitation facilities (as defined in section 645(g) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 291o(a))), in such State, except 
78 stat. 460; 
that if the Federal share with respect to rehabilitation facilities in *'^ ^*°*' ^^^' 
such State is determined pursuant to subparagraph (b) (2) of section 
645 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 291o(b) (2)), the percentage of the cost for 
^^ stat. 34o. 
378 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Staffing grants. 
Planning grants. 
Ante, p. 363. 
purposes of this section shall be determined in accordance with regula-
tions prescribed by the Secretary designed to achieve as nearly as 
practicable results comparable to the results obtained under such 
subparagraph. 
(c) The Secretary is also authorized to make grants to assist in 
the initial staffing of any public or nonprofit rehabilitation facility 
constructed after the date of enactment of this section (whether or 
not such construction was financed with the aid of a grant under this 
section) by covering part of the costs (determined in accordance with 
regulations the Secretary shall prescribe) of compensation of profes-
sional or technical personnel of such facility during the period begin-
ning with the commencement of the operation of such facility and 
endmg with the close of four years and three months after the month 
in which such operation commenced. Such grants with respect to any 
facility may not exceed 75 per centum of such costs for the period end-
ing with the close of the fifteenth month following the month in which 
such operation commenced, 60 per centum of such costs for the first 
year thereafter, 45 per centum of such costs for the second year there-
after, and 30 per centum of such costs for the third year thereafter. 
(d) The Secretary is also authorized to make grants upon applica-
tion approved by the State agency designated under section 101 to 
administer the State plan, to public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, 
or organizations to assist them in meeting the cost of planning rehabili-
tation facilities and the services to be provided by such facilities. 
Appropriation. 
Grants, author-
ity. 
Individual al-
lowances, limi-
tations. 
Conditions. 
VOCATIONAL TRAINING SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS 
SEC, 302. (a) For the purpose of making grants and contracts under 
this section, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1974, and June 30, 
1975. 
(b) (1) The Secretary is authorized to make grants to States and 
public or nonprofit organizations and agencies to pay up to 90 per 
centum of the cost of projects for providing vocational training serv-
ices to handicapped individuals, especially those with the most severe 
handicaps, in public or nonprofit rehabilitation facilities. 
(2) (A) Vocational training services for purposes of this subsection 
shall include training with a view toward career advancement; train-
ing in occupational skills; related services, including work evaluation, 
work testing, provision of occupational tools and equipment required 
by the individual to engage in such training, and job tryouts; and pay-
ment of weekly allowances to individuals receiving such training and 
related services. 
(B) Such allowances may not be paid to any individual for any 
period in excess of two years, and such allowances for any week shall 
not exceed $30 plus $10 for each of the individual's dependents, or $70, 
whichever is less. In determining the amount of such allowances for 
any individual, consideration shall be given to the individual's need 
for such an allowance, including any expenses reasonably attributable 
to receipt of training services, the extent to which such an allowance 
will help assure entry into and satisfactory completion of training, 
and such other factors, specified by the Secretary, as will promote such 
individual's capacity to engage in gainful and suitable employment. 
(3) The Secretary may make a grant for a project pursuant to this 
subsection only on his determination that (A) the purpose of such 
project is to prepare handicapped individuals, especially those with 
the most severe handicaps, for gainful and suitable employment; (B) 
the individuals to receive training services under such project will 
include onlv those who have been determined to be suitable for and in 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
379 
need of such training services by the State agency or agencies desig-
nated as provided in section 101(a)(1) of the State in which tlie 
rehabilitation facility is located; (C) the full range of training services 
will be made available to each such individual, to the extent of his need 
for such services; and (D) the project, including the participating 
rehabilitation facility and the training services provided, meet such 
other requirements as he may prescribe in regulations for carrying out 
the purposes of this subsection. 
(c)(1) The Secretary is authorized to make grants to public or 
nonprofit rehabilitation facilities, or to an organization or combina-
tion of such facilities, to pay the Federal share of the cost of projects 
to analj^ze, improve, and increase their professional services to handi-
capped individuals, their management effectiveness, or any other part 
of their operations affecting their capacity to provide employment and 
services for such individuals. 
(2) No part of any grant made pursuant to this subsection may be 
used to pay costs of acquiring, constructing, expanding, remodeling, 
or altering any building. 
Ante, 
p. 363. 
Operation 
grants. 
Prohibition. 
MORTOAOE IXSITRAXCK FOR REHABILITATION 
FACILITIES 
SEC. 803. (a) It is the purpose of this section to assist and encourage 
the provision of urgently needed facilities for programs for handi-
capped individuals. 
(b) For the purpose of this section the terms "mortgagee'', "maturity 
date'', and "State" shall have the meanings respectively set forth in 
section 207 of the National Housing Act. 
(c) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development, and subject to the provisions of section 306, 
is authorized to insure up to 100 per centum of any mortgage (includ-
ing advances on such mortgage during construction) in accordance 
with the provisions of this section upon such terms and conditions as 
he may prescribe and make commitments for insurance of such mort-
gage prior to the date of its execution or disbursement thereon, except 
that no mortgage of any public agency shall be insured under this 
section if the interest from such mortgage is exempt from Federal 
taxation. 
(d) In order to carry out the purpose of this section, the Secretary 
is authorized to insure any mortgage which covers construction of a 
public or nonprofit rehabilitation facility, including equipment to be 
used in its operation, subject to the following conditions: 
(1) The mortgage shall be executed by a mortgagor, approved 
by the Secretary, who demonstrates ability successfully to operate 
one or more programs for handicapped individuals. The Secre-
tary may in his discretion require any such mortgagor to be 
regulated or restricted as to minimum charges and methods of 
financing, and, in addition thereto, if the mortgagor is a corporate 
entity, as to capital structure and rate of return. As an aid to the 
regulation or restriction of any mortgagor with respect to any 
of the foregoing matters, the Secretary may make such contracts, 
with and acquire for not to exceed $100 such stock of interest in, 
such mortgagor as he may deem necessary. Any stock or interest so 
purchased shall be paid for out of the Rehabilitation Facilities 
Insurance Fund (established by subsection (h) of this section), 
and shall be redeemed by the mortgagor at par upon the termi-
nation of all obligations of the Secretary under the insurance. 
Definitions. 
52 Stat. 16; 
55 Stat. 62. 
12 u s e 1713. 
Conditions. 
380 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Premium and 
appraisal charges, 
52 Stat. 9; 
84 Stat. 458. 
12 use 1707. 
52 Stat. 16. 
12 use 1713. 
Rehabilitation 
Facilities Insur-
ance Fund. 
Establishment. 
(2) The mortgage shall involve a principal obligation in an 
amount not to exceed 90 per centum of the estimated replacement 
cost of the property or project, including equipment to be used 
in the operation of the rehabilitation facility, when the proposed 
improvements are completed and the equipment is installed, but 
not including any cost covered by grants in aid under this Act 
or any other Fedei-al Act. 
(3) The mortgage shall— 
(A) provide for complete amortization by periodic pay-
ments within such term as the Secretary shall prescribe, and 
(B) bear interest (exclusive of premium charges for insur-
ance and service charges, if any) at not to exceed such per 
centum j)er annum on the principal obligation outstanding 
at any time as the Secretary finds necessary to meet the 
mortgage market. 
(e) The Secretary shall fix and collect premium charges for the 
insurance of mortgages under this section which shall be payable 
annually in advance by the mortgagee, either in cash or in debentures 
of the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund (established by sub-
section (h) of this section) issued at par plus accrued interest. In the 
case of any mortgage such charge shall be not less than an amount 
equivalent to one-fourth of 1 per centum per annum nor more than 
an amount equivalent to 1 per centum per annum of the amount of the 
principal obligation of the mortgage outstanding at any one time, 
without taking into account delinquent payments or prepayments. In 
addition to the premium charge herein provided for, the Secretary is 
authorized to charge and collect such amounts as he may deem reason-
able for the appraisal of a property or project during construction, 
but such charges for appraisal and inspection shall not aggregate more 
than 1 per centum of the original principal face amount of the 
mortgage. 
(f) The Secretary may consent to the release of a part or parts of 
the mortgaged property or project from the lien of any mortgage 
insured under this section upon such terms and conditions as he shall 
by regulation prescribe. 
(g) (1) The Secretary shall have the same functions, powers, and 
duties (insofar as applicable) with respect to the insurance of mort-
gages under this section as the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development has with respect to the insurance of mortgages under 
title II of the National Housing Act. The Secretary may, pursuant to 
a formal delegation agreement containing regulations prescribed by 
him, delegate to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
authority to administer this section in accordance with such delegation 
agreement. 
(2) The provisions of subsections (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (1), 
and (n) of section 207 of the National Housing Act shall apply to 
mortgages insured under this section; except that, for the purposes 
of their application with respect to such mortgages, all references in 
such provisions to the General Insurance Fund shall be deemed to refer 
to the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund (established by sub-
section (h) of this section) and all references in such provisions to 
"Secretary" shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary of Health, Edu-
cation, and Welfare. 
(h)(1) There is hereby created a Rehabilitation Facilities Insur-
ance Fund which shall be used by the Commissioner as a revolving fund 
for carrying out all the insurance provisions of this section. All mort-
gages insured under this section shall be insured under and be the 
obligation of the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
381 
(2) The general expenses of the operations of the Rehabilitation 
Services Administration relating to mortgages insured under this 
section may be charged to the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance 
Fund. 
(3) Moneys in the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund not 
needed for the current operations of the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration with respect to mortgages insured under this section 
shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States to the credit 
of such fund, or invested in bonds or other obligations of, or in bonds or 
other obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the 
United States. The Commissioner may, with the approval of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, purchase in the open market debentures 
issued as obligations of the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund. 
Such purchases shall be made at a price which will provide an invest-
ment yield of not less than the yield obtainable from other investments 
authorized by this section. Debentures so purchased shall be canceled 
and not reissued. 
(4) Premium charges, adjusted premium charges, and appraisals 
and other fees received on account of the insurance of any mortgage 
under this section, the receipts derived from property covered by such 
mortgages and from any claims, debts, contracts, property, and secu-
rity assigned to the Secretary in connection therewith, and all earnings 
as the assets of the fund, shall be credited to the Rehabilitation Facili-
ties Insurance Fund. The principal of, and interest paid and to be 
paid on, debentures which are the obligation of such fund, cash insur-
ance payments, and adjustments, and expense incurred in the handling, 
management, renovation, and disposal of properties acquired, in con-
nection with mortgages insured under this section, shall be charged to 
such fund. 
(5) There are authorized to be appropriated to provide initial capi-
tal for the Rehabilitation Facilities Insurance Fund, and to assure the 
soundness of such fund thereafter, such sums as may be necessary, 
except that the total amount of outstanding mortgages insured shall 
not exceed $200,000,000. 
Unused funds. 
Debentures, pur-
chase authority. 
Appropriation. 
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS 
SEC. 304. (a) (1) For the purpose of making grants under this sec-
tion for special projects and demonstrations (and research and evalu-
ation connected therewith), there is authorized to be appropriated 
$15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, and $17,000,000 
for the fiscal year ending June 30,1975; and there is further authorized 
to be appropriated for such purposes for each such year such addi-
tional sums as the Congress may determine to be necessary. 
(2) Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) of this 
subsection, 5 per centum m each such fiscal year shall be available only 
for the purpose of making grants under subsection (c) of this section, 
and there is authorized to be appropriated in each such fiscal year such 
additional amount as may be necessary to equal, when added to the 
amount made available for the purpose of making grants under such 
subsection an amount of $5,000,000 to be available for each such fiscal 
year. 
(b) The Secretary, subject to the provisions of section 306, shall 
make grants to States and public or nonprofit agencies and organiza-
tions for paying part or all of the cost of special projects and demon-
strations (and research and evaluation in connection therewith) (1) 
for establishing programs and facilities for providing vocational reha-
bilitation services which hold promise of expanding or otherwise 
Appropriations. 
382 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 
STAT. 
Handicapped 
migratory agri-
cultural workers 
and seasonal 
farmworkers. 
Ante, p. 363. 
64 Stat. 1100. 
20 u s e 236. 
81 Stat. 709. 
42 u s e 2861. 
78 Stat. 920. 
7 u s e 2041 
note. 
Employment 
programs, con-
tract authority. 
improving rehabilitation services to handicapped individuals (espe-
cially those with the most severe handicaps) including individuals 
with spinal cord injuries, older blind individuals, and deaf individuals, 
whose maximum vocational potential has not been reached, and (2) 
for applying new types or patterns of services or devices (including 
opportunities for new careers for handicapped individuals for other 
individuals in programs servicing handicapped individuals). Projects 
and demon^rations providing services to individuals with spinal cord 
injuries shall include provisions to— 
(A) establish, on an appropriate regional basis, a multidiscipli-
nary system of providing vocational and other rehabilitation 
services, specijfically designed to meet the special needs of indi-
viduals with spinal cord injuries, including acute care as well as 
periodic inpatient or outpatient f 
oUowup and services; 
(B) demonstrate and evaluate the benefits to individuals with 
spinal cord injuries served in, and the degree of cost effective-
ness of, such a regional system; 
(C) demonstrate and evaluate existing, new, and improved 
methods and equipment essential to the care, management, and 
rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injuries; and 
(D) demonstrate and evaluate methods of community outreach 
for individuals with spinal cord injuries and community educa-
tion in connection with the problems of such individuals in areas 
such as housing, transportation, recreation, employment, and com-
munity activities. 
(c) The Secretary, subject to the provisions of section 306, is author-
ized to make grants to any State agency designated pursuant to a State 
plan approved under section 101, or to any local agency participating 
in the administration of such a plan, to pay up to 90 per centum of the 
cost of projects or demonstrations for the provision of vocational 
rehabilitation services to handicapped individuals, as determined in 
accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, are migra-
tory agricultural workers or seasonal farmworkers, and to members of 
their families (whether or not handicapped) who are with them, 
including maintenance and transportation of such individuals and 
members of their families where necessary to the rehabilitation of such 
individuals. Maintenance payments under this section shall be consist-
ent with any maintenance payments made to other handicapped indi-
viduals in the State under this Act. Such grants shall be conditioned 
upon satisfactory assurance that in the provision of such services there 
will be appropriate cooperation between the grantee and other public 
or nonprofit agencies and organizations having special skills and 
experience in the provision of services to migratory agricultural work-
ers, seasonal farmworkers, or their families. This subsection shall be 
administered in coordination with other programs serving migrant 
agricultural workers and seasonal farmworkers, including programs 
under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
section 311 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Migrant 
Health Act, and the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963. 
(d) The Secretary is authorized to make contracts or jointly 
financed cooperative arrangements with employers and organizations 
for the establishment of projects designed to prepare handicapped 
individuals for gainful and suitable employment in the competitive 
labor market under which handicapped individuals are provided train-
ing and employment in a realistic work setting and such other services 
(determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secre-
tary) as may be necessary for such individuals to continue to engage in 
such employment. 
5 use 5332 
note. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
383 
(e)(1) The Secretary is authorized, directly or by contract with 
Technical 
State vocational rehabilitation agencies or experts or consultants or 
groups thereof, to provide technical assistance (A) to rehabilitation 
facilities, and (B) for the purpose of removal of architectural and 
transportation barriers, to any public or nonprofit agency, institution, 
organization or facility. 
(2) Any such experts or consultants shall, while serving pursuant to 
such contracts, be entitled to receive compensation at rates fixed by the 
Secretary, but not exceeding the pro rata pay rate for a person 
employed as a GS-18, under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, 
including traveltime, and while so serving away from their homes or 
regular places of business, they may be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 
of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government service s^sttlTigV.^' 
employed intermittently. 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND YOUTHS AND ADULTS 
SEC. 305. (a) For the purpose of establishing and operating a 
Appropriation. 
National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, there is author-
ized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for construc-
tion, which shall remain available until expended, and such sums as 
may be necessary for operations for the fiscal years ending June 30, 
1974, and June 30,1975. 
^ b ) 
I n o r d e r 
Establishment, 
(1) to demonstrate methods of (A) providing the specialized ''°"''^^ ^" °" ^* 
intensive services, and other services, needed to rehabilitate handi-
capped individuals who are both deaf and blind, and (B) training 
the professional and allied personnel needed adequately to staff 
facilities specifically designed to provide such services and train-
ing to such personnel who have been or will be w^orking with 
deaf-blind individuals; 
(2) to conduct research in the problems of, and ways of meeting 
the problems of rehabilitating, deaf-blind individuals; and 
(3) to aid in the conduct of related activities which will expand 
or improve the services for or help improve public understanding 
of the problems of deaf-blind individuals; 
the Secretary, subject to the provisions of section 306, is authorized to 
enter into an agreement with any public or nonprofit agency or organi-
zation for payment by the United States of all or part of the costs of 
the establishment and operation, including construction and equip-
ment, of a center for vocational rehabilitation of handicapped indi-
viduals who are both deaf and blind, which center shall be known as 
the National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. 
(c) Any agency or organization desiring to enter into such agree-
ment shall submit a proposal therefor at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as may be prescribed in regulations 
by the Secretary. In considering such proposals the Secretary shall 
give preference to proposals which* (1) give promise of maximum effec-
tiveness in the organization and operation of such Center, and (2) give 
promise of offering the most substantial skill, experience, and capa-
bility in providing a broad program of service, research, training, and 
related activities in the field of rehabilitation of deaf-blind individuals. 
384 
PUBLIC L
A
W 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
GENERAL GRANT AND CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 
Applicability. 
SEC. 306. (a) The provisions of this section shall apply to all projects 
approved and assisted under this title. The Secretary shall insure com-
pliance with this section prior to making any grant or entering into 
any contract or agreement under this title, except projects authorized 
under section 302. 
Construction 
(jj) ^o be approved, an application for assistance for a construction 
project approval, 
^ • 
, 
-, 
i / . 
, . . , ' 
/• ^ 
conditions. 
pToject uuder this title must— 
(1) contain or be supported by reasonable assurances that (A) 
for a period of not less than twenty years after completion of 
construction of the project it will be used as a public or nonprofit 
facility, (B) sufficient funds will be available to meet the non-
Federal share of the cost of construction of the project, and (C) 
sufficient funds will be available, when construction of the project 
is completed, for its effective use for its intended purpose; 
(2) provide that Federal funds provided to any agency or orga-
nization under this title will be used only for the purposes for 
which provided and in accordance with the applicable provisions 
of this section and the section under which such funds are 
provided; 
Report, trans- 
(3) provldc that the agency or organization receivinor Federal 
gress. 
" 
funds Under this title will make an annual report to the Secretary, 
which he shall summarize and comment upon in the annual report 
Post, p. 387. 
to the Congress submitted under section 404; 
(4) be accompanied or supplemented by plans and specifica-
tions in which due consideration shall be given to excellence of 
architecture and design, and to the inclusion of works of art (not 
representing more than 1 per centum of the cost of the project), 
and which comply with regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
related to minimum standards of construction and equipment 
(promulgated with particular emphasis on securing compliance 
with the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 
82 Stat.^718; 
(Public Law 90-480)), and with regulations of the Secretary of 
Labor relating to occupational health and safety standards for 
rehabilitation facilities; and 
(5) contain or be supported by reasonable assurance that any 
laborer or mechanic employed by any contractor or subcontractor 
in the performance of work on any construction aided by pay-
ments pursuant to any grant under this section will be paid wages 
at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in 
the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance 
49 Stat. 1011; 
with Davis-Bacou Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a—276a-5); 
78 Stat. 238. 
^^^ ^^iQ Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor 
standards specified in this paragraph, the authority and functions 
set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 
o/o ^'°V,l^^^' 
3176) and section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934, as amended 
84 Stat. 235. 
/ ^ n T - r o / ^ 
c\iyo \ 
5 use app. 
(40 U.S.C. 276c). 
63 Stat. 108. 
(c) Upon approval of any application for a grant or contract for a 
project under this title, the Secretary shall reserve, from any appro-
priation available therefore, the amount of such grant or contract 
determined under this title. In case an amendment to an approved 
application is approved, or the estimated cost of a project is revised 
upward, any additional payment with respect thereto may be made 
from the appropriation from which the original reservation was made 
or the appropriation for the fiscal year in which such amendment or 
revision is approved. 
84 Stat. 49 
42 u s e 4151 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
385 
(d) If, within twenty years after completion of any construction 
project for which funds have been paid under this title, the facility 
shall cease to be a public or nonprofit facility, the United States shall 
be entitled to recover from the applicant or other owner of the facility 
the amount bearing the same ratio to the then value (as determined 
by agreement of the parties or by action brought in the United States 
district court for the district in which such facility is situated) of the 
facility, as the amoimt of the Federal participation bore to the cost of 
construction of such facility. 
(e) Payment of assistance or reservation of funds made pursuant 
to this title may be made (after necessary adjustment on account of 
previously made overpayments or underpayments) in advance or by 
way of reimbursement, and in such installments and on such condi-
tions, as the Secretary may determine. 
(f) A project for construction of a rehabilitation facility which is 
primarily a workshop may, where approved by the Secretary as 
necessary to the eifective operation of the facility, include such 
construction as may be necessary to provide residential accommoda-
tions for use in connection with the rehabilitation of handicapped 
individuals. 
(g) No funds provided under this title may be used to assist in the 
construction of any facility which is or will be used for religious wor-
ship or any sectarian activity. 
(h) When in any State, funds provided under this title will be used 
for providing direct services to handicapped individuals or for estab-
lishing facilities which will provide such services, such services must 
be carried out in a manner not inconsistent with the State plan 
approved pursuant to section 101. 
(i) Prior to making any grant or entering into any contract under 
this title, the Secretary shall afford reasonable opportunity to the 
appropriate State agency or agencies designated pursuant to section 
101 to comment on such grant or contract. 
TITLE IV—ADMINISTRATIOX AND PROGRAJkl AND 
PROJECT EVALUATION 
Workshops, 
residential accom-
modations. 
Sectarian a c t i v 
ity, funds prohibi-
tion. 
Ante, 
p. 363. 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 400. (a) In carrying out his duties under this Act, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) cooperate with, and render technical assistance (directly 
or by grant or contract) to States in matters relating to the reha-
bilitation of handicapped individuals; 
(2) provide short-term training and instruction in technical 
matter's relating to vocational rehabilitation services, including 
the establishment and maintenance of such research fellowships 
and traineeships, with such stipends and allowances (including 
travel and subsistence expenses), as he may deem necessary, 
except that no such training or instruction (or fellowship or 
scholarship) shall be provided any individual for any one coui-se 
of study for a period in excess of four years, and such training, 
instruction, fellowships, and traineeships may be in the fields of 
rehabilitation medicine, rehabilitation nursing, rehabilitation 
counseling, rehabilitation social work, rehabilitation psychology, 
physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and 
audiology, prosthetics and orthotics, recreation for ill and handi-
capped individuals, and other specialized fields contributing to 
the rehabilitation of handicapped individuals; and 
Technical ai; 
sistance to 
States. 
Short-term 
traineeships. 
22-150 O - 75 - 27 
386 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Information 
dissemination. 
Rules and regu-
lations. 
Ante, pp. 363, 
377. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
Investigative 
authority. 
Disabled vet-
erans, program 
coordination. 
72 Stat. 1171. 
38 u s e 1501 
et 
seq. 
Ante, p. 375. 
Ante, p. 363. 
Report to con-
gressional com-
mittees. 
(3) disseminate information relating to vocational rehabilita-
tion services, and otherwise promote the cause of the rehabilitation 
of handicapped individuals and their greater utilization in gain-
ful and suitable employment. 
(b) The Secretary is authorized to make rules and regulations gov-
erning the administration of this title and titles I through I I I of this 
Act, and, except as otherwise provided in this Act, to delegate to any 
officer or employee of the United States such of his powers and duties 
under such titles, except the making of rules and regulations, as he 
finds necessary to carry out the provisions of such titles. Such rules 
and regulations shall be published in the Federal Register, on at least 
an interim basis, no later than ninety days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) The Secretary is authorized (directly or by grants or contracts) 
to conduct studies, investigations, and evaluation of the programs 
authorized by this Act, and to make reports, with respect to abilities, 
aptitudes, and capacities of handicapped individuals, development of 
their potentialities, their utilization in gainful and suitable employ-
ment, and with respect to architectural, transportation, and other envi-
ronmental and attitudinal barriers to their rehabilitation, including 
the problems of homebound, institutionalized, and older blind 
individuals. 
(d) There is authorized to be included for each fiscal year in the 
appropriation for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 
such sums as are necessary to administer the provisions of this Act. 
(e) In carrying out his duties under this Act, the Secretary shall 
insure the maximum coordination and consultation, at both national 
and local levels, with the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and his 
designees with respect to programs for and relating to the rehabilita-
tion of disabled veterans carried out under title 38, United States 
Code. 
PROGRAM AND PROJECT EVALUATION 
SEC. 401. (a)(1) The Secretary shall measure and evaluate the 
impact of all programs authorized by this Act, in order to determine 
their effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in relation 
to their cost, their impact on related programs, and their structure 
and mechanisms for delivery of services, including, where appro-
priate, comparisons with appropriate control groups composed of 
j>ersons who have not participated in such programs. Evaluations 
shall be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the admin-
istration of the program or project evaluated. 
(2) In carrying out his responsibilities under this subsection, the 
Secretary, in the case of research, demonstrations, and related activi-
ties carried out under section 202, shall, after taking into consideration 
the views of State agencies designated pursuant to section 101, on an 
annual basis— 
(A) reassess priorities to which such activities should be 
directed; and 
(B) review present research, demonstration, and related activ-
ities to determine, in terms of the purpose specified for such activi-
ties by subsection (a) of section 202, whether and on what basis 
such activities should be continued, revised, or terminated. 
(3) The Secretary shall, within 12 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and on each April 1 thereafter, prepare and furnish 
to the appropriate committees of the Congress a complete report on 
the determination and review carried out under paragraph (2) of this 
subsection, together with such recommendations, including any recom-
mendations for additional legislation, as he deems appropriate. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
387 
(b) Effective July 1, 1974, before funds for the programs and proj- standa"ds'°"ubii. 
ects covered by this Act are released, the Secretary shall develop and cation. 
publish general standards for evaluation of the programs and project 
effectiveness in achieving the objectives of this Act. He shall consider 
the extent to which such standards have been met in deciding, in 
accordance with procedures set forth in subsection (b), (c), and (d) of 
section 101, whether to renew or supplement financial assistance 
^"'^' P- 363. 
authorized under any section of this Act, Reports submitted pursuant 
to section 404 shall describe the actions taken as a result of these 
evaluations. 
(c^ In carrying out evaluations under this title, the Secretary shall, pantsWiTv^sT""'' 
whenever possible, arrange to obtain the specific views of persons par-
ticipating in and served by programs and projects assisted under this 
Act about such programs and projects. 
(d) The Secretary shall publish the results of evaluative research sea^c^h"re's'uur" 
and summaries of evaluations of program and project impact and publication, 
effectiveness no later than ninety days after the completion thereof. 
The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Con- j,(7'^re^"t"^^i *° 
gress copies of all suoh research studies and evaluation summaries. 
committees,^ 
(e) The Secretary shall take the necessary action to assure that all 
studies, evaluations, proposals, and data produced or developed with 
assistance under this Act shall become the property of the United 
States. 
OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL 
AGENCIES 
SEC. 402. Such information as the Secretary may deem necessary for 
purposes of the evaluations conducted under this title shall be made 
available to him, upon request, by the agencies of the executive branch. 
AUTHORIZATION 
OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 403. There is authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal years 
ending June 30, 1974, and June 30, 1975, such sums as the Secretary 
may require, but not to exceed an amount equal to one-half of 1 per 
centum of the funds appropriated under titles I, II, and I I I of this 
Act or $1,000,000, whichever is greater, to be available to conduct pro- ^y'^"*^yy^^' ^*'^' 
gram and project evaluations as required by this title. 
REPORTS 
SEC. 404. Not later than one hundred and twenty days after the close t^f """j^f/es^dem'' 
of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Pres- and congressT 
ident and to the Congress a full and complete report on the activities 
carried out under this Act. Such annual reports shall include (1) sta-
tistical data reflecting, with the maximum feasible detail vocational 
rehabilitation services provided handicapped individuals during the 
preceding fiscal year, (2) specifically distinguish among rehabilita-
tion closures attributable to physical restoration, placement in com-
petitive employment, extended or terminal employment in a sheltered 
workshop or rehabilitation facility, employment as a homemaker or 
unpaid family worker, and provision of other services, and (3) include 
a detailed evaluation of services provided with assistance under title I 
of this Act, especially services to those with the most severe handicaps. 
388 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Services, long-
range projection, 
submittal to Con-
gress. 
Information 
clearinghouse. 
Personnel 
selection. 
iSEORE'i'ARIAL RESrcmSlBILITIKS 
SEC. 405. (a) It shall be the function of the Secretary, "with the 
assistance of agencies within the Department, other departments and 
agencies within the Federal Government, handicapped individuals, 
and public and private agencies and organizations, through the Office 
of the Secretary, to— 
(1) prepare for submission to the Congress within eighteen 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, a long-range pi-o-
jection for the provision of comprehensive services to handicapped 
individuals and for programs of research, evaluation, and train-
ing related to such services and individuals; 
(2) analyze on a continuing basis and include in his report sub-
mitted under section 404, a report on the results of such analysis, 
program operation to determine consistency with applicable pro-
visions of law, progress toward meeting the goals and priorities 
set forth in the projection required under clause (1), and the 
effectiveness of all programs providing services to handicapped 
individuals, and the elimination of unnecessary duplication and 
overlap in such programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; 
(3) encourage coordinated and cooperative planning designed 
to produce maximum effectiveness, sensitivity, and continuity in 
the provision of services for handicapped individuals by all 
programs; 
(4) develop means of promoting the prompt utilization of engi-
neering and other scientific research to assist in solving problems 
in education (including promotion of the development of cur-
riculums stressing barrier free design and the adoption of such 
curriculums by schools of architecture, design, and engineering), 
health, employment, rehabilitation, architectural, housing, and 
transportation barriers, and other areas so as to bring about full 
integration of handicapped individuals into all aspects of society; 
(5) provide a central clearinghouse for information and 
resource availability for handicapped individuals through (A) 
the evaluation of systems within the Department of Health, Edu-
cation, and Welfare, other departments and agencies of the Fed-
eral Government, public and private agencies and organizations, 
and other sources, which provide (i) information and data regard-
ing the location, provision, and availability of services and pro-
grams for handicapped individuals, regarding research and recent 
medical and scientific developments bearing on handicapping 
conditions (and their prevention, amelioration, causes, and cures). 
and regarding the current numbers of handicapped individuals 
and their needs, and (ii) any other such relevant information and 
data which the Secretary deems necessary; and (B) utilizing the 
results of such evaluation and existing information systems, the 
development within such Department of a coordinated system of 
information and data retrieval, which will have the capacity and 
responsibility to provide general and specific information regard-
ing the information and data referred to in subclause (A) of this 
clause to the Congress, public and private agencies and organiza-
tions, handicapped individuals and their families, professionals 
in fields serving such individuals, and the general public. 
(b) In selecting personnel to assist in the performance of the func-
tions assigned in sui)section (a) of this section, the Secretary shall give 
special emphasis to qualified handicapped individuals. 
87 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 9 3 - 1 1 2 - S E P T . 26, 1973 
389 
(c) The functions assigned to the Secretary by this section shall not j^^^f^^ ^°ed"^^ 
be delegated to any persons not assigned to and operating in the Ofl&ce establishment. 
of the Secretary, except that he may establish an Office for the Handi-
capped in the office of an appropriate Assistant Secretary of the 
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to carry out such 
functions. 
(d) There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this 
Appropriation, 
section $500,000 each for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1974, and 
June 30, 1975. 
(e) Not later than thirty days after the appropriation Act con- 
?""'^^' avaii-
taining sums for carrying out the provisions of this Act is enacted for Tion'of'c^ngrrs-" 
each fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside out of sums available to sionai committees. 
carry out this section or otherwise available pursuant to any other 
Act, an amount which he determines is necessary and appropriate to 
enable him to carry out the provisions of this section and shall notify 
the appropriate committees of the Congress of the amount so set aside, 
the number of personnel necessary for such purpose, and the basis 
for his determination under this subsection and his reasons therefor. 
SHELTERED WORKSHOP 
STUDY 
SEC. 406. (a) The Secretary shall conduct an original study of the 
role of sheltered workshops in the rehabilitation and employment of 
handicapped individuals, including a study of wage payments in 
sheltered workshops. The study shall incorporate guidelines which are 
consistent with criteria provided in resolutions adopted by the Com-
mittee on Labor and Public Welfare of the United States Senate or 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the United States House of 
Representatives, or both. 
(b) The study shall include site visits to sheltered workshops, inter-
views with handicapped trainees or clients, and consultations with 
interested individuals and groups and State agencies designated pur-
suant to section 101. 
^"'e* p- 363. 
(c) Any contracts awarded for the purpose of carrying out all or 
part of this study shall not be made with individuals or groups with 
a financial or other direct interest in sheltered workshops. 
(d) The Secretary shall report to the Congress his findings and 
Report to 
recommendations with respect to such study within twenty-four 
°"^'"^^^' 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
STATE ALLOCATION STUDY 
SEC. 407. (a) The Secretary shall conduct a thorough study of the 
allotment of funds among the States for grants for basic vocational 
rehabilitation services authorized under part B of title I of this Act, 
^"'^' P- 37O. 
including a consideration of— 
(1) the needs of individuals requiring vocational rehabilitation 
services; 
(2) the financial capability of the States to furnish vocational 
rehabilitation assistance including, on a State-by-State basis, per 
capita income, per capita costs of services rendered, State tax 
rates, and the ability and willingness of a State to provide the 
non-Federal share of the costs of rendering such services; 
(3) the continuing demand upon the States to furnish voca-
tional rehabilitation services, together with a consideration of the 
factor that no State would receive less Federal financial assistance 
under such part than it received under section 2 of the Vocational 
Rehabilitation Act in the fiscal year immediately prior to the 
^^ stat. 1282. 
enactment of this Act. 
390 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
Report to 
Congress. 
(b) Not later than June 30, 1974, the Secretary shall report to the 
Congress his findings and recommendations, including recommenda-
tions for additional legislation, with respect to the study required by 
this section, which report shall include recommendations with respect 
to allotment of Federal funds among the States and the Federal share 
of the cost of furnishing vocational rehabilitation services by the 
States. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Repeal. 
68 Stat. 652; 
79 Stat. 1282; 
82 Stat. 297. 
Unused funds. 
Savings pro-
vision. 
Appropriations, 
extension. 
EFFECT ON EXISTING LAW 
SEC. 500. (a) The Vocational Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 31 
et seq.) is repealed ninety days after the date of enactment of this Act 
and references to such Vocational Rehabilitation Act in any other pro-
vision of law shall, ninety days after such date, be deemed to be refer-
ences to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Unexpended appropriations 
for carrying out the Vocational Rehabilitation Act may be made 
available to carry out this Act, as directed by the President. Approved 
State plans for vocational rehabilitation, approved projects, and con-
tractual arrangements authorized under the Vocational Rehabilitation 
Act will be recognized under comparable provisions of this Act so 
that there is no disruption of ongoing activities for which there is 
continuing authority. 
(b) The authorizations of appropriations in the Vocational Reha-
bilitation Act are hereby extended at the level specified for the fiscal 
year 1972 for the fiscal year 1973. 
Interagency 
Committee on 
Handicapped 
Employees. 
Establishment. 
83 Stat. 864. 
5 u s e 5315 
note. 
Committee 
functions. 
Federal agen-
cies, affirmative 
action program 
plans. 
EMPLOYMENT OF HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS 
SEC. 501. (a) There is established within the Federal Government 
an Interagency Committee on Handicapped Employees (hereinafter 
in this section referred to as the "Committee"), comprised of such 
members as the President may select, including the following (or their 
designees whose positions are Executive Level IV or higher) : the 
Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, the Administrator of 
Veterans' Affairs, and the Secretaries of Labor and Health, Education, 
and Welfare. The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and 
the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission shall serve as co-chair-
men of the Committee. The resources of the President's Committees on 
Employment of the Handicapped and on Mental Retardation shall be 
made fully available to the Committee. It shall be the purpose and 
function of the Committee (1) to provide a focus for Federal and other 
employment of handicapped individuals, and to review, on a periodic 
basis, in cooperation with the Civil Service Commission, the adequacy 
of hiring, placement, and advancement practices with respect to handi-
capped individuals, by each department, agency, and instrumentality 
in the executive branch of Government, and to insure that the special 
needs of such individuals are being met; and (2) to consult with the 
Civil Service Commission to assist the Commission to carry out its 
responsibilities under subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section. 
On the basis of such review and consultation, the Committee shall peri-
odically make to the Civil Service Commission such recommendations 
for legislative and administrative changes as it deems necessary or 
desirable. The Civil Service Commission shall timely transmit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress any such recommendations. 
(b) Each department, agency, and instrumentality (including the 
United States Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission) in the 
executive branch shall, within one hundred and eighty days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, submit to the Civil Service Commission 
gressional com-
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112~SEPT. 26, 1973 
391 
and to the Committee an affirmative action program plan for the hir-
ing, placement, and advancement of handicapped individuals in such 
department, agency, or instrumentality. Such plan shall include a 
description of the extent to which and methods whereby the special 
needs of handicapped employees are being met. Such plan shall be 
updated annually, and shall be reviewed annually and approved by the 
Commission, if the Commission determines, after consultation with the 
Committee, that such plan provides sufficient assurances, procedures 
and commitments to provide adequate hiring, placement, and advance-
ment opportunities for handicapped individuals. 
(c) The Civil Service Commission, after consultation with the Com- i„^f'|^^a\"^'e^. 
mittee, shall develop and recommend to the Secretary for referral to ployment. 
the appropriate State agencies, policies and procedures which will 
facilitate the hiring, placement, and advancement in employment of 
individuals who have received rehabilitation services under State voca-
tional rehabilitation programs, veterans' programs, or any other pro-
gram for handicapped individuals, including the promotion of job 
opportunities for such individuals. The Secretary shall encourage such 
State agencies to adopt and implement such policies and procedures. 
(d) The Civil Service Commission, after consultation with the Com- ^^^^^°^^J^°f°^' 
mittee, shall, on June 30, 1974, and at the end of each subsequent fiscal 
year, make a complete report to the appropriate committees of the 
Congress with respect to the practices of and achievements in hiring, 
placement, and advancement of handicapped individuals by each 
department, agency, and instrumentality and the effectiveness of the 
affirmative action programs required by subsection (b) of this section, 
together with recommendations as to legislation which have been sub-
mitted to the Civil Service Commission under subsection (a) of this 
section, or other appropriate action to insure the adequacy of such 
practices. Such report shall also include an evaluation by the Com-
mittee of the effectiveness of the Civil Service Commission's activities 
under subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 
(e) An individual who, as a part of his individualized written 
unpaid Federal 
rehabilitation program under a State plan approved under this Act, ^""^ experience. 
participates in a program of unpaid work experience in a Federal 
agency, shall not, by reason thereof, be considered to be a Federal 
employee or to be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal 
employment, including those relating to hours of work rates of com-
pensation, leave, unemployment compensation, and Federal employee 
benefits. 
(f) (1) The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health, Educa- 
Federal agency 
tion, and Welfare are authorized and directed to cooperate with the '=°°P^'"^*'°"-
President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped in carry-
ing out its functions, 
(2) In selecting personnel to fill all positions on the President's 
Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, special consideration 
shall be given to qualified handicapped individuals. 
ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD 
SEC. 502. (a) There is established within the Federal Government 
Establishment; 
the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board '"^'"''"^^^P* 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Board") which shall be composed of 
the heads of each of the following departments or agencies (or their 
designees whose positions are Executive Level IV or higher) : 
^^ ^*^*- ^^''• 
(1) Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; 
noLV^*^ ^^^ ^ 
(2) Department of Transportation; 
(3) Department of Housing and Urban Development; 
(4) Department of Labor; 
392 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
82 Stat. 718; 
84 Stat. 49. 
42 use 4151, 
International 
Accessibility 
Symbol, pro-
motion. 
Reports to 
President and 
Congress. 
Transportation 
barriers. 
5 u s e 551, 701. 
'5) Department of the Interior; 
[Q) General Services Administration; 
(7) United States Postal Service; and 
(8) Veterans' Administration. 
(b) It shall be the function of the Board to: (1) insure compliance 
with the standards prescribed by the General Services Administration, 
the Department of Defense, and the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development pursuant to the Architectural Barriers Act of 
1968 (Public Law 90-480), as amended by the Act of March 5, 1970 
(Public Law 91-205) ; (2) investigate and examine alternative 
approaches to the architectural, transportation, and attitudinal bar-
riers confronting handicapped individuals, particularly with respect to 
public buildings and monuments, parks and parklands, public trans-
portation (including air, water, and surface transportation whether 
interstate, foreign, intrastate, or local), and residential and institu-
tional housing; (3) determine what measures are being taken by Fed-
eral, State, and local governments and by other public or nonprofit 
agencies to eliminate the barriers described in clause (2) of this sub-
section; (4) promote the use of the International Accessibility Symbol 
in all public facilities that are in compliance with the standards pre-
scribed by the Administrator of the General Services Administration, 
the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development pursuant to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968; (5) 
make to the President and to Congress reports which shall describe in 
detail the results to its investigations under clauses (2) and (3) of 
this subsection; and (6) make to the President and to the Congress 
such recommendations for legislation and administration as it deems 
necessary or desirable to eliminate the barriers described in clause (2) 
of this subsection. 
(c) The Board shall also (1) (A) determine how and to what extent 
transportation barriers impede the mobility of handicapped individ-
uals and aged handicapped individuals and consider ways in which 
travel expenses in connection with transportation to and from work 
for handicapped individuals can be met or subsidized when such indi-
viduals are unable to use mass transit systems or need special equip-
ment in private transportation, and (B) consider the housing needs of 
handicapped individuals; (2) determine what measures are being 
taken, especially by public and other nonprofit agencies and groups 
having an interest in and a capacity to deal with such problems, (A) 
to eliminate barriers from public transportation systems (including 
vehicles used in such systems), and to prevent their incorporation in 
new or expanded transportation systems and (B) to make housing 
available and accessible to handicapped individuals or to meet shel-
tered housing needs; and (3) prepare plans and proposals for such 
further actions as may be necessary to the goals of adequate transpor-
tation and housing for handicapped individuals, including proposals 
for bringing together in a cooperative effort, agencies, organizations, 
and groups already working toward such goals or whose cooperation 
is essential to effective and comprehensive action. 
(d) In carrying out its functions under this section, the Board shall 
conduct investigations, hold public hearings, and issue such orders as 
it deems necessary to insure compliance with the provisions of the Acts 
cited in subsection (b). The provisions of subchapter I I of chapter 5. 
and chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to procedures 
under this section, and an order of compliance issued by the Board 
shall be a final order for purposes of judicial review. 
87 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-112-SEPT. 26, 1973 
393 
(e) The Board is authorized to appoint as many hearing examiners 
as are necessary for proceedings required to be conducted under this 
section. The provisions applicable to hearing examiners appointed 
under section 3105 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to hearing 
examiners appointed under this subsection. 
(f) The departments or agencies specified in subsection (a) of this 
section shall make available to the Board such technical, administra-
tive, or other assistance as it may require to carry out its functions 
under this section, and the Board may appoint such other advisers, 
technical experts, and consultants as it deems necessary to assist it in 
(tarrying out its functions under this section. Special advisory and 
technical experts and consultants appointed pursuant to this subsection 
shall, while performing their functions under this section, be entitled 
to receive compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not exceed-
ing the daily pay rate, for a person employed as a GS-18 under section 
.5332 of title 45, United States Code, including traveltime, and while 
serving away from their homes or regular places of business they may 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
as authorized by section 5703 of such title 5 for persons in the Govern-
ment service employed intermittently. 
(g) The Board shall, at the end of each fiscal year, report its activi-
ties during the preceding fiscal year to the Congress. Such report shall 
include an assessment of the extent of compliance with the Acts cited 
in subsection (b) of this section, along with a description and analysis 
of investigations made and actions taken by the Board, and the reports 
and recommendations described in clauses (5) and (6) of subsection 
(b) of this section. The Board shall prepare two final reports of its 
activities under subsection (c). One such report shall be on its activities 
in the field of transportation barriers to handicapped individuals, and 
the other such report shall be on its activities in the field of the housing 
needs of handicapped individuals. The Board shall, prior to January 1, 
1975, submit each such report, together with its recommendations, to 
the President and the Congress. The Board shall also prepare for such 
submission an interim report of its activities in each such field within 
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(h) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of 
carrying out the duties and functions of the Board under this section 
$1,000,000 each for the fiscal years ending June 30,1974, and June 30, 
1975. 
KMPLOYMEXT UXnEK FEOPmAL CONTRACTS 
SEC. 503. (a) Any contract in excess of $2,500 entered into by any 
Federal department or agency for the procurement of personal prop-
erty and nonpersonal services (including construction) for the ITnited 
States shall contain a provision requiring that, in employing persons 
to carry out such contract the party contracting with the United 
States shall take affirmative action to employ and advance in employ-
ment qualified handicapped individuals as defined in section 7(6). 
The provisions of this section shall apply to any subcontract in excess 
of $2,500 entered into by a prime contractor in carrying out anv con-
tract for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal serv-
ices (including construction) for the United States. The President 
shall implement the provisions of this section by promulgating regu-
lations within ninety days after the date of enactment of this section. 
(b) If any handicapped individual believes any contractor has 
failed or refuses to comply with the provisions of his contract with the 
United States, relating to employment of handicapped individuals, 
80 Stat. 415. 
Technical 
assistance., 
5 u s e 5332 
note. 
80 Stat. 499; 
83 Stat. 190. 
Report to 
Congress. 
Report to the 
President and 
Congress. 
Appropriation. 
Ante, p. 361. 
394 
PUBLIC LAW 93-113-OCT. 1, 1973 
[87 STAT. 
such individual may file a complaint with the Department of Labor. 
The Department shall promptly investigate such complaint and shall 
take such action thereon as the facts and circumstances warrant, con-
sistent with the terms of such contract and the laws and regulations 
applicable thereto. 
Waiver authority. 
(Q) fhe requirements of this section may be waived, in whole or in 
part, by the President with respect to a particular contract or sub-
contract, in accordance with guidelines set forth in regulations which 
he shall prescribe, when he determines that special circumstances in 
the national interest so require and states in writing his reasons for 
such determination. 
NONDISCRIMINATION UNDER FEDERAL GRANTS 
Ante, p. 361. 
SEC. 504. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the 
United States, as defined in section 7(6), shall, solely by reason of his 
handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits 
of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity 
receiving Federal financial assistance. 
Approved September 26, 1973. 
Public Law 93-113 
October 1, 1973 
AN ACT 
[s. 1148] 
To provide for the operation of programs by the ACTION Agency, to establish 
certain new such programs, and for other purposes. 
D 
teer 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
omestic voiun- United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act, with 
m's^^'"'''^ ^""^ ° the following table of contents, may be cited as the "Domestic Volun-
teer Service Act of 1973": 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
TITLE I—NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS 
PAET A—VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA 
Sec. 101. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 102. Authority to operate VISTA program. 
Sec. 103. Assignment of volunteers. 
Sec. 104. Terms and periods of service. 
, 
- , ;. . 
Sec. 105. Support services. 
Sec. 106. Participation of beneficiaries. 
. : 
Sec. 107. Participation of older persons. 
PART B—SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS 
Sec. 111. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 112. Authority to operate University Year for ACTION program. 
Sec. 113. Special conditions. 
Sec. 114. Special service-learning programs. 
PART C—SPECIAL. VOLUNTEEE PROGRAMS 
Sec. 121. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 122. Authority to establish and operate programs.