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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 781. Duties of National Council
(a) In general
The National Council shall -
(1) provide advice to the Director with respect to the policies
and conduct of the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research, including ways to improve research
concerning individuals with disabilities and the methods of
collecting and disseminating findings of such research;
(2) provide advice to the Commissioner with respect to the
policies of and conduct of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration;
(3) advise the President, the Congress, the Commissioner, the
appropriate Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education,
and the Director of the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research on the development of the programs to be
carried out under this chapter;
(4) provide advice regarding priorities for the activities of
the Interagency Disability Coordinating Council and review the
recommendations of such Council for legislative and
administrative changes to ensure that such recommendations are
consistent with the purposes of the Council to promote the full
integration, independence, and productivity of individuals with
disabilities;
(5) review and evaluate on a continuing basis -
(A) policies, programs, practices, and procedures concerning
individuals with disabilities conducted or assisted by Federal
departments and agencies, including programs established or
assisted under this chapter or under the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 [42
U.S.C. 15001 et seq.]; and
(B) all statutes and regulations pertaining to Federal
programs which assist such individuals with disabilities;
in order to assess the effectiveness of such policies, programs,
practices, procedures, statutes, and regulations in meeting the
needs of individuals with disabilities;
(6) assess the extent to which such policies, programs,
practices, and procedures facilitate or impede the promotion of
the policies set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
780(a)(2) of this title;
(7) gather information about the implementation, effectiveness,
and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
(8) make recommendations to the President, the Congress, the
Secretary, the Director of the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research, and other officials of Federal
agencies or other Federal entities, respecting ways to better
promote the policies set forth in section 780(a)(2) of this
title;
(9) provide to the Congress on a continuing basis advice,
recommendations, legislative proposals, and any additional
information that the National Council or the Congress deems
appropriate; and
(10) review and evaluate on a continuing basis new and emerging
disability policy issues affecting individuals with disabilities
at the Federal, State, and local levels, and in the private
sector, including the need for and coordination of adult
services, access to personal assistance services, school reform
efforts and the impact of such efforts on individuals with
disabilities, access to health care, and policies that operate as
disincentives for the individuals to seek and retain employment.
(b) Annual reports
(1) Not later than October 31, 1998, and annually thereafter, the
National Council shall prepare and submit to the President and the
appropriate committees of the Congress a report entitled "National
Disability Policy: A Progress Report".
(2) The report shall assess the status of the Nation in achieving
the policies set forth in section 780(a)(2) of this title, with
particular focus on the new and emerging issues impacting on the
lives of individuals with disabilities. The report shall present,
as appropriate, available data on health, housing, employment,
insurance, transportation, recreation, training, prevention, early
intervention, and education. The report shall include
recommendations for policy change.
(3) In determining the issues to focus on and the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations to include in the report, the
National Council shall seek input from the public, particularly
individuals with disabilities, representatives of organizations
representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities, and
organizations and agencies interested in individuals with
disabilities.
(c) Report describing barriers
(1) Not later than December 31, 1999, the Council shall prepare a
report describing the barriers in Federal assistive technology
policy to increasing the availability of and access to assistive
technology devices and assistive technology services for
individuals with disabilities.
(2) In preparing the report, the Council shall obtain input from
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
and the Association of Tech Act Projects, and from targeted
individuals, as defined in section 3002 of this title.
(3) The Council shall submit the report, along with such
recommendations as the Council determines to be appropriate, to the
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives.
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