Assistive Technology Act of 1998/Title II/Subtitle A

Subtitle A — Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Sec. 201. Coordination of Federal Research Efforts.

Section 203 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended by section 405 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1988) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting after ``programs,´´ insert ``including programs relating to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design,´´;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by inserting ``(1)´´ before ``After receiving´´;

(B) by striking ``from individuals with disabilities and the individuals' representatives´´ and inserting ``from targeted individuals´´;

(C) by inserting after ``research´´ the following: ``(including assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design)´´; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

``(2) In carrying out its duties with respect to the conduct of Federal research (including assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design) related to rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, the Committee shall—

``(A) share information regarding the range of assistive technology research, and research that incorporates the principles of universal design, that is being carried out by members of the Committee and other Federal departments and organizations;

``(B) identify, and make efforts to address, gaps in assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design that are not being adequately addressed;

``(C) identify, and establish, clear research priorities related to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design for the Federal Government;

``(D) promote interagency collaboration and joint research activities relating to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design at the Federal level, and reduce unnecessary duplication of effort regarding these types of research within the Federal Government; and

``(E) optimize the productivity of Committee members through resource sharing and other cost-saving activities, related to assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design.´´;

(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

``(c) Not later than December 31 of each year, the Committee shall prepare and submit, to the President and to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, a report that—

``(1) describes the progress of the Committee in fulfilling the duties described in subsection (b);

``(2) makes such recommendations as the Committee determines to be appropriate with respect to coordination of policy and development of objectives and priorities for all Federal programs relating to the conduct of research (including assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design) related to rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities; and

``(3) describes the activities that the Committee recommended to be funded through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other mechanisms, for assistive technology research and development and research and development that incorporates the principles of universal design.´´; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

``(d)(1) In order to promote coordination and cooperation among Federal departments and agencies conducting assistive technology research programs, to reduce duplication of effort among the programs, and to increase the availability of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, the Committee may recommend activities to be funded through grants, contracts or cooperative agreements, or other mechanisms—

``(A) in joint research projects for assistive technology research and research that incorporates the principles of universal design; and

``(B) in other programs designed to promote a cohesive, strategic Federal program of research described in subparagraph (A).

``(2) The projects and programs described in paragraph (1) shall be jointly administered by at least 2 agencies or departments with representatives on the Committee.

``(3) In recommending activities to be funded in the projects and programs, the Committee shall obtain input from targeted individuals, and other organizations and individuals the Committee determines to be appropriate, concerning the availability and potential of technology for individuals with disabilities.

``(e) In this section, the terms ``assistive technology´´, ``targeted individuals´´, and ``universal design´´ have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.´´.

Sec. 202. National Council on Disability.

Section 401 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended by section 407 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(c)(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 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

``(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.´´.

Sec. 203. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

(a) IN GENERAL—

Section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (i) as subsections (e) through (j), respectively;

(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

``(d) Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the Access Board, after consultation with the Secretary, representatives of such public and private entities as the Access Board determines to be appropriate (including the electronic and information technology industry), targeted individuals (as defined in section 3 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998), and State information technology officers, shall provide training for Federal and State employees on any obligations related to section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.´´; and

(3) in the second sentence of paragraph (1) of subsection (e) (as redesignated in paragraph (1)), by striking ``subsection (e)´´ and inserting ``subsection (f)´´.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT—

Section 506(c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794(c)) is amended by striking ``section 502(h)(1)´´ and inserting ``section 502(i)(1)´´.