42 USC 15021 - Purpose

§ 15021. Purpose
§ 15022. State allotments
§ 15023. Payments to the States for planning, administration, and services
§ 15024. State plan
§ 15025. State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and designated State agencies
§ 15026. Federal and non-Federal share
§ 15027. Withholding of payments for planning, administration, and services
§ 15028. Appeals by States
§ 15029. Authorization of appropriations

§ 15021. Purpose

The purpose of this part is to provide for allotments to support State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (referred to individually in this part as a “Council”) in each State to—

(1) engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that are consistent with the purpose described in section 15001(b) of this title and the policy described in section 15001(c) of this title; and

(2) contribute to a coordinated, consumer- and family-centered, consumer- and family-directed, comprehensive system of community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination, be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life.

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 121, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1693.)

§ 15022. State allotments

(a) Allotments

(1) In general

(A) Authority

For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with regulations and this paragraph, allot the sums appropriated for such year under section 15029 of this title among the States on the basis of—

(i) the population;

(ii) the extent of need for services for individuals with developmental disabilities; and

(iii) the financial need,

of the respective States.

(B) Use of funds

(2) Adjustments

(3) Minimum allotment for appropriations less than or equal to $70,000,000

(A) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (4), for any fiscal year the allotment under this section—

(i) to each of American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may not be less than $210,000; and

(ii) to any State not described in clause (i) may not be less than $400,000, the amount received by the State for the previous year, or the amount of Federal appropriations received in fiscal year 2000, 2001, or 2002, whichever is greater.

(B) Reduction of allotment

(4) Minimum allotment for appropriations in excess of $70,000,000

(A) In general

In any case in which the total amount appropriated under section 15029 of this title for a fiscal year is more than $70,000,000, the allotment under this section for such fiscal year—

(i) to each of American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may not be less than $220,000; and

(ii) to any State not described in clause (i) may not be less than $450,000, the amount received by the State for the previous year, or the amount of Federal appropriations received in fiscal year 2000, 2001, or 2002, whichever is greater.

(B) Reduction of allotment

(5) State supports, services, and other activities

(6) Increase in allotments

In any year in which the total amount appropriated under section 15029 of this title for a fiscal year exceeds the total amount appropriated under such section (or a corresponding provision) for the preceding fiscal year by a percentage greater than the most recent percentage change in the Consumer Price Index published by the Secretary of Labor under section 720(c)(1) of title 29 (if the percentage change indicates an increase), the Secretary shall increase each of the minimum allotments described in paragraphs (3) and (4). The Secretary shall increase each minimum allotment by an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of such minimum allotment (including any increases in such minimum allotment under this paragraph (or a corresponding provision) for prior fiscal years) as the amount that is equal to the difference between—

(A) the total amount appropriated under section 15029 of this title for the fiscal year for which the increase in the minimum allotment is being made; minus

(B) the total amount appropriated under section 15029 of this title (or a corresponding provision) for the immediately preceding fiscal year,

bears to the total amount appropriated under section 15029 of this title (or a corresponding provision) for such preceding fiscal year.

(b) Unobligated funds

(d) Cooperative efforts between States

(e) Reallotments

(1) In general

(2) Timing

(3) Amounts

(4) Reallotment of reductions

(5) Treatment

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 122, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1693; Pub. L. 108–154, § 3(a), Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1934.)

§ 15023. Payments to the States for planning, administration, and services

(a) State plan expenditures

(b) Designated State agency expenditures

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 123, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1696.)

§ 15024. State plan

(a) In general

(b) Planning cycle

(c) State plan requirementsIn order to be approved by the Secretary under this section, a State plan shall meet each of the following requirements:

(1) State Council

(2) Designated State agency

(3) Comprehensive review and analysisThe plan shall describe the results of a comprehensive review and analysis of the extent to which services, supports, and other assistance are available to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, and the extent of unmet needs for services, supports, and other assistance for those individuals and their families, in the State. The results of the comprehensive review and analysis shall include—

(A) a description of the services, supports, and other assistance being provided to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families under other federally assisted State programs, plans, and policies under which the State operates and in which individuals with developmental disabilities are or may be eligible to participate, including particularly programs relating to the areas of emphasis, including—

(i) medical assistance, maternal and child health care, services for children with special health care needs, children’s mental health services, comprehensive health and mental health services, and institutional care options;

(ii) job training, job placement, worksite accommodation, and vocational rehabilitation, and other work assistance programs; and

(iii) social, child welfare, aging, independent living, and rehabilitation and assistive technology services, and such other services as the Secretary may specify;

(B) a description of the extent to which agencies operating such other federally assisted State programs, including activities authorized under section 3003 or 3004 of title 29, pursue interagency initiatives to improve and enhance community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities;

(C) an analysis of the extent to which community services and opportunities related to the areas of emphasis directly benefit individuals with developmental disabilities, especially with regard to their ability to access and use services provided in their communities, to participate in opportunities, activities, and events offered in their communities, and to contribute to community life, identifying particularly—

(i) the degree of support for individuals with developmental disabilities that are attributable to either physical impairment, mental impairment, or a combination of physical and mental impairments;

(ii) criteria for eligibility for services, including specialized services and special adaptation of generic services provided by agencies within the State, that may exclude individuals with developmental disabilities from receiving services described in this clause;

(iii) the barriers that impede full participation of members of unserved and underserved groups of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;

(iv) the availability of assistive technology, assistive technology services, or rehabilitation technology, or information about assistive technology, assistive technology services, or rehabilitation technology to individuals with developmental disabilities;

(v) the numbers of individuals with developmental disabilities on waiting lists for services described in this subparagraph;

(vi) a description of the adequacy of current resources and projected availability of future resources to fund services described in this subparagraph;

(vii) a description of the adequacy of health care and other services, supports, and assistance that individuals with developmental disabilities who are in facilities receive (based in part on each independent review (pursuant to section 1396a(a)(30)(C) of this title) of an Intermediate Care Facility (Mental Retardation) within the State, which the State shall provide to the Council not later than 30 days after the availability of the review); and

(viii) to the extent that information is available, a description of the adequacy of health care and other services, supports, and assistance that individuals with developmental disabilities who are served through home and community-based waivers (authorized under section 1396n(c) of this title) receive;

(D) a description of how entities funded under parts C and D, through interagency agreements or other mechanisms, collaborated with the entity funded under this part in the State, each other, and other entities to contribute to the achievement of the purpose of this part; and

(E) the rationale for the goals related to advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change to be undertaken by the Council to contribute to the achievement of the purpose of this part.

(4) Plan goalsThe plan shall focus on Council efforts to bring about the purpose of this part, by—

(A) specifying 5-year goals, as developed through data driven strategic planning, for advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change related to the areas of emphasis, to be undertaken by the Council, that—

(i) are derived from the unmet needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families identified under paragraph (3); and

(ii) include a goal, for each year of the grant, to—(I) establish or strengthen a program for the direct funding of a State self-advocacy organization led by individuals with developmental disabilities;(II) support opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities who are considered leaders to provide leadership training to individuals with developmental disabilities who may become leaders; and(III) support and expand participation of individuals with developmental disabilities in cross-disability and culturally diverse leadership coalitions; and

(B) for each year of the grant, describing—

(i) the goals to be achieved through the grant, which, beginning in fiscal year 2002, shall be consistent with applicable indicators of progress described in section 15004(a)(3) of this title;

(ii) the strategies to be used in achieving each goal; and

(iii) the method to be used to determine if each goal has been achieved.

(5) Assurances

(A) In general

(B) Use of fundsWith respect to the funds paid to the State under section 15022 of this title, the plan shall provide assurances that—

(i) not less than 70 percent of such funds will be expended for activities related to the goals described in paragraph (4);

(ii) such funds will contribute to the achievement of the purpose of this part in various political subdivisions of the State;

(iii) such funds will be used to supplement, and not supplant, the non-Federal funds that would otherwise be made available for the purposes for which the funds paid under section 15022 of this title are provided;

(iv) such funds will be used to complement and augment rather than duplicate or replace services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who are eligible for Federal assistance under other State programs;

(v) part of such funds will be made available by the State to public or private entities;

(vi) at the request of any State, a portion of such funds provided to such State under this part for any fiscal year shall be available to pay up to ½ (or the entire amount if the Council is the designated State agency) of the expenditures found to be necessary by the Secretary for the proper and efficient exercise of the functions of the designated State agency, except that not more than 5 percent of such funds provided to such State for any fiscal year, or $50,000, whichever is less, shall be made available for total expenditures for such purpose by the designated State agency; and

(vii) not more than 20 percent of such funds will be allocated to the designated State agency for service demonstrations by such agency that—(I) contribute to the achievement of the purpose of this part; and(II) are explicitly authorized by the Council.

(D) Conflict of interest

(E) Urban and rural poverty areas

(F) Program accessibility standards

(G) Individualized services

(H) Human rights

(I) Minority participation

(J) Employee protections

(K) Staff assignments

(L) Noninterference

(M) State quality assurance

(N) Other assurances

(d) Public input and review, submission, and approval

(1) Public input and review

(2) Consultation with the designated State agency

(3) Plan approval

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 124, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1696; Pub. L. 108–364, § 3(a)(1), Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1736.)

§ 15025. State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and designated State agencies

(a) In general

(b) Council membership

(1) Council appointments

(A) In general

(B) Recommendations

(2) Membership rotation

(3) Representation of individuals with developmental disabilitiesNot less than 60 percent of the membership of each Council shall consist of individuals who are—

(A)

(i) individuals with developmental disabilities;

(ii) parents or guardians of children with developmental disabilities; or

(iii) immediate relatives or guardians of adults with mentally impairing developmental disabilities who cannot advocate for themselves; and

(B) not employees of a State agency that receives funds or provides services under this part, and who are not managing employees (as defined in section 1126(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–5(b)) of any other entity that receives funds or provides services under this part.

(4) Representation of agencies and organizations

(A) In generalEach Council shall include—

(i) representatives of relevant State entities, including—(I) State entities that administer funds provided under Federal laws related to individuals with disabilities, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), and titles V and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq. and 1396 et seq.);(II) Centers in the State; and(III) the State protection and advocacy system; and

(ii) representatives, at all times, of local and nongovernmental agencies, and private nonprofit groups concerned with services for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State in which such agencies and groups are located.

(B) Authority and limitationsThe representatives described in subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) have sufficient authority to engage in policy planning and implementation on behalf of the department, agency, or program such representatives represent; and

(ii) recuse themselves from any discussion of grants or contracts for which such representatives’ departments, agencies, or programs are grantees, contractors, or applicants and comply with the conflict of interest assurance requirement under section 15024(c)(5)(D) of this title.

(5) Composition of membership with developmental disabilitiesOf the members of the Council described in paragraph (3)—

(A) ⅓ shall be individuals with developmental disabilities described in paragraph (3)(A)(i);

(B) ⅓ shall be parents or guardians of children with developmental disabilities described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), or immediate relatives or guardians of adults with developmental disabilities described in paragraph (3)(A)(iii); and

(6) Institutionalized individuals

(A) In general

(B) Limitation

(1) In general

(2) Advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities

(3) Examination of goalsAt the end of each grant year, each Council shall—

(A) determine the extent to which each goal of the Council was achieved for that year;

(B) determine to the extent that each goal was not achieved, the factors that impeded the achievement;

(C) determine needs that require amendment of the 5-year strategic State plan required under section 15024 of this title;

(D) separately determine the information on the self-advocacy goal described in section 15024(c)(4)(A)(ii) of this title; and

(E) determine customer satisfaction with Council supported or conducted activities.

(4) State plan development

(5) State plan implementation

(A) In general

(B) Outreach

(D) Technical assistance

(E) Supporting and educating communitiesThe Council may support and conduct activities to assist neighborhoods and communities to respond positively to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families—

(i) by encouraging local networks to provide informal and formal supports;

(ii) through education; and

(iii) by enabling neighborhoods and communities to offer such individuals and their families access to and use of services, resources, and opportunities.

(F) Interagency collaboration and coordination

(G) Coordination with related councils, committees, and programsThe Council may support and conduct activities to enhance coordination of services with—

(i) other councils, entities, or committees, authorized by Federal or State law, concerning individuals with disabilities (such as the State interagency coordinating council established under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the State Rehabilitation Council and the Statewide Independent Living Council established under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the State mental health planning council established under subtitle B 1

1 See References in Text note below.

of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300x et seq.], and the activities authorized under section 3003 or 3004 of title 29, and entities carrying out other similar councils, entities, or committees);

(ii) parent training and information centers under part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) and other entities carrying out federally funded projects that assist parents of children with disabilities; and

(iii) other groups interested in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities to benefit individuals with disabilities.

(H) Barrier elimination, systems design and redesign

(I) Coalition development and citizen participation

(J) Informing policymakers

(K) Demonstration of new approaches to services and supports

(i) In general

(ii) Sources of funding

(L) Other activities

(6) Review of designated State agency

(7) ReportsBeginning in fiscal year 2002, the Council shall annually prepare and transmit to the Secretary a report. Each report shall be in a form prescribed by the Secretary by regulation under section 15004(b) of this title. Each report shall contain information about the progress made by the Council in achieving the goals of the Council (as specified in section 15024(c)(4) of this title), including—

(A) a description of the extent to which the goals were achieved;

(B) a description of the strategies that contributed to achieving the goals;

(D) separate information on the self-advocacy goal described in section 15024(c)(4)(A)(ii) of this title;

(E)

(i) as appropriate, an update on the results of the comprehensive review and analysis described in section 15024(c)(3) of this title; and

(ii) information on consumer satisfaction with Council supported or conducted activities;

(F)

(i) a description of the adequacy of health care and other services, supports, and assistance that individuals with developmental disabilities in Intermediate Care Facilities (Mental Retardation) receive; and

(ii) a description of the adequacy of health care and other services, supports, and assistance that individuals with developmental disabilities served through home and community-based waivers (authorized under section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396n(c)) receive;

(G) an accounting of the manner in which funds paid to the State under this part for a fiscal year were expended;

(H) a description of—

(i) resources made available to carry out activities to assist individuals with developmental disabilities that are directly attributable to Council actions; and

(ii) resources made available for such activities that are undertaken by the Council in collaboration with other entities; and

(I) a description of the method by which the Council will widely disseminate the annual report to affected constituencies and the general public and will assure that the report is available in accessible formats.

(8) BudgetEach Council shall prepare, approve, and implement a budget using amounts paid to the State under this part to fund and implement all programs, projects, and activities carried out under this part, including—

(A)

(i) conducting such hearings and forums as the Council may determine to be necessary to carry out the duties of the Council; and

(ii) as determined in Council policy—(I) reimbursing members of the Council for reasonable and necessary expenses (including expenses for child care and personal assistance services) for attending Council meetings and performing Council duties;(II) paying a stipend to a member of the Council, if such member is not employed or must forfeit wages from other employment, to attend Council meetings and perform other Council duties;(III) supporting Council member and staff travel to authorized training and technical assistance activities including in-service training and leadership development activities; and(IV) carrying out appropriate subcontracting activities;

(B) hiring and maintaining such numbers and types of staff (qualified by training and experience) and obtaining the services of such professional, consulting, technical, and clerical staff (qualified by training and experience), consistent with State law, as the Council determines to be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council under this part, except that such State shall not apply hiring freezes, reductions in force, prohibitions on travel, or other policies to the staff of the Council, to the extent that such policies would impact the staff or functions funded with Federal funds, or would prevent the Council from carrying out the functions of the Council under this part; and

(C) directing the expenditure of funds for grants, contracts, interagency agreements that are binding contracts, and other activities authorized by the State plan approved under section 15024 of this title.

(9) Staff hiring and supervision

(10) Staff assignments

(11) Construction

(d) Designated State agency

(1) In general

(2) Designation

(A) Type of agencyExcept as provided in this subsection, the designated State agency shall be—

(i) the Council if such Council may be the designated State agency under the laws of the State;

(ii) a State agency that does not provide or pay for services for individuals with developmental disabilities; or

(iii) a State office, including the immediate office of the Governor of the State or a State planning office.

(B) Conditions for continuation of State service agency designation

(i) Designation before April 6, 1994

(ii) Criteria for continued designationThe determination, at the discretion of the Governor (or the legislature, as the case may be), shall be made after—(I) the Governor has considered the comments and recommendations of the general public and a majority of the non-State agency members of the Council with respect to the designation of such State agency; and(II) the Governor (or the legislature, as the case may be) has made an independent assessment that the designation of such agency will not interfere with the budget, personnel, priorities, or other action of the Council, and the ability of the Council to serve as an independent advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.

(D) Appeal of designation

(3) Responsibilities

(A) In general

(B) Support services

(i) receive, account for, and disburse funds under this part based on the State plan required in section 15024 of this title; and

(ii) provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursement of, and accounting for, funds paid to the State under this part.

(D) Records, access, and financial reports

(E) Non-Federal share

(F) Assurances

(G) Memorandum of understanding

(4) Use of funds for designated State agency responsibilities

(A) Condition for Federal funding

(i) In general

(ii) Exception

(B) Support services provided by other agencies

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 125, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1701; Pub. L. 108–364, § 3(a)(2), Oct. 25, 2004, 118 Stat. 1736; Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 305(n)(1), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2806.)

§ 15026. Federal and non-Federal share

(a) Aggregate cost

(1) In general

(2) Urban or rural poverty areas

(3) State plan activities

(b) Nonduplication

In determining the amount of any State’s Federal share of the cost of such projects incurred by such State under a State plan approved under section 15024 of this title, the Secretary shall not consider—

(1) any portion of such cost that is financed by Federal funds provided under any provision of law other than section 15022 of this title; and

(2) the amount of any non-Federal funds required to be expended as a condition of receipt of the Federal funds described in paragraph (1).

(1) In-kind contributions

(2) Contributions of political subdivisions and public or private entities

(A) In general

(B) State contributions

(3) Variations of the non-Federal share

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 126, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1710.)

§ 15027. Withholding of payments for planning, administration, and services

Whenever the Secretary, after providing reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing to the Council and the designated State agency, finds that—

(1) the Council or agency has failed to comply substantially with any of the provisions required by section 15024 of this title to be included in the State plan, particularly provisions required by paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(B)(vii) of section 15024(c) of this title, or with any of the provisions required by section 15025(b)(3) of this title; or

(2) the Council or agency has failed to comply substantially with any regulations of the Secretary that are applicable to this part,

the Secretary shall notify such Council and agency that the Secretary will not make further payments to the State under section 15022 of this title (or, in the discretion of the Secretary, that further payments to the State under section 15022 of this title for activities for which there is such failure), until the Secretary is satisfied that there will no longer be such failure. Until the Secretary is so satisfied, the Secretary shall make no further payments to the State under section 15022 of this title, or shall limit further payments under section 15022 of this title to such State to activities for which there is no such failure.

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 127, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1711.)

§ 15028. Appeals by States

(a) Appeal

(b) Filing

(d) Findings and remand

(e) Finality

(f) Effect

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 128, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1711.)

§ 15029. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Funding for State allotments

(b) Reservation for technical assistance

(1) Lower appropriation years

(2) Higher appropriation years

(Pub. L. 106–402, title I, § 129, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1712.)