§ 781. — Duties of National Council.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 29USC781]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER 16--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND OTHER REHABILITATION SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER IV--NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
Sec. 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.
(Pub. L. 93-112, title IV, Sec. 401, as added Pub. L. 105-220, title IV,
Sec. 407, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1199; amended Pub. L. 105-394, title
II, Sec. 202, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3653; Pub. L. 106-402, title IV,
Sec. 401(b)(3)(B), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1737.)
References in Text
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of
2000, referred to in subsec. (a)(5)(A), is Pub. L. 106-402, Oct. 30,
2000, 114 Stat. 1677, which is classified principally to chapter 144
(Sec. 15001 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note
set out under section 15001 of Title 42 and Tables.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec.
(a)(7), is Pub. L. 101-336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, as amended,
which is classified principally to chapter 126 (Sec. 12101 et seq.) of
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12101
of Title 42 and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 781, Pub. L. 93-112, title IV, Sec. 401, as added
Pub. L. 95-602, title I, Sec. 117, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2977; amended
Pub. L. 98-221, title I, Sec. 142, Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 27; Pub. L.
99-506, title I, Sec. 103(d)(2)(C), title III, Sec. 302(b), title V,
Sec. 502, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1821, 1828; Pub. L. 100-630,
title II, Sec. 205(c), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3310; Pub. L. 102-569,
title I, Sec. 102(p)(27), title IV, Sec. 402, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat.
4360, 4422; Pub. L. 104-66, title II, Sec. 2131, Dec. 21, 1995, 109
Stat. 731, related to duties of National Council on Disability, prior to
the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105-220.
Another prior section 781, Pub. L. 93-112, title IV, Sec. 401, Sept.
26, 1973, 87 Stat. 386, related to program and project evaluation, prior
to repeal by Pub. L. 95-602, Sec. 117.
Amendments
2000--Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 106-402, which directed
substitution of ``Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000'' for ``Developmental Disabilities Assistance and
Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6000 et seq.)'', was executed by making
the substitution for ``Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act'' to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1998--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105-394 added subsec. (c).
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law
requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other
regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103-7 (in which a
report to Congress required under subsec. (b) of this section is listed
on page 182), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104-66, as amended, set out as
a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.
