
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-402 Section 401(b)(3)(B)]
[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.
