42 USC 15025 - State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and designated State agencies

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 28, 2024

§ 15025.

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and designated State agencies

(a)

In general

(b)

Council membership

(1)

Council appointments

(A)

In general

(B)

Recommendations

(C)

Representation

(2)

Membership rotation

(3)

Representation of individuals with developmental disabilities

Not 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 general

Each 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 limitations

The 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 disabilities

Of 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

(C)

⅓ shall be a combination of individuals described in paragraph (3)(A).

(6)

Institutionalized individuals

(A)

In general

(B)

Limitation

(c)

Council responsibilities

(1)

In general

(2)

Advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities

(3)

Examination of goals

At 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

(C)

Training

(D)

Technical assistance

(E)

Supporting and educating communities

The 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 programs

The 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

 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)

Reports

Beginning 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;

(C)

to the extent to which the goals were not achieved, a description of factors that impeded the achievement;

(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)

Budget

Each 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 agency

Except 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 designation

The 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.

(C)

Review of designation

(D)

Appeal of designation

(3)

Responsibilities

(A)

In general

(B)

Support services

(C)

Fiscal responsibilities

The designated State agency shall—

(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)

(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.)

cite as: 42 USC 15025

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