[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3211 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3211

 To authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to develop 
technologies to eliminate functional barriers to full independence for 
         individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            October 17 (legislative day, September 22), 2000

  Mr. Harkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to develop 
technologies to eliminate functional barriers to full independence for 
         individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Technology for All Americans Act of 
2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Disability does not diminish an individual's right to 
        participate in the cultural, economic, educational, health 
        care, political, and social mainstream.
            (2) Technology is a crucial factor in cultural, economic, 
        educational, health care, political, and social activity in the 
        United States. The leadership of the United States in the 
        development and utilization of technology is an important 
        factor underlying the strength of the economy and society of 
        the United States.
            (3) The United States is entering a Technology Revolution 
        that is affecting, and will continue to affect, every aspect of 
        the daily lives of individuals in the United States.
            (4) Individuals with disabilities are nearly twice as 
        likely as individuals without disabilities to say that the 
        Internet has improved their lives.
            (5) Although new technologies have improved the lives of 
        many individuals with disabilities in the United States, there 
        is a significant ``Digital Divide'' between individuals with 
        and without disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are 
        less than \1/2\ as likely as individuals without disabilities 
        to have access to a computer at home and are barely \1/4\ as 
        likely as individuals without disabilities to use the Internet.
            (6) The Digital Divide for individuals with disabilities is 
        exacerbated by the continuing divisions between individuals 
        with and without disabilities in education, employment, income, 
        and other areas. Continuing efforts to remedy these other 
        divisions also will have a significant impact on the Digital 
        Divide.
            (7) More and more each day, the ability of every individual 
        in the United States to participate in society is determined by 
        how well the individual is able to use technology.
            (8) The right of access to technology is a fundamental 
        civil right.
            (9) If the Internet and other technologies are accessible, 
        they will offer individuals with disabilities unprecedented 
        opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency through 
        education, health care, employment, and social interaction. 
        Conversely, if the technologies are not accessible, the lack of 
        accessible technologies will create new barriers to the 
        independence and self-sufficiency of individuals with 
        disabilities.
            (10) History demonstrates that research on assistive 
        technology and other technology that is accessible to and 
        independently usable by individuals with disabilities benefits 
        everyone.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) maximize the potential of the United States by closing 
        the Digital Divide for individuals with disabilities, and, as a 
        result, increase the independence and self-sufficiency of 
        individuals with disabilities and further strengthen the United 
        States economy by enabling the greatest possible number of 
        people to contribute their abilities;
            (2) provide incentives for public and private researchers 
        to use universal design and accessibility principles in new 
        technologies, and to develop technologies to eliminate 
        functional barriers to full independence for individuals with 
        disabilities;
            (3) increase public access to technology by providing 
        grants to States to improve delivery of electronic and 
        information technology used by public libraries, including 
        libraries located in public elementary and secondary schools, 
        that is accessible;
            (4) increase the development and use of assistive 
        technology and other technology that is accessible to and 
        independently usable by individuals with disabilities, 
        including technology that incorporates the principle of 
        universal design, by providing grants to colleges and 
        universities to establish model curricula incorporating the 
        design and use of such technologies into academic and 
        professional programs;
            (5) help children with disabilities maximize their 
        potential in school and after graduation by ensuring their 
        access to technology to increase their independence and self-
        sufficiency; and
            (6) increase awareness of the needs of individuals with 
        disabilities among the officers and employees of Federal 
        offices that do not specialize in disability policy.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Authority To Award Grants.--The Secretary of Education, after 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall award grants to 
commercial, nonprofit, or other organizations, or institutions of 
higher education, for the research and development of assistive 
technology and other technology that is accessible to and independently 
usable by individuals with disabilities, including technology that 
incorporates the principle of universal design, to increase the 
independence and self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An organization or institution desiring to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        to the Secretary of Education at such time, in such manner and, 
        subject to paragraph (2), containing such information as the 
        Secretary of Education may require.
            (2) Required information.--An organization or institution 
        desiring to receive a grant under this section shall include in 
        the application the following:
                    (A) A statement of how the technology proposed to 
                be developed would increase the independence and self-
                sufficiency of individuals with disabilities by 
                increasing the participation of those individuals in 
                the area of culture, the economy (including 
                employment), education, health care, political 
                participation, or social interaction.
                    (B) An assessment of the current level (as of the 
                date of submission of the application) of use of 
                assistive technology and other technology that is 
                accessible to and independently usable by individuals 
                with disabilities, including technology that 
                incorporates the principles of universal design, in the 
                area to which the grant proposal contained in the 
                application relates.
                    (C) An assessment of how the technology proposed to 
                be developed could be made available to the greatest 
                number of individuals with disabilities.
                    (D) Such other information as the Secretary of 
                Education determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Strategic Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education, after 
        consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development, and the Secretary of Labor, shall develop a 
        strategic plan for awarding grants under subsection (a) that is 
        designed to ensure that, in combination, the grants will result 
        in the greatest possible increase in independence and self-
        sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.
            (2) Purposes.--The Secretary of Education, after 
        consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development, and the Secretary of Labor, shall develop the 
        strategic plan in a manner that furthers the purposes of this 
        Act, particularly the purpose described in section 2(b)(6).
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Progress.--An organization or institution that receives 
        a grant under this section shall annually prepare and submit to 
        the Secretary of Education a report describing the progress of 
        the organization or institution in developing assistive 
        technology or other technology that is accessible to and 
        independently usable by individuals with disabilities, 
        including technology that incorporates the principle of 
        universal design.
            (2) Best practices.--The Secretary of Education shall 
        compile and distribute to the recipients described in paragraph 
        (1) and other interested parties a report that describes the 
        best practices of the recipients in developing technology 
        described in paragraph (1).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

    (a) Authority To Award Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education (referred to in 
        this section as the ``Secretary'') shall award grants to States 
        to improve delivery of electronic and information technology, 
        including computers and Internet access, used by public 
        libraries, including libraries located in public elementary and 
        secondary schools, that is accessible.
            (2) Process.--The Secretary shall establish a process for 
        awarding grants under paragraph (1) that furthers the purposes 
        of this Act, particularly the purpose described in section 
        2(b)(6).
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--A State that desires to receive a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        at such time, in such manner and, subject to paragraph (2), 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Required information.--A State that desires to receive 
        a grant under this section shall include in the application the 
        following:
                    (A) A statement of the State's plan of operation 
                for--
                            (i) improving delivery of electronic and 
                        information technology, including computers and 
                        Internet access, used by the State's public 
                        libraries, including libraries located in 
                        public elementary and secondary schools in the 
                        State, that incorporates assistive technology 
                        or other technology that is accessible to and 
                        independently usable by individuals with 
                        disabilities, including technology that 
                        incorporates the principle of universal design; 
                        and
                            (ii) providing for training library staff 
                        at the State's public libraries in electronic 
                        and information technology.
                    (B) A statement that the grant proposal contained 
                in the application was developed with the full and 
                meaningful participation of individuals with 
                disabilities, and the family members, guardians, 
                advocates, and authorized representatives of those 
                individuals.
                    (C) Such other information as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Progress.--A State that receives a grant under this 
        section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
        report describing the progress of the State in achieving the 
        goals for which the grant is awarded.
            (2) Best practices.--The Secretary shall compile and 
        distribute to the recipients described in paragraph (1) and 
        other interested parties a report that describes the best 
        practices of the recipients in achieving the goals for which 
        the grant is awarded.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

SEC. 5. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) Authority To Award Grants.--The Secretary of Education 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall award grants 
to institutions of higher education for the purpose of incorporating 
the principles of assistive technology and other technology that is 
accessible to and independently usable by individuals with 
disabilities, including technology that incorporates the principle of 
universal design, into--
            (1) curricula of academic programs that will encourage the 
        design of such technologies, such as engineering and computer 
        science; and
            (2) curricula of academic programs that will encourage 
        awareness of the availability of such technologies, and 
        understanding of the best uses of such technologies among 
        professionals who work with individuals with disabilities, 
        including professionals in the fields of education, medicine, 
        and social work.
    (b) Process.--The Secretary shall establish a process for awarding 
grants under subsection (a) that furthers the purposes of this Act, 
particularly the purpose described in section 2(b)(6).
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An institution of higher education that 
        desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
        application to the Director at such time, in such manner and, 
        subject to paragraph (2), containing such information as the 
        Director may require.
            (2) Required information.--An institution of higher 
        education that desires to receive a grant under this section 
        shall include in the application a statement that the grant 
        proposal contained in the application was developed with the 
        full and meaningful participation of individuals with 
        disabilities, and the family members, guardians, advocates, and 
        authorized representatives of those individuals.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Progress.--An institution that receives a grant under 
        this section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary 
        a report describing the progress of the institution in 
        incorporating the principles of assistive technology and other 
        technology that is accessible to and independently usable by 
        individuals with disabilities, including technology that 
        incorporates the principle of universal design, into a wide 
        range of curricula.
            (2) Best practices.--The Secretary shall compile and 
        distribute to the recipients described in paragraph (1) and 
        other interested parties a report that describes the best 
        practices of the recipients in incorporating the principles 
        described in paragraph (1) into a wide range of curricula.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.

SEC. 6. GRANTS TO STATES TO INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LIVES OF 
              CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

    (a) Authority To Award Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education (referred to in 
        this section as the ``Secretary'') shall award grants to State 
        educational agencies for demonstration projects to promote the 
        incorporation of technology into children with disabilities' 
        education and transition from school to work, to increase their 
        independence and self-sufficiency.
            (2) Process.--The Secretary shall establish a process for 
        awarding grants under paragraph (1) that furthers the purposes 
        of this Act, particularly the purpose described in section 
        2(b)(6).
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--A State educational agency that desires to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        to the Secretary at such time, in such manner and, subject to 
        paragraph (2), containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            (2) Required information.--A State educational agency that 
        desires to receive a grant under this section shall include in 
        the application the following:
                    (A) A plan for working with other State and local 
                agencies that have responsibility for working with 
                individuals with disabilities, and local school 
                districts, to develop model programs for incorporation 
                of technology into children with disabilities' 
                education and transition from school to work, to 
                increase their independence and self-sufficiency.
                    (B) A description of proposed training of teachers, 
                and other individuals who work with children with 
                disabilities, in--
                            (i) the availability of assistive 
                        technology or other technology that is 
                        accessible to and independently usable by 
                        individuals with disabilities, including 
                        technology that incorporates the principle of 
                        universal design; and
                            (ii) the incorporation of the technology 
                        described in clause (i) to fulfill the goals 
                        described in subparagraph (A).
                    (C) A statement that--
                            (i) the grant proposal contained in the 
                        application was developed with the full and 
                        meaningful participation of individuals with 
                        disabilities, and the family members, 
                        guardians, advocates, and authorized 
                        representatives of those individuals; and
                            (ii) the persons described in clause (i) 
                        will be equally involved with the ongoing 
                        implementation of the technology incorporation 
                        program.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Progress.--An agency that receives a grant under this 
        section shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a report 
        describing the progress of the agency in incorporating 
        technology into children with disabilities' education and 
        transition from school to work, to improve their independence 
        and self-sufficiency.
            (2) Best practices.--The Secretary shall compile and 
        distribute to the recipients described in paragraph (1) and 
        other interested parties a report that describes the best 
        practices of the recipients in incorporating technology into 
        children with disabilities' education and transition from 
        school to work, to improve their independence and self-
        sufficiency.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
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