Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Best Buddies operates the first national social and recreational program in the United States for people with intellectual disabilities. (2)Best Buddies is dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities become part of mainstream society. (3)Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for people with intellectual disabilities by promoting meaningful friendships between them and their non-disabled peers in order to help increase the self-esteem, confidence, and abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities. (4)Since 1989, Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for 1-to-1 friendships and integrated employment. (5)Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses. (6)Best Buddies implements programs that will positively impact more than 400,000 individuals in 2009 and expects to impact 500,000 people by 2010. (7)The Best Buddies Middle Schools program matches middle school students with intellectual disabilities with other middle school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between them. (8)The Best Buddies High Schools program matches high school students with intellectual disabilities with other high school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between them. (9)The Best Buddies Colleges program matches adults with intellectual disabilities with college students and creates 1-to-1 friendships between them. (10)The Best Buddies e-Buddies program supports e-mail friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities. (11)The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs adults with intellectual disabilities in 1-to-1 friendships with other individuals in the corporate and civic communities. (12)The Best Buddies Jobs program promotes the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the community through supported employment. (b)

Purpose

The purposes of this Act are to— (1)provide support to Best Buddies to increase participation in and public awareness about Best Buddies programs that serve people with intellectual disabilities; (2)dispel negative stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities; and (3)promote the extraordinary contributions of people with intellectual disabilities.

Assistance for Best Buddies

(a)

Education activities

The Secretary of Education may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Best Buddies to carry out activities to promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment, within the United States. (b)

Limitations

(1)

In general

Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act may not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical conditions, or mental health conditions. (2)

Administrative activities

Not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year may be used for administrative activities. (c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Best Buddies.

Application and annual report

(a)

Application

(1)

In general

To be eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Education may require. (2)

Content

At a minimum, an application under this subsection shall contain the following: (A)A description of activities to be carried out under the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. (B)Information on specific measurable goals and objectives to be achieved through activities carried out under the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. (b)

Annual report

(1)

In general

As a condition of receipt of any funds under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall agree to submit an annual report at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Education may require. (2)

Content

At a minimum, each annual report under this subsection shall describe the degree to which progress has been made toward meeting the specific measurable goals and objectives described in the applications submitted under subsection (a).

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under section 3(a), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.