[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1086 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1086

To reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, 
  to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and 
       development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2011

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, 
  to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and 
       development of mentoring programs, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Eunice Kennedy 
Shriver Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
            TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACT

Sec. 101. Reauthorization.
                         TITLE II--BEST BUDDIES

Sec. 201. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 202. Assistance for Best Buddies.
Sec. 203. Application and annual report.
Sec. 204. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE III--ESTABLISHMENT OF EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER INSTITUTES FOR SPORT 
                           AND SOCIAL IMPACT

Sec. 301. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 302. Establishment of Institutes.
Sec. 303. Activities of Institutes.
Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations.

            TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACT

SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION.

    Sections 2 through 5 of the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment 
Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 15001 note) are amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Special Olympics celebrates the possibilities of a 
        world where everybody matters, everybody counts, and every 
        person contributes.
            ``(2) The Government and the people of the United States 
        recognize the dignity and value the giftedness of children and 
        adults with intellectual disabilities.
            ``(3) The Government and the people of the United States 
        recognize that children and adults with intellectual 
        disabilities experience significant health disparities, 
        including lack of access to primary care services and 
        difficulties in accessing community-based prevention and 
        treatment programs for chronic diseases.
            ``(4) The Government and the people of the United States 
        are determined to end the isolation and stigmatization of 
        people with intellectual disabilities, and to ensure that such 
        people are assured of equal opportunities for community 
        participation, access to appropriate health care, and inclusive 
        education, and to experience life in a nondiscriminatory 
        manner.
            ``(5) For more than 40 years, Special Olympics has 
        encouraged skill development, sharing, courage, and confidence 
        through year-round sports training and athletic competition for 
        children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
            ``(6) Special Olympics provides year-round sports training 
        and competitive opportunities to more than 3,700,000 athletes 
        with intellectual disabilities in 30 individual and team sports 
        and plans to expand the benefits of participation through sport 
        to hundreds of thousands of people with intellectual 
        disabilities within the United States and worldwide over the 
        next 5 years.
            ``(7) Research shows that participation in activities 
        involving both people with intellectual disabilities and people 
        without disabilities results in more positive support for 
        inclusion in society, including in schools.
            ``(8) Special Olympics has demonstrated its ability to 
        provide a major positive effect on the quality of life of 
        people with intellectual disabilities, improving their health 
        and physical well-being, building their confidence and self-
        esteem, and giving them a voice to become active and productive 
        members of their communities.
            ``(9) In society as a whole, Special Olympics has become a 
        vehicle and platform for reducing prejudice, improving public 
        health, promoting inclusion efforts in schools and communities, 
        and encouraging society to value the contributions of all 
        members.
            ``(10) The Government of the United States enthusiastically 
        supports the Special Olympics movement, recognizes its 
        importance in improving the lives of people with intellectual 
        disabilities and their families, and recognizes Special 
        Olympics as a valued and important component of the global 
        community.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            ``(1) provide support to Special Olympics to increase 
        athlete participation in, and public awareness about, the 
        Special Olympics movement, including efforts to promote broader 
        community inclusion;
            ``(2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with 
        intellectual disabilities;
            ``(3) build community engagement through sport involvement; 
        and
            ``(4) promote the extraordinary gifts and contributions of 
        people with intellectual disabilities.

``SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

    ``(a) Education Activities.--The Secretary of Education may award 
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, 
Special Olympics to carry out each of the following:
            ``(1) Activities to promote the expansion of Special 
        Olympics, including activities to increase the full 
        participation of people with intellectual disabilities in 
        athletics, sports and recreation, and other inclusive school 
        and community activities with people without disabilities.
            ``(2) The design and implementation of Special Olympics 
        education programs, including character education and volunteer 
        programs that support the purposes of this Act, that can be 
        integrated into classroom instruction and are consistent with 
        academic content standards.
    ``(b) International Activities.--The Secretary of State, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
agreements with, Special Olympics to carry out each of the following:
            ``(1) Activities to increase the participation of people 
        with intellectual disabilities in Special Olympics outside of 
        the United States.
            ``(2) Activities to improve the awareness outside of the 
        United States of the abilities and unique contributions that 
        people with intellectual disabilities can make to society.
    ``(c) Healthy Athletes.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services may award grants to, or enter into contracts or 
        cooperative agreements with, Special Olympics for the 
        implementation of on-site health assessments, screening for 
        health problems, health education, community-based prevention, 
        data collection, and referrals to direct health care services.
            ``(2) Coordination.--Activities under paragraph (1) shall 
        be coordinated with appropriate health care entities, including 
        private health care providers, entities carrying out local, 
        State, Federal, or international programs, and the Department 
        of Health and Human Services, as applicable.
    ``(d) Limitation.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this section 
shall not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical conditions, 
or mental health conditions. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be 
construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Special Olympics.

``SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.

    ``(a) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or 
        cooperative agreement under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of 
        section 3, Special Olympics shall submit an application at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary of Education, Secretary of State, or Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, as applicable, may require.
            ``(2) Content.--At a minimum, an application under this 
        subsection shall contain each of the following:
                    ``(A) Activities.--A description of activities to 
                be carried out with the grant, contract, or cooperative 
                agreement.
                    ``(B) Measurable goals.--A description of specific 
                measurable annual benchmarks and long-term goals and 
                objectives to be achieved through specified activities 
                carried out with the grant, contract, or cooperative 
                agreement, which specified activities shall include, at 
                a minimum, each of the following activities:
                            ``(i) Activities to increase the full 
                        participation of people with intellectual 
                        disabilities in athletics, sports and 
                        recreation, and other inclusive school and 
                        community activities with people without 
                        disabilities.
                            ``(ii) Education programs that dispel 
                        negative stereotypes about people with 
                        intellectual disabilities.
                            ``(iii) Activities to increase the 
                        participation of people with intellectual 
                        disabilities in Special Olympics outside of the 
                        United States.
                            ``(iv) Health-related activities as 
                        described in section 3(c).
    ``(b) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--As a condition on receipt of any funds 
        for a program under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 3, 
        Special Olympics shall agree to submit an annual report at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary of Education, Secretary of State, or Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, as applicable, may require.
            ``(2) Content.--At a minimum, each annual report under this 
        subsection shall describe--
                    ``(A) the degree to which progress has been made 
                toward meeting the annual benchmarks and long-term 
                goals and objectives described in the applications 
                submitted under subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) demographic data about Special Olympics 
                participants, including the number of people with 
                intellectual disabilities served in each program 
                referred to in paragraph (1).

``SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated--
            ``(1) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
        under section 3(a), $9,500,000 for fiscal year 2012, and such 
        sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
        years;
            ``(2) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
        under section 3(b), $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2012, and such 
        sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
        years; and
            ``(3) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
        under section 3(c), $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2012, and such 
        sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
        years.''.

                         TITLE II--BEST BUDDIES

SEC. 201. 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 peers without disabilities 
        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 700,000 individuals in 2011.
            (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 
        people 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 title 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.

SEC. 202. 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 
        title 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 title for a fiscal year 
        may be used for administrative activities.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this title shall be construed 
to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Best Buddies.

SEC. 203. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.

    (a) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or 
        cooperative agreement under section 202(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 202(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).

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Education for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under 
section 202(a), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

TITLE III--ESTABLISHMENT OF EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER INSTITUTES FOR SPORT 
                           AND SOCIAL IMPACT

SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) For more than 50 years, Eunice Kennedy Shriver 
        dedicated her life, energies, and resources without bounds to 
        improving the lives of people with intellectual and 
        developmental disabilities around the world. She stands as the 
        iconic founder and leader of one of the most important 
        disability rights movements in history.
            (2) Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded and influenced the 
        development of Special Olympics and Best Buddies, both of which 
        celebrate the possibilities of a world where everybody matters, 
        everybody counts, every person has value, and every person has 
        worth.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to improve and 
advance opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to 
fully participate and engage in inclusive sports and recreation, social 
activities, and other community opportunities, through--
            (1) conducting research, data collection, and evaluation 
        activities;
            (2) providing technical assistance and training;
            (3) fostering and promoting interdisciplinary 
        collaboration, cooperation, and partnerships; and
            (4) commemorating the work and contributions of Eunice 
        Kennedy Shriver and encouraging others to emulate her 
        leadership, including her efforts to encourage and promote 
        greater social and community opportunities for people with 
        intellectual disabilities and their families.

SEC. 302. ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTES.

    (a) In General.--From the amount made available under section 304 
that is not reserved under subsection (g), the Secretary of Education 
shall award competitive grants to one or more eligible entities for the 
purpose of establishing Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institutes for Sport and 
Social Impact (referred to in this title as ``Institutes'').
    (b) Eligible Entity.--In this title, the term ``eligible entity'' 
means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) with 
demonstrated expertise and experience in research, technical 
assistance, and training related to improving and advancing 
opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to fully 
participate and engage in inclusive community opportunities, in 
partnership with a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise 
and experience in inclusive sports, recreation, social, educational, 
and community opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
    (c) Grant Period.--Each grant awarded under this title shall be for 
a 3-year period.
    (d) Grant Recipient Contribution.--An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this title shall provide a contribution (which may include 
an in-kind contribution), in an amount not less than 25 percent of the 
costs of the activities assisted under the grant, to carry out such 
activities.
    (e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
title shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, 
State, and local funds expended to carry out the purpose of this title.
    (f) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a 
grant under this title shall submit an application to the Secretary of 
Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary may require. Such application shall, at 
a minimum, include--
            (1) a description of activities to be carried out 
        consistent with section 303; and
            (2) proposed annual measurable benchmarks and long-term 
        goals and objectives to be achieved through such activities.
    (g) Reservation of Funds for National Activities.--From the amount 
appropriated under section 304, the Secretary of Education shall 
reserve not more than 10 percent to enter into a cooperative agreement, 
on a competitive basis, with an eligible entity for the purpose of 
implementing national coordination activities, including development of 
mechanisms for communication between grant recipients, dissemination of 
information resulting from activities under the grants, and technical 
assistance to grant recipients.

SEC. 303. ACTIVITIES OF INSTITUTES.

    (a) In General.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant to advance the quality of life and 
inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through research and 
evaluation, technical assistance, training, data collection, 
evaluation, collaboration, and dissemination of evidence-based best 
practices.
    (b) Required Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this title shall use grant funds to--
                    (A) establish a research agenda and annual 
                measurable benchmarks and long-term goals, and conduct 
                research and evaluation of evidence-based best 
                practices, to improve the quality of life and further 
                the social inclusion of people with intellectual 
                disabilities, in cooperation and consultation with--
                            (i) people with intellectual disabilities;
                            (ii) family members of people with 
                        intellectual disabilities;
                            (iii) University Centers for Excellence in 
                        Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, 
                        and Service (as designated in section 151 of 
                        the Developmental Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        15061)); and
                            (iv) other relevant Federal, State, and 
                        local entities conducting research related to 
                        people with intellectual disabilities;
                    (B) provide training and technical assistance to 
                people with intellectual disabilities, families of 
                people with intellectual disabilities, nonprofit 
                organizations, public entities, educational programs, 
                recreation programs, and others to increase 
                opportunities for inclusive participation by such 
                people in sports and recreation, social opportunities, 
                education, and the community, including provision of 
                assistance to programs and entities serving primarily 
                people without disabilities in order to successfully 
                include people with intellectual disabilities in 
                activities with people without disabilities;
                    (C) collect and analyze data related to barriers 
                to, and factors assuring, access to full inclusion and 
                participation in community and quality of life for 
                people with intellectual disabilities, including 
                demographic data; and
                    (D) report on the research, findings, conclusions, 
                and recommendations resulting from the activities of 
                the grant.
            (2) Research and evaluation.--Research, evaluation, and 
        data collection described in paragraph (1)(A) shall include--
                    (A) best practices in preventive health and 
                wellness for people with intellectual disabilities, 
                including sports and recreational activities;
                    (B) identification of barriers to, and factors 
                assuring, access to full inclusion and participation in 
                community and quality of life for people with 
                intellectual disabilities;
                    (C) best practices in supporting independence, 
                community living, and inclusive social engagement for 
                people with intellectual disabilities;
                    (D) physical and mental health disparities for 
                people with intellectual disabilities; and
                    (E) other relevant activities related to the 
                purpose of this title, as described by the eligible 
                entity in the application submitted under section 
                302(f).
    (c) Report.--Each recipient of a grant under this title shall 
prepare and submit to the Secretary of Education an annual report that 
includes information on progress made in achieving the projected goals 
and outcomes of the activities of the Institute for the previous year, 
including demographic information on the populations served and 
measurable accomplishments in advancing the quality of life and 
inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the community.

SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2012 through 2016.
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