[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4283 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4283

 To establish grants to provide education on guardianship alternatives 
 for older adults and people with disabilities to health care workers, 
    educators, family members, and court workers and court-related 
                               personnel.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 8, 2024

Mr. Casey (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Merkley, and 
 Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish grants to provide education on guardianship alternatives 
 for older adults and people with disabilities to health care workers, 
    educators, family members, and court workers and court-related 
                               personnel.

    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 ``Alternatives to Guardianship 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Guardianship, although at times necessary, can 
        negatively affect the person under guardianship by reducing or 
        eliminating their self-determination and autonomy.
            (2) Although State courts and State laws attempt to provide 
        some procedures to appoint trustworthy guardians, incidents of 
        physical, financial, emotional, psychological, and other types 
        of abuse have occurred to people under guardianship 
        arrangements.
            (3) Once guardianship arrangements are in place, 
        restoration of rights rarely occurs.
            (4) Less restrictive options to guardianship, such as 
        supported decisionmaking and advance directives, offer ways to 
        help people make decisions without losing their independence.
            (5) Awareness of guardianship alternatives by personnel 
        that interact with individuals facing guardianship 
        determinations, including health care workers, educators, 
        family members, and court workers and court-related personnel, 
        may help reduce unnecessary guardianship arrangements and 
        preserve decisionmaking rights.
            (6) Families and disability support personnel have reported 
        that they have limited awareness of guardianship alternatives.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to improve the awareness 
of guardianship alternatives, for health care workers, educators, 
family members, and court workers and court-related personnel, through 
education programs.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Aging agency.--The term ``aging agency'' means an 
        organization that represents older adults, and that may have 
        experience in serving family members of such adults.
            (2) Disability.--The term ``disability'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities 
        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
            (3) Disability agency.--The term ``disability agency'' 
        means an organization serving people with disabilities that--
                    (A) is operated by a board, on which--
                            (i) a majority of the members are people 
                        with disabilities or their family members; and
                            (ii) the number of members on the board who 
                        are people with disabilities is greater than 
                        the number of members on the board who are 
                        family members;
                    (B) has an advisory panel or council, on which--
                            (i) a majority of the members are people 
                        with disabilities or their family members; and
                            (ii) the number of members on the board who 
                        are people with disabilities is greater than 
                        the number of members on the board who are 
                        family members; or
                    (C) has employees, a majority of whom are people 
                with disabilities.
            (4) Guardianship.--The term ``guardianship'' means--
                    (A) a protective arrangement resulting from the 
                process by which a State court determines that an adult 
                individual lacks capacity to make decisions about self-
                care, finances, property, or personal affairs, and 
                appoints another individual or entity known as a 
                guardian, as a conservator, or by a similar term, as a 
                surrogate decisionmaker;
                    (B) a protective arrangement in which the court-
                appointed surrogate decisionmaker carries out duties to 
                the individual and the court; or
                    (C) a protective arrangement in which the court 
                exercises oversight of the surrogate decisionmaker.
            (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (6) Legal services agency.--The term ``legal services 
        agency'' means a public or nonprofit organization that has 
        experience providing legal services to low-income older adults 
        or adults with disabilities.
            (7) Older adult.--The term ``older adult'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``older individual'' as defined in section 102 
        of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator 
        of the Administration for Community Living.
            (9) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States, 
        the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

  TITLE I--GUARDIANSHIP ALTERNATIVES EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership (established by a disability agency, legal services 
        agency, or aging agency)--
                    (A) that includes--
                            (i) that disability agency, legal services 
                        agency, or aging agency; and
                            (ii) at least one health care entity, 
                        department of such an entity, or specialty 
                        office of such an entity, that has frequent 
                        contact with people with disabilities or older 
                        adults, including--
                                    (I) a primary care clinic, 
                                including a Federally qualified health 
                                center or rural health clinic (as such 
                                terms are defined in section 1861(aa) 
                                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                1395x(aa)));
                                    (II) an emergency department;
                                    (III) a long-term care provider;
                                    (IV) a pediatric office;
                                    (V) a rehabilitation center;
                                    (VI) a geriatrician office;
                                    (VII) a neurology office; or
                                    (VIII) an entity providing a 
                                training program for health care 
                                workers in any specialty listed in this 
                                subparagraph; and
                    (B) for which the establishing agency has 
                memorialized the establishment, membership, and 
                functions of the partnership in the form of a letter of 
                support, memorandum of understanding, or similar 
                document.
            (2) Health care workers.--The term ``health care workers'' 
        means staff with direct contact with patients in health care 
        settings, including physicians, advanced practice providers, 
        nurses, medical assistants, social workers, health care 
        administrators, dentists, dental hygiene professionals, 
        receptionists, and mental health professionals.

SEC. 102. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities in States, and to eligible entities that 
serve Indian Tribes, to enable the recipients to carry out guardianship 
alternatives education programs for health care workers.
    (b) Term.--The Secretary may make such a grant for a first term of 
3 years. An eligible entity may seek renewal of, and the Secretary may 
make, such a grant for a second term of 3 years, in order to expand 
service delivery of the education program to health care workers.

SEC. 103. APPLICATIONS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) information identifying the target population to 
        receive instruction, and a projected number of participants in 
        and graduates of the education program to be carried out under 
        the grant;
            (2) a needs assessment, identifying the need for 
        guardianship alternatives education for the target population 
        proposed;
            (3) information identifying who will facilitate the related 
        instruction;
            (4) a description of how the entity will conduct outreach 
        to health care workers for the education program;
            (5) a description of learning objectives for the education 
        program;
            (6) a description of activities to be carried out under the 
        grant;
            (7) an evaluation plan for the education program;
            (8) a timeline for establishing and carrying out the 
        education program;
            (9) information that demonstrates the instructors' 
        knowledge of guardianship alternatives and experience in 
        conducting education and training programs for the public;
            (10) information describing the format for the instruction, 
        which may be in-person, online, or hybrid, and how the 
        instruction and related materials will be accessible by all 
        participants; and
            (11) a description of how the entity will, to the best of 
        its ability, ensure the education program reaches populations 
        from diverse backgrounds and communities and underserved 
        demographic populations (such as an underserved race, 
        ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or 
        type of disability).

SEC. 104. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Required Uses.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant funds for--
            (1) implementing an education program to enhance the 
        awareness of alternatives to guardianship for health care 
        workers; and
            (2) ensuring that the guardianship alternatives education 
        program--
                    (A) discusses the background of guardianship, the 
                possible consequences of unnecessary guardianship, and 
                the need for guardianship alternatives;
                    (B) covers the various guardianship alternatives 
                available in the State or States involved;
                    (C) includes a curriculum tailored to the needs of 
                the target population;
                    (D) includes, to the best of its ability, 
                instructors with a diverse range of disabilities as 
                instructors or speakers;
                    (E) provides the instruction and related materials 
                for the education program in accessible formats; and
                    (F) includes, to the best of its ability, methods 
                to reach populations from diverse backgrounds and 
                communities and underserved demographic populations 
                (such as an underserved race, ethnicity, gender, gender 
                identity, sexual orientation, age, or type of 
                disability).
    (b) Allowable Uses.--The eligible entity may use the grant funds 
for--
            (1) recruiting individuals to receive guardianship 
        alternatives education;
            (2) modifying a curriculum for the education program;
            (3) creating accessible materials for the education 
        program, such as materials with Communication Access Realtime 
        Translation, with American Sign Language, in Braille, in plain 
        language, and in other appropriate formats;
            (4) transporting individuals enrolled in the education 
        program to and from the instructional sessions;
            (5) providing child care during the instructional sessions 
        for people in attendance;
            (6) conducting website management for the education 
        program;
            (7) translating recruitment and instructional materials for 
        the education program;
            (8) providing payment for venue for in-person instruction;
            (9) providing payment for costs of arranging for 
        professional continuing education credits;
            (10) providing reasonable food and beverages for in-person 
        instruction;
            (11) expanding or adapting an existing (as of the date of 
        submission of the application for the grant) guardianship 
        alternatives education program; or
            (12) providing payment for instructors (including guest 
        instructors) and speakers.

      TITLE II--GUARDIANSHIP ALTERNATIVES EDUCATION FOR EDUCATORS

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Educators.--The term ``educators'' means teachers and 
        other staff (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), in a public 
        or private elementary school or secondary school, that have 
        contact with students with disabilities and their caregivers, 
        including--
                    (A) teachers;
                    (B) special education teachers;
                    (C) special education directors;
                    (D) transition coordinators;
                    (E) State qualified vocational rehabilitation 
                counselors, as defined in section 100(a)(3)(E) of the 
                Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720(a)(3)(E));
                    (F) any person providing pre-employment transition 
                services, as defined in section 7 of the Rehabilitation 
                Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705);
                    (G) paraprofessionals;
                    (H) school social workers;
                    (I) school psychologists;
                    (J) school counselors;
                    (K) educational diagnosticians;
                    (L) specialized instructional support personnel, as 
                defined in that section 8101; and
                    (M) staff of a training program for an occupation 
                described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (L).
            (2) Elementary school; secondary school.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership (established by a disability agency or legal 
        services agency)--
                    (A) that includes--
                            (i) that disability agency or legal 
                        services agency; and
                            (ii) a local educational agency, or a 
                        public or private elementary school or 
                        secondary school, that employs educators; and
                    (B) for which the establishing agency has 
                memorialized the establishment, membership, and 
                functions of the partnership in the form of a letter of 
                support, memorandum of understanding, or similar 
                document.

SEC. 202. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities in States, and to eligible entities that 
serve Indian Tribes, to enable the recipients to carry out guardianship 
alternatives education programs for educators.
    (b) Term.--The Secretary may make such a grant for a first term of 
3 years. An eligible entity may seek renewal of, and the Secretary may 
make, such a grant for a second term of 3 years, in order to expand 
service delivery of the education program to educators.

SEC. 203. APPLICATIONS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) information identifying the target population to 
        receive instruction, and a projected number of participants in 
        and graduates of the education program to be carried out under 
        the grant;
            (2) a needs assessment, identifying the need for 
        guardianship alternatives education for the target population;
            (3) information identifying who will facilitate the related 
        instruction;
            (4) a description of how the entity will conduct outreach 
        to educators for the education program;
            (5) a description of learning objectives for the education 
        program;
            (6) a description of activities to be carried out under the 
        grant;
            (7) an evaluation plan for the education program;
            (8) a timeline for establishing and carrying out the 
        education program;
            (9) information that demonstrates the instructors' 
        knowledge of guardianship alternatives and experience in 
        conducting education and training programs for the public; and
            (10) information describing the format for the instruction, 
        which may be in-person, online, or hybrid, and how the 
        instruction and related materials will be accessible by all 
        participants.

SEC. 204. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Required Uses.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant funds for implementing an education 
program to enhance the awareness of alternatives to guardianship for 
educators and ensuring that the education program meets the 
requirements of section 104(a)(2).
    (b) Allowable Uses.--The eligible entity may use the grant funds to 
carry out the activities described in section 104(b), for the education 
program.

      TITLE III--GUARDIANSHIP ALTERNATIVES EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        disability agency, legal services agency, or aging agency with 
        a goal to inform and support older adults, or people with 
        disabilities, and their family members.
            (2) Family member.--The term ``family member'' means a 
        member of the family of--
                    (A) an older adult; or
                    (B) a person with a disability.

SEC. 302. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities in States, and to eligible entities that 
serve Indian Tribes, to enable the recipients to carry out guardianship 
alternatives education programs for family members of older adults and 
family members of people with disabilities.
    (b) Term.--The Secretary may make such a grant for a first term of 
3 years. An eligible entity may seek renewal of, and the Secretary may 
make, such a grant for a second term of 3 years, in order to expand 
service delivery of the education program to such family members.

SEC. 303. APPLICATIONS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) information identifying the target population to 
        receive instruction, and a projected number of participants in 
        and graduates of the education program to be carried out under 
        the grant;
            (2) information identifying who will facilitate the related 
        instruction for the education program;
            (3) a description of how the entity will conduct outreach 
        to educators for the education program;
            (4) a description of learning objectives for the education 
        program;
            (5) a description of activities to be carried out under the 
        grant;
            (6) an evaluation plan for the education program;
            (7) a timeline for establishing and carrying out the 
        education program;
            (8) information that demonstrates the instructors' 
        knowledge of guardianship alternatives and experience in 
        conducting education and training programs for the public; and
            (9) information describing the format for the instruction, 
        which may be in-person, online, or hybrid, and how the 
        instruction and related materials will be accessible by all 
        participants.

SEC. 304. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Required Uses.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant funds for implementing an education 
program to enhance the awareness of alternatives to guardianship for 
family members and ensuring that the education program meets the 
requirements of section 104(a)(2).
    (b) Allowable Uses.--The eligible entity may use the grant funds to 
carry out the activities described in section 104(b), for the education 
program.

  TITLE IV--GUARDIANSHIP ALTERNATIVES EDUCATION FOR COURT WORKERS AND 
                        COURT-RELATED PERSONNEL

SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Court-related personnel.--The term ``court-related 
        personnel'' means persons working in, or members of 
        organizations supporting, court systems or court workers, 
        including--
                    (A) staff and members of local chapters of the 
                American Bar Association;
                    (B) staff and members of local chapters of the 
                American Civil Liberties Union;
                    (C) staff and members of local associations of 
                court workers;
                    (D) staff and members of elder rights law 
                organizations;
                    (E) staff and members of disability rights law 
                organizations;
                    (F) staff of an agency implementing a State 
                protection and advocacy system, as defined in section 
                102 of the Developmental Disabilities Act and Bill of 
                Rights of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002);
                    (G) district attorneys and their staff;
                    (H) court clerks and clerk staff not directly 
                employed by the court; or
                    (I) an entity providing a training program for any 
                specialty relevant to an organization or occupation 
                listed in this paragraph.
            (2) Court workers.--The term ``court workers'' means 
        persons working in local court systems, including--
                    (A) court staff;
                    (B) law or court clerks and paralegals;
                    (C) attorneys; and
                    (D) judges.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership (established by a disability agency, legal services 
        agency, or aging agency)--
                    (A) that includes--
                            (i) that disability agency, legal services 
                        agency, or aging agency; and
                            (ii) a court whose employees, or other 
                        court-related organization whose members, have 
                        contact with plaintiffs who are under or facing 
                        a guardianship or other protective arrangement 
                        or address cases related to guardianship and 
                        other protective arrangements; and
                    (B) for which the establishing agency has 
                memorialized the establishment, membership, and 
                functions of the partnership in the form of a letter of 
                support, memorandum of understanding, or similar 
                document.

SEC. 402. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities in States, and to eligible entities that 
serve Indian Tribes, to enable the recipients to carry out guardianship 
alternatives education programs for court workers and other court-
related personnel.
    (b) Term.--The Secretary may make such a grant for a first term of 
3 years. An eligible entity may seek renewal of, and the Secretary may 
make, such a grant for a second term of 3 years, in order to expand 
service delivery of the education program to court workers and other 
court-related personnel.

SEC. 403. APPLICATIONS.

    To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) information identifying the target population to 
        receive instruction, including a projected number of 
        participants in and graduates of the education program to be 
        carried out under the grant;
            (2) a needs assessment, identifying the need for 
        guardianship alternatives education for the target population 
        proposed;
            (3) information identifying who will facilitate the related 
        instruction;
            (4) a description of how the entity will conduct outreach 
        to the court workers or other court-related personnel proposed 
        for the education program;
            (5) a description of learning objectives for the education 
        program;
            (6) a description of activities to be carried out under the 
        grant;
            (7) an evaluation plan for the education program;
            (8) a timeline for establishing and carrying out the 
        education program;
            (9) information that demonstrates the instructors' 
        knowledge of guardianship alternatives and experience in 
        conducting education and training programs for the public; and
            (10) information describing the format for the instruction, 
        which may be in-person, online, or hybrid, and how the 
        instruction and related materials will be accessible by all 
        participants.

SEC. 404. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Required Uses.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant funds for implementing an education 
program to enhance the awareness of alternatives to guardianship for 
court workers or other court-related personnel and ensuring that the 
education program meets the requirements of section 104(a)(2).
    (b) Allowable Uses.--The eligible entity may use the grant funds to 
carry out the activities described in section 104(b), for the education 
program.

                        TITLE V--ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 501. GRANT ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory council, 
to be known as the ``Grant Advisory Council'', to advise eligible 
entities that receive grants under this Act on activities carried out 
under the grants.
    (b) Composition.--The advisory council shall be composed of 13 
members, consisting of--
            (1) 3 experts who have experience in counseling individuals 
        and guiding individuals to guardianship alternatives, or who 
        have data-driven expertise in ways to guide individuals to 
        guardianship alternatives, which may include--
                    (A) a social services program administrator;
                    (B) a guardianship researcher; or
                    (C) an advocate for people with disabilities; and
            (2) 1 health care administrator or manager with experience 
        with guardianship alternatives;
            (3) 1 administrator from a school served by a local 
        educational agency, and 1 administrator from an institution of 
        higher education, with experience with guardianship 
        alternatives;
            (4) 1 family member, as defined in section 301, with 
        experience with guardianship alternatives;
            (5) 1 court worker, as defined in section 401, with 
        experience with guardianship alternatives;
            (6) 3 people with disabilities, or older adults, who have 
        successfully transitioned to a guardianship alternative, of 
        which at least 1 shall be a person with a disability and at 
        least 1 shall be an older adult; and
            (7) 3 people with disabilities, or older adults, who are in 
        a guardianship alternative, of which at least 1 shall be a 
        person with a disability and at least 1 shall be an older 
        adult.
    (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed 
for the life of the advisory council. Any vacancy in the council shall 
not affect the powers of the advisory council, but shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment was made.
    (d) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The advisory council shall select 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.
    (e) Duties.--The advisory council shall--
            (1) advise the Secretary on, and provide general oversight 
        for, the grant programs carried out under titles I through IV 
        concerning the activities carried out under the grants, 
        including development of the curricula for guardianship 
        alternatives education;
            (2) consult with the Secretary on the awarding of the 
        grants;
            (3) provide recommendations for sustainability and 
        expansion of the guardianship alternatives education programs 
        carried out under the grants, such as development of a train-
        the-trainer model for such an education program; and
            (4) provide input for the evaluation methods and 
        implementation of the evaluation described in section 502, 
        including advising the Secretary on additional criteria for the 
        evaluator to evaluate under section 502, to measure 
        effectiveness of guardianship alternatives education programs 
        described in section 502.
    (f) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2027, and not later than 
September 30, 2030, the advisory council shall prepare a report 
containing recommendations on the programs, activities, and curricula 
described in subsection (e)(1) and the sustainability and expansion 
described in subsection (e)(3). The advisory council shall submit the 
report to the covered committees defined in section 504(f).
    (g) Travel Expenses.--Subject to the limit described in section 
505(b), the members of the advisory council shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of services for the advisory 
council.
    (h) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government 
employee may be detailed to the advisory council without reimbursement 
to serve as a staff member for the advisory council, and such detail 
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege.
    (i) Termination.--The advisory council shall terminate on October 
1, 2030.

SEC. 502. EVALUATION OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Independent Evaluator.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
contract with an independent entity, who is not a grant recipient under 
this Act and who has expertise in evaluating programs for people with 
disabilities or programs for older adults, to carry out an evaluation 
of the education programs carried out under this Act.
    (b) Population Covered by Evaluation.--In conducting the 
evaluation, the evaluator shall consider the impact of the education 
programs carried out under this Act on all participants served by the 
education programs and on each underserved demographic population (such 
as an underserved race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, age, or type of disability) served by the education 
programs.
    (c) Performance.--
            (1) Performance in changing awareness of guardianship 
        alternatives.--
                    (A) Awareness of program participants.--The 
                evaluator shall measure program participants' awareness 
                of guardianship alternatives as a result of the 
                education programs.
                    (B) Awareness due to dissemination.--The evaluator 
                shall measure the dissemination of information on 
                guardianship alternatives in the workplaces and 
                communities of participants in the education programs, 
                as a result of the education programs, to evaluate how 
                far awareness of guardianship alternatives has expanded 
                beyond the participants.
            (2) Effectiveness of education programs.--The evaluator 
        shall measure the effectiveness of the education programs on 
        any additional criterion that the advisory committee advised 
        the Secretary to adopt, and the Secretary adopted, in 
        accordance with section 501(e)(4).
    (d) Policy Changes at the State Level.--In conducting the 
evaluation, the evaluator shall identify any guardianship policy 
changes at the State level, including the creation of, removal of, or 
changes to guardianship policies.

SEC. 503. STATE DATA COLLECTION ON PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

    (a) Rehabilitation Act of 1973.--The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is 
amended--
            (1) in section 101(a)(10) (29 U.S.C. 721(a)(10))--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (H) 
                as subparagraphs (G) through (I), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the 
                following:
                    ``(F) The Commissioner shall require that each 
                designated State unit include in the reports additional 
                information described in section 503(b) of the 
                Alternatives to Guardianship Education Act.''; and
            (2) in section 607 (29 U.S.C. 795l), by inserting ``(except 
        with respect to information under subparagraph (F) of section 
        101(a)(10))'' after ``section 101(a)(10)''.
    (b) Data To Be Collected and Submitted by States.--In order to 
provide objective, measurable data on guardianships and guardianship 
alternatives in the States, States receiving funds under title I of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.) shall collect and 
report to the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (a), information 
about each of the following:
            (1) The number and type of guardianships and protective 
        arrangements established and dissolved each calendar year in 
        the State.
            (2) Demographic information of guardians and people under 
        guardianship arrangements, including type of guardian (such as 
        family member, friend, professional private guardian, or public 
        agency).
            (3) The average length of a guardianship arrangement in the 
        State, as of the time such data is reported.
            (4) Information about the reasons for guardianship 
        arrangements in the State.
            (5) Information about the reasons that guardianship 
        arrangements were terminated in the State since the last 
        report, including receipt of guardianship alternatives 
        education.

SEC. 504. REPORTING.

    (a) Eligible Entity Reports.--Each eligible entity that receives a 
grant under this Act for an education program shall annually prepare 
and submit to the Secretary a progress report, that measures the change 
in indicators described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 502(c), as 
a result of the education program, and the change in policies described 
in section 502(d).
    (b) Summary Effectiveness Report.--The Secretary shall annually--
            (1) prepare a summary report on the change, in the 
        aggregate, in indicators described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
        section 502(c), as a result of the education programs carried 
        out under this Act, and the change in policies described in 
        section 502(d), which report shall include--
                    (A) information on methods of outreach to recruit 
                participants for the education programs from diverse 
                backgrounds and communities, including the number of 
                the participants recruited through each method;
                    (B) the total number of participants in the 
                education programs, and the percentage of such 
                participants who completed the education programs; and
                    (C) data on demographic characteristics, including 
                the race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, and 
                type of disability, of the participants, and data on 
                the geographic location of the participants, in the 
                education programs; and
            (2) submit the report to the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on 
        Aging of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and the 
        Workforce of the House of Representatives.
    (c) Renewal Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the 
covered committees a formative report on the instruction provided 
through the guardianship alternatives education program during the 2-
year period after eligible entities first receive grants under this 
Act. The Secretary shall use the information in the report in 
determining whether to renew grants for eligible entities for a second 
grant term. The Secretary shall submit the report to the grant 
recipients whose grants are renewed, to inform the work of the 
recipients during the second grant term.
    (d) State Data Report.--The Secretary shall prepare a report 
containing the data collected under section 503, and make the report 
publicly available.
    (e) Final Report.--Not later than 1 year after the end of the last 
second grant term to be completed under this Act, the Secretary shall 
prepare and submit to the covered committees a final report summarizing 
all actions taken under grants made available under this Act.
    (f) Covered Committees.--In this section, the term ``covered 
committees'' means the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions, the Committee on Finance, and the Special Committee on Aging 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
    (b) Administration and Evaluation.--From the amount made available 
under subsection (a) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 
not more than 5 percent for administration of this Act, including 
carrying out the activities required in sections 501 through 504.
                                 <all>