[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27778]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 10, 1994]


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Part V





Department of Education





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Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a priority under the Independent Living 
Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program. The Secretary may 
use this priority for fiscal year (FY) 1995 and subsequent years. The 
Secretary takes this action to focus Federal financial assistance on 
States that do not currently have projects funded under this program. 
The priority is intended to increase the number of States participating 
in this program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 12, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be 
addressed to John Nelson, U.S. Department of Education, 600 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3326, Switzer Building, Washington, 
D.C. 20202-2741. Comments may also be sent through the internet to 
``[email protected].''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raymond Melhoff, U.S. Department of 
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3416, Switzer Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-2741. Telephone: (202) 205-9320. Individuals who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTD) may call (202) 205-
9362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains one proposed 
priority under the Independent Living Services for Older 
Individuals Who Are Blind program. Grants under this program are 
authorized by section 752(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(Act), as amended. The expenditure of grant funds under this 
program is governed by the regulations in 34 CFR Part 367, which 
were published in the Federal Register on August 15, 1994 (59 FR 
41910).

    The purpose of this program is to support projects that provide to 
older individuals who are blind any of the independent living services 
that are described in 34 CFR 367.3(b); conduct activities that will 
improve or expand services for these individuals; and conduct 
activities to help improve public understanding of the problems of 
these individuals.
    This program is an important part of the National Education Goals. 
This programs supports the National Education Goal that, by the year 
2000, every adult American will be literate and will possess the 
knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and 
exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
    Any designated State agency (DSA) that meets the requirements in 34 
CFR 367.2 is eligible to receive an award under this program. A DSA's 
application for funds under this program must contain the assurances 
required by 34 CFR 367.11 and any other agreements, assurances, and 
information that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out 
this program. In addition, section 21 of the Act requires that projects 
funded under this program must demonstrate how they will address, in 
whole or in part, the needs of older individuals who are blind and are 
from minority backgrounds.
    The Secretary will announce the final priority in a notice in the 
Federal Register. The final priority will be determined by responses to 
this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the 
Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability 
of funds, the nature of the final priority, and the quality of the 
applications received. The publication of this proposed priority does 
not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities, nor 
does it limit the Secretary to funding only this priority, subject to 
meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.

    Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition 
will be published in the Federal Register concurrent with or 
following publication of the notice of final priority.

Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary proposes to give an 
absolute preference to applications that meet the following priority. 
The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only applications 
that meet this absolute priority:

Background

    The Department funded projects in 45 States in fiscal year 1994 to 
provide independent living services for older individuals who are 
blind. The Secretary is interested in supporting projects in States 
that do not currently have projects funded under this program. This 
priority would increase the number of States providing services to 
older individuals who are blind under this program.

Priority

    Projects must provide services to older individuals who are blind 
in States that do not currently have projects funded under this 
program.

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the 
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a 
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and 
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal 
financial assistance.
    In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide 
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for 
this program.

Invitation To Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments and 
recommendations regarding this proposed priority.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available 
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 
3326, Mary Switzer Building, 330 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of 
each week except Federal holidays.
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR Part 367.

    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 796f.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.177A, Independent 
Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind)

    Dated: November 2, 1994.
Howard R. Moses,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 94-27778 Filed 11-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P