[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31676]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 27, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________




Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year 1995; Notices
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of final priority.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary announces 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect on January 26, 1995.

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 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 program 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.
    November 10, 1994 the Secretary published a notice of proposed 
priority for this program in the Federal Register (59 FR 56322).

    Note: This notice of final priority does not solicit 
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition 
is published in a separate notice in this issue of the Federal 
Register.

Public Comment

    In response to the Secretary's invitation for comments in the 
notice of proposed priority, five parties responded and all five 
supported the priority as worded.
    The Secretary has made no changes in this priority since 
publication of the notice of proposed priority.

Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the Secretary gives an absolute 
preference to applications that meet the following priority. The 
Secretary funds 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.
    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: December 19, 1994.
Judith E. Heumann
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 94-31676 Filed 12-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P