[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6141-6142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2556]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Social Security Administration


Commission on Childhood Disability

AGENCY: Social Security Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the initial organizational meeting of 
the Commission on Childhood Disability (the Commission).

DATES: Friday, February 3, 1995, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Sheraton City Center, 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC, Potomac Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Fultz, Commission Staff 
Director, (202) 690-7409.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

    Title II, Section 202 of the Social Security Independence and 
Program Improvements Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-296) requires the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services to appoint a Commission on the Evaluation 
of Disability in Children for the purpose of evaluating the effects of 
the current definition of disability under title XVI of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S. Code 1381 et seq) as such definition applies to 
eligibility of children to receive SSI benefits, the appropriateness of 
such definition, and advantages and disadvantages of any alternative 
definitions. The study will also consider [[Page 6142]] the feasibility 
and appropriateness of alternative service delivery provisions to 
assure that children with various disabilities residing in different 
types of environments obtain the assistance they need.
    In addition, P.L. 103-296 requires the Commission to address the 
following:
     Whether the need by families for assistance in meeting 
high costs of medical care for children with serious physical or mental 
impairments, whether or not they are eligible for disability benefits 
under title XVI of the Social Security Act, might appropriately be met 
through expansion of Federal health assistance programs;
     The feasibility of providing benefits to children through 
noncash means, including but not limited to vouchers, debit cards, and 
electronic benefit transfer systems;
     The extent to which the Social Security Administration can 
involve private organizations in an effort to increase the provision of 
social services, education, and vocational instruction with the aim of 
promoting independence and the ability to engage in substantial gainful 
activity;
     Alternative ways of providing retroactive supplemental 
security income benefits to disabled children, including the 
desirability and feasibility of conserving some portion of such 
benefits to promote the long-term well-being of such children;
     The desirability and methods of increasing the extent to 
which benefits are used in the effort to assist disabled children in 
achieving independence and engaging in substantial gainful activity; 
and
     The effects of the supplemental security income program on 
disabled children and their families.
    The Secretary has asked that the Commission conduct its analysis 
mindful of the broader context of programs affecting children with 
disabilities and their families.
    The Commission will be chaired by the former Representative Jim 
Slattery. The Commission is composed of 14 members in addition to the 
chairman:
    Polly Arango, Adrianne Asch, Ph.D., Dolores Berkovsky, Anne Ford, 
Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., Jennifer Howse, Ph.D., Sharman Davis Jamison, Dan 
Johnson, Paul Marchand, James M. Perrin, M.D., M. Carmen S. Ramirez, 
Carol Rank, Rud Turnbull III, and Barbara Wolfe, Ph.D.

II. Agenda

    The Commission will hear presentations by the Social Security 
Administration, the General Accounting Office, and the Office of the 
HHS Inspector General describing the results of their recent analyses 
of the SSI program for children with disabilities. The Commission will 
also consider an agenda for future action. Agenda items are subject to 
change as priorities dictate.
    The meeting is open to the public to the extent that space is 
available. Public officials, representatives of professional and 
advocacy organizations, concerned citizens, and Social Security and SSI 
recipients may submit written comments on the issues considered by the 
Commission. The Commission will not take public testimony at this 
meeting but will provide ample opportunity for interested individuals 
and organizations to address it orally at future meetings. Interpreter 
services for persons with hearing impairments will be provided.
    A transcript of the meeting will be available at an at-cost basis. 
Transcripts may be ordered from the information contact shown above. 
The transcript and all written submissions will become part of the 
record of these meetings.

    Dated: January 30, 1995.
Ron Sribnik,
Social Security Administration Regulations Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-2556 Filed 1-31-95; 8:45 am]
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