[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4390-4391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2400]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 361

RIN 1820-AB12


The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary announces a series of public meetings 
to solicit public comments regarding the proposed regulations published 
in the Federal Register on December 15, 1995 (60 FR 64476) for The 
State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program.
    The purpose of the meetings is to allow interested parties an 
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed regulations, 
especially as these regulations interpret or clarify statutory 
requirements of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992 and 1993 
pertaining to The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program.

DATES: Meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., on February 16, 1996, 
in San Francisco, California, on February 20, 1996, and in Dallas, 
Texas, on February 22, 1996.
    All written comments must be received on or before February 23, 
1996. This is the closing date for comments under the notice of 
proposed rulemaking published on December 15, 1995 (60 FR 64476).

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations:
    1. Washington, D.C.--U.S. Department of Education, Barnard 
Auditorium, Room 2413, Federal Office Building 10B (FB-10B), 600 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
    2. San Francisco, California--U.S. Department of Education, Federal 
Office Building, Room 506, 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, 
California.
    3. Dallas, Texas--City of Dallas, Park and Recreation Department, 
Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas, Texas.
    Individuals who cannot attend the meeting are invited to send in 
written comments regarding the proposed regulations. Comments received 
after the due date for comments will not be considered.
    Written comments should be addressed to Fredric K. Schroeder, 
Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, U. S. Department 
of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3028, Mary E. Switzer 
Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2531. Comments transmitted by 
facsimile 

[[Page 4391]]
should be sent to (202) 205-9772 or (202) 260-7527. Comments can be 
transmitted in an electronic format either through the electronic 
bulletin board system (BBS) of the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA) or through internet. The internet address is 
``State [email protected]''. The access number for the RSA BBS is (202) 205-
5574 for low speed (2400 BPS or lower) modems and (202) 401-6174 for 
high speed (9600 BPS and higher) modems. Comments can also be 
transmitted to the RSA BBS through Fedworld via internet using the 
telnet command. Telnet to: ``Fedworld.gov''. All comments transmitted 
in an electronic format should be sent to the following RSA BBS 
mailbox: ``RSADPPES''. To facilitate the analysis of comments, 
electronic transmission of comments is preferred. Also, comments should 
be specific and identified by proposed regulatory citation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons desiring to participate in the 
meetings or seeking additional information should contact Beverlee 
Stafford, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Room 3014, Mary E. Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2531. 
Telephone (202) 205-8831. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call (202) 205-5538.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services 
Program is authorized by Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended (the Act) (29 U.S.C. 701-744). This program provides support to 
each State to assist it in operating a comprehensive, coordinated, 
effective, efficient, and accountable State program to assess, plan, 
develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals 
with disabilities so that those individuals may prepare for and engage 
in gainful employment, consistent with their strengths, resources, 
priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and informed choice. The 
program supports the National Education Goal that, by the year 2000, 
every adult American, including individuals with disabilities, will 
possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global 
economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
    The proposed regulations published on December 15, 1995, are needed 
to implement changes to the Act made by the Rehabilitation Act 
Amendments of 1992, enacted on October 29, 1992, as amended by the 1993 
technical amendments. The preamble to the proposed regulations contains 
a lengthy analysis of the issues addressed by the proposed regulations.
    Availability of Copies of the Proposed Regulations: The proposed 
regulations can be accessed through the RSA Bulletin Board System (BBS) 
by calling the following access number: (202) 205-9694. If you 
experience any difficulty in accessing the BBS, please contact either 
John Chapman at (202) 205-9290 or Teresa Darter at (202) 205-8444, co-
system operators (sysops), for assistance. For those individuals unable 
to access the BBS, copies of the proposed regulations are available in 
regular print, large print, and computer diskette (WordPerfect 5.1 and 
ASCII formats) by calling (202) 205-8831. A limited number of copies in 
braille are also available.
    Meeting Information: Meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., San 
Francisco, California, and Dallas, Texas. Individuals desiring to 
present comments at the meetings are encouraged to reserve a time on 
the agenda. Individuals will be allowed between five and seven minutes 
to present comments. The amount of time available will depend upon the 
number of individuals who request reservations. Reservations will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the level of 
response expected, individuals should make reservations as soon as 
possible. When making reservations, individuals must indicate the need 
for any special accommodations, including sign language interpreters. 
While reservations are not needed for those individuals who wish to 
attend the meetings but do not want to make formal comments, 
reservations are encouraged to facilitate the participant's access into 
the proceedings held in Federal buildings. The meetings are open to the 
public, and the meeting rooms and proceedings will be accessible for 
individuals with disabilities.
    The meeting in Washington, D.C., will be held on February 16, 1996, 
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The location for the meeting is the U.S. 
Department of Education, Barnard Auditorium, Room 2413, Federal Office 
Building 10B (FB-10B), 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
Please note that the accessible entrance to the building is located on 
Maryland Avenue. Photo identification is required to enter the Federal 
building, and reservations are encouraged to facilitate access. For 
reservations for the meeting in Washington, D.C., please call Beverlee 
Stafford at (202) 205-8831.
    The meeting in San Francisco, California, will be held on February 
20, 1996, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the U.S. Department of 
Education, Federal Office Building, Room 506, 50 United Nations Plaza, 
San Francisco, California. Photo identification is needed to enter the 
Federal building, and reservations are encouraged to facilitate access. 
For reservations for the meeting in San Francisco, California, please 
call Gilbert ``Doc'' Williams at (415) 556-7333.
    The meeting in Dallas, Texas, will be held on February 22, 1996, 
from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the City of Dallas, Park and Recreation 
Department, Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas, 
Texas. For reservations for the meeting in Dallas, Texas, please call 
Loerance Deaver at (214) 767-2961.

(Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701)

    Dated: January 31, 1996.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 96-2400 Filed 2-5-96; 8:45 am]
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