[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56226-56227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21045]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    This notice amends Part K of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) as 
follows: Chapter KC.00, Chapter KC.10, Chapter KC.20 Paragraph B, and 
Chapter KC.20 Paragraph C, the Administration on Developmental 
Disabilities (ADD) (69 FR 35378-79), as last amended June 24, 2004. 
Chapters KC.00 and KC.20 Paragraph C are amended to replace outdated 
references to University Affiliated Programs with references to the 
current grant program, University Centers for Excellence in 
Developmental Disabilities. Chapters KC.00 and KC.20 Paragraph B are 
amended to more fully describe the grant programs that ADD will 
administer under the Help America Vote Act. Chapter KC.20 Paragraph B 
is also amended to delete outdated references to the Basic State Grants 
program. Chapters KC.10 and KC.20 Paragraph C are amended to reflect 
the new name of the Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants. This 
notice reflects ADD's responsibilities in implementing election 
assistance for individuals with disabilities under the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Pub. L. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666 (2002). The 
authority to administer HAVA was delegated to the Assistant Secretary, 
ACF, by the Secretary on February 9, 2004, and subsequently redelegated 
to the Commissioner, Administration on Developmental Disabilities by 
the Assistant Secretary, ACF, on April 2, 2004. In addition, it 
establishes the Office of Programs and the Office of Operations and 
Discretionary Grants, eliminates the Deputy Commissioner position, and 
moves the Administration and Planning Staff and their functions to the 
newly established Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants. This 
notice is being republished in its entirety for the convenience of the 
reader.
    These Chapters are amended as follows:

1. Chapter KC, Administration on Developmental Disabilities

    A. Delete KC.00 Mission in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KC.00 Mission. The Administration on Developmental Disabilities 
advises the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families, on matters relating to individuals with developmental 
disabilities and their families. ADD serves as the focal point in the 
Department to support and encourage the provision of quality services 
to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. ADD 
assists states, through the design and implementation of comprehensive 
and continuing state plans, to increase the independence, productivity 
and community inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities. 
These state plans make optimal use of existing federal and state 
resources for the provision of services and supports to these 
individuals and their families to achieve these outcomes. ADD works 
with the states to ensure that the rights of all individuals with 
developmental disabilities are protected.
    ADD administers two formula grant programs under the Developmental 
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD Act), the State 
Councils on Developmental Disabilities and the Protection and Advocacy 
Systems, and two discretionary grant programs, University Centers for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Projects of National 
Significance grant programs, including family support grants. These 
programs support the provision of services to individuals with 
developmental disabilities and their families. In concert with other 
components of ACF as well as other public, private, and voluntary 
sector partners, ADD supports research, demonstration and evaluation 
activities designed to improve and enrich the lives of individuals with 
developmental disabilities. In addition, ADD serves as a resource in 
the development of policies and programs to reduce or eliminate 
barriers experienced by individuals with developmental disabilities 
through the identification of promising practices and dissemination of 
information. ADD manages initiatives involving the private and 
voluntary sectors that benefit individuals with developmental and other 
disabilities and their families.
    ADD also manages and administers three grant programs authorized by 
HAVA. Two are formula grant programs: State and Local Grants for 
Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (EAID) to improve 
access to polling places for individuals with disabilities, and Grants 
to Protection and Advocacy Systems to ensure full participation in the 
voting process for voters with disabilities. The third is a 
discretionary grant program for training and technical assistance for 
Protection

[[Page 56227]]

and Advocacy Systems under the HAVA election assistance provisions.
    B. Delete KC.10 Organization in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    KC.10 Organization. The Administration on Developmental 
Disabilities is headed by a Commissioner who reports directly to the 
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. The Administration on 
Developmental Disabilities consists of:
     The Office of the Commissioner (KCA).
     The Office of Programs (KCB).
     The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants (KCC).
    C. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph A in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    KC.20 Functions. A. The Office of the Commissioner serves as the 
principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, 
the Secretary, and other elements of the Department for individuals 
with developmental disabilities. The Office provides executive 
direction and management strategy to ADD's components and establishes 
goals and objectives for ADD programs.
    In coordination with the ACF Office of Public Affairs, the Office 
of the Commissioner develops a strategy for increasing public awareness 
of the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and 
programs designed to address them.
    D. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph B in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    B. The Office of Programs is responsible for the coordination, 
management and evaluation of the State Councils on Developmental 
Disabilities grant program and the Protection and Advocacy grant 
program, including the development of procedures and performance 
standards that ensure compliance with the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) and improve the outcomes of 
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Protection and 
Advocacy Systems in increasing the independence, productivity and 
community inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities.
    The Office of Programs also administers two formula grants under 
the Help America Vote Act (State and Local Grants for Election 
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities and Grants to Protection 
and Advocacy Systems) that improve accessibility for individuals with 
the full range of disabilities, including the blind and visually 
impaired, to polling places, including the path of travel, entrances, 
exits and voting facilities. The Office also administers a training and 
technical assistance grant program under the Help America Vote Act that 
provides technical assistance to Protection and Advocacy Systems in 
their mission to promote the full participation in the electoral 
process for individuals with the full range of disabilities, including 
registering to vote, casting vote, and accessing polling places.
    The Office of Programs conducts routine and special analyses of 
state plans of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and 
statements on the goals and objectives of State Protection and Advocacy 
Systems, including an examination of priority area activities, to 
assure consistent application of ADD program goals and objectives. The 
Office conducts reviews of programs to ensure compliance with the DD 
Act to improve program outcomes, and identifies and disseminates 
information regarding promising practices to advance the independence, 
productivity and community inclusion of people with developmental 
disabilities.
    The Office of Programs initiates, executes and supports the 
development of interagency, intergovernmental and public-private sector 
agreements, committees, task forces, commissions or joint-funding 
efforts as appropriate.
    The Office of Programs provides program and administrative guidance 
to regional offices on matters related to the implementation of the 
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Protection and 
Advocacy Systems grant programs and ensures timely and effective 
communication with the regional offices regarding program compliance, 
policy clarification and the approval of required state plans and 
reports.
    E. Delete KC.20 Functions, paragraph C in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    C. The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants plans, 
coordinates and controls ADD policy, planning and management activities 
which include the development of legislative proposals, regulations and 
policy issuances for ADD. The Office manages the formulation and 
execution of the program and operating budgets; provides 
administrative, personnel and information systems support services; 
serves as the ADD Executive Secretariat controlling the flow of 
correspondence; and coordinates with appropriate ACF components in 
implementing administrative requirements and procedures. The Office 
also coordinates interagency collaboration and program outreach 
activities.
    The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants also manages the 
discretionary grants and contracts mandated by the DD Act, and provides 
program development services. The Office originates and manages cross-
cutting research, demonstration and evaluation initiatives with other 
components of ADD, ACF, HHS and other government agencies; and monitors 
and evaluates discretionary grants under the Projects of National 
Significance discretionary grant program and the University Centers for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities grant program.
    The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants provides program 
and administrative guidance to regional offices on matters related to 
the implementation of the Projects of National Significance 
discretionary grant program and the University Centers for Excellence 
in Developmental Disabilities grant program.
    The Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants develops and 
initiates guidelines, policy issuances and actions with team 
participation by other components of ADD, ACF, HHS and other government 
agencies to fulfill the mission and goals of the DD Act, as amended. 
The Office ensures the dissemination of project results and information 
produced by ADD grantees.
    Through the Projects of National Significance discretionary grant 
program, the Office of Operations and Discretionary Grants coordinates 
information sharing and other activities related to national program 
trends with other ACF programs and HHS agencies and studies, reviews 
and analyzes other federal programs providing services applicable to 
persons with developmental disabilities for the purpose of integrating 
and coordinating program efforts.

    Dated: September 13, 2004.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-21045 Filed 9-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P