Title 29 › Chapter 31— ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › § 3003
Provides money to every State and outlying area so they can run a statewide assistive technology program. The grants must help people with disabilities and their families get assistive devices and services and make those devices easier to access. Each State and outlying area that follows the rules gets a grant. The amount each one gets must be at least what it received for fiscal year 2022 under the earlier program. If there is not enough money for everyone at that level, the federal Secretary will reduce each award evenly. If more money becomes available later that year, the Secretary will raise awards evenly until the 2022 base amounts are reached. If total funds for the program are above the base level but no more than $40,000,000, the extra money is split in specific ways between equal allotments and population-based allotments. If total funds are $40,000,000 or more, the Secretary first makes the base allotments, then makes sure each outlying area ends up with exactly $150,000, and then divides remaining funds using a mix of equal and population-based shares. Grant money is available during the fiscal year it is awarded and for the following year. The Governor must pick a public agency to run the money and the program and to file the State’s application. The Governor may name a different group to carry out program work under an agreement with the lead agency. The Governor can ask the Secretary to approve changing the lead or the implementing agency, but does not have to change agencies that were in place on December 23, 2022. Each State must have an advisory council to give consumer-focused advice on planning, running, and checking the program. The council must include people who use assistive technology or their family members (at least 51 percent of the council), plus representatives from relevant State agencies and other public or private groups. The council must reflect the State’s geographic and demographic diversity. Members are not paid, but they can be reimbursed for actual expenses. To get funds, a State must submit an application with details about the lead and implementing agencies, how people with disabilities helped make the plan, and how they will stay involved. The application must include a State plan that explains how the State will run a full assistive technology program, how it will spend the grant money, and measurable goals with timelines. The plan must set goals and ways to measure progress in areas such as education, employment, access to teleassistive technology for health care, instruction on accessible information and communication technology, and community living. The State must promise to collect annual data, use funds only as allowed, keep Federal accounting rules, keep accessible facilities, ensure title and proper management of property bought with grant funds, follow accessibility standards for electronic and information technology, and provide reports and records to the Secretary when asked. Grant funds may be used for many program activities but not for direct payment to buy an assistive device for a specific individual. States must spend part of their grant on activities that increase access and funding for assistive technology devices and services, such as developing financing systems, supporting low-interest or revolving loan programs, or other Secretary-approved mechanisms. States must run or support programs to reuse, repair, recycle, sell, loan, or donate devices; run device loan programs for short-term needs; provide device demonstrations and referrals using trained staff; and give comprehensive information about vendors and repair services. States must develop and provide training, educational materials, technical assistance, and public awareness. Training may target school staff, vocational rehabilitation, other State and local agencies, health care providers, businesses, and people with disabilities, and should cover topics like funding sources, how to assess needs, how to apply and use devices, and how to include assistive technology in service plans. States must keep or enhance a statewide information and referral system that tells people where to find devices, services, providers, and funding. The State must coordinate these activities with public and private partners who fund or provide assistive technology. A State may use up to 40 percent of grant funds for the kinds of training, awareness, and technical-assistance activities described above, and at least 5 percent of that portion must support teleassistive technology for health care access. If a State chooses instead to concentrate funds on just two or more of the financing, reuse, loan, demonstration, or other core activities, it must still carry out the required education and outreach activities and must limit such concentrated spending to no more than 30 percent of the grant. No more than 10 percent of a State’s grant may go to indirect costs. Devices bought for program activities should be reused as much as possible and then may be donated to public agencies, nonprofits, or individuals in need. Each State must take part in required data collection and send an annual report to the Secretary. That report must include details about the State’s financing activities and who they helped; loan and reutilization program numbers and impact; device demonstrations and referrals; training and technical assistance provided; use and results of the information and referral system and public outreach; improvements made to policies and practices because of the program; outside resources or partner contributions used; and customer satisfaction with the services.
Full Legal Text
Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 3003
Title 29 — Labor
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60