§720 — Title 29 Labor | U.S. Code

Summary

Sets a national goal and money rules to help people with disabilities get and keep jobs. It says work is important for people and for society. It notes that people with disabilities often face high unemployment and poverty but can work in regular jobs if they get the right supports. The law lists common reasons people with disabilities don’t work more, like discrimination, lack of accessible transportation, fear of losing Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance, and lack of training or supports. It says enforcing disability anti‑discrimination laws, providing vocational rehabilitation and workforce services, and linking those services to statewide workforce systems will help. State vocational rehabilitation programs must be part of the state workforce system, offer services based on each person’s strengths and choices, and aim for economic self‑sufficiency and gainful employment. The law also says people with disabilities should be assumed able to work, must have chances for competitive integrated jobs, must be active partners in decisions about their plans and services, can ask for family or natural supports, should work with qualified counselors and staff, must be included in policy decisions, and that programs must be held accountable, including for serving those with the most significant disabilities. For funding, Congress authorized $3,302,053,000 each year for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 to help states pay for these services. The yearly amount cannot be less than the previous year’s amount increased by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. By November 15 of each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 1979, the Secretary of Labor must publish the percent change in the Consumer Price Index between October of the prior fiscal year and October of the current fiscal year. If that percent shows an increase, funding for the next year must rise by that percent; if it does not, funding stays at the same amount. “Consumer Price Index” means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The money figure does not include certain grants under section 732. If Congress fails to renew the authorization before it ends, one extra year of funding will be set at the 2003 amount adjusted by the CPI increase if the CPI rose. Any law must become law to count, and required administrative actions must continue during any such extension.

Title 29, §720

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Congress finds that—

(A)work—

(i)is a valued activity, both for individuals and society; and

(ii)fulfills the need of an individual to be productive, promotes independence, enhances self-esteem, and allows for participation in the mainstream of life in the United States;

(B)as a group, individuals with disabilities experience staggering levels of unemployment and poverty;

(C)individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, have demonstrated their ability to achieve gainful employment in competitive integrated employment settings if appropriate services and supports are provided;

(D)reasons for significant numbers of individuals with disabilities not working, or working at levels not commensurate with their abilities and capabilities, include—

(i)discrimination;

(ii)lack of accessible and available transportation;

(iii)fear of losing health coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs carried out under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. and 1396 et seq.) or fear of losing private health insurance; and

(iv)lack of education, training, and supports to meet job qualification standards necessary to secure, retain, regain, or advance in employment;

(E)enforcement of subchapter V and of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) holds the promise of ending discrimination for individuals with disabilities;

(F)the provision of workforce development activities and vocational rehabilitation services can enable individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, to pursue meaningful careers by securing gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities; and

(G)linkages between the vocational rehabilitation programs established under this subchapter and other components of the statewide workforce development systems are critical to ensure effective and meaningful participation by individuals with disabilities in workforce development activities.

(2)The purpose of this subchapter is to assist States in operating statewide comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable programs of vocational rehabilitation, each of which is—

(A)an integral part of a statewide workforce development system; and

(B)designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, informed choice, and economic self-sufficiency, so that such individuals may prepare for and engage in gainful employment.

(3)It is the policy of the United States that such a program shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the following principles:

(A)Individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, are generally presumed to be capable of engaging in gainful employment and the provision of individualized vocational rehabilitation services can improve their ability to become gainfully employed.

(B)Individuals with disabilities must be provided the opportunities to obtain competitive integrated employment.

(C)Individuals who are applicants for such programs or eligible to participate in such programs must be active and full partners in the vocational rehabilitation process, making meaningful and informed choices—

(i)during assessments for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs; and

(ii)in the selection of employment outcomes for the individuals, services needed to achieve the outcomes, entities providing such services, and the methods used to secure such services.

(D)Families and other natural supports can play important roles in the success of a vocational rehabilitation program, if the individual with a disability involved requests, desires, or needs such supports.

(E)Vocational rehabilitation counselors that are trained and prepared in accordance with State policies and procedures as described in section 721(a)(7)(B) of this title (referred to individually in this subchapter as a “qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor”), other qualified rehabilitation personnel, and other qualified personnel should facilitate the accomplishment of the employment outcomes and objectives of an individual.

(F)Individuals with disabilities and the individuals’ representatives are full partners in a vocational rehabilitation program and must be involved on a regular basis and in a meaningful manner with respect to policy development and implementation.

(G)Accountability measures must facilitate the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the program, including providing vocational rehabilitation services to, among others, individuals with the most significant disabilities.

(b)(1)For the purpose of making grants to States under part B to assist States in meeting the costs of vocational rehabilitation services provided in accordance with State plans under section 721 of this title, there are authorized to be appropriated $3,302,053,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020, except that the amount to be appropriated for a fiscal year shall not be less than the amount of the appropriation under this paragraph for the immediately preceding fiscal year, increased by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index determined under subsection (c) for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(2)The reference in paragraph (1) to grants to States under part B shall not be considered to refer to grants under section 732 of this title.

(c)(1)No later than November 15 of each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 1979), the Secretary of Labor shall publish in the Federal Register the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index published for October of the preceding fiscal year and October of the fiscal year in which such publication is made.

(2)(A)If in any fiscal year the percentage change published under paragraph (1) indicates an increase in the Consumer Price Index, then the amount to be appropriated under subsection (b)(1) for the subsequent fiscal year shall be at least the amount appropriated under subsection (b)(1) for the fiscal year in which the publication is made under paragraph (1) increased by such percentage change.

(B)If in any fiscal year the percentage change published under paragraph (1) does not indicate an increase in the Consumer Price Index, then the amount to be appropriated under subsection (b)(1) for the subsequent fiscal year shall be at least the amount appropriated under subsection (b)(1) for the fiscal year in which the publication is made under paragraph (1).

(3)For purposes of this section, the term “Consumer Price Index” means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(d)(1)(A)Unless the Congress in the regular session which ends prior to the beginning of the terminal fiscal year—

(i)of the authorization of appropriations for the program authorized by the State grant program under part B of this subchapter; or

(ii)of the duration of the program authorized by the State grant program under part B of this subchapter;

(B)The amount authorized to be appropriated for the additional fiscal year described in subparagraph (A) shall be an amount equal to the amount appropriated for such program for fiscal year 2003, increased by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index determined under subsection (c) for the immediately preceding fiscal year, if the percentage change indicates an increase.

(2)(A)For the purposes of paragraph (1)(A), Congress shall not be deemed to have passed legislation unless such legislation becomes law.

(B)In any case where the Commissioner is required under an applicable statute to carry out certain acts or make certain determinations which are necessary for the continuation of the program authorized by this subchapter, if such acts or determinations are required during the terminal year of such program, such acts and determinations shall be required during any fiscal year in which the extension described in that part of paragraph (1) that follows clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(A) is in effect.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(D)(iii), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles XVIII and XIX of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) and XIX (§ 1396 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(E), is Pub. L. 101–336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, which is classified principally to chapter 126 (§ 12101 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 12101 of Title 42 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 720, Pub. L. 93–112, title I, § 100, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 93–516, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1618; Pub. L. 93–651, title I, § 102(a), Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–3; Pub. L. 94–230, §§ 2(a), 11(b)(2), (3), Mar. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 211, 213; Pub. L. 95–602, title I, § 101(a), (b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2955; Pub. L. 98–221, title I, § 111(a)–(d), Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 19; Pub. L. 99–506, title I, § 103(d)(2)(C), title II, § 201, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1810, 1813; Pub. L. 100–630, title II, § 202(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3304; Pub. L. 102–52, § 2(a), (b)(1), June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 260; Pub. L. 102–569, title I, § 121(a), (b), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4365, 4367, related to congressional findings, purpose, policy, authorization of appropriations, change in Consumer Price Index, and extension of program, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–220.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(1)(A), substituted “competitive integrated employment” for “integrated”. Subsec. (a)(1)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(1)(B), substituted “Medicare and Medicaid” for “medicare and medicaid”. Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(1)(C), substituted “development” for “investment”. Subsec. (a)(1)(G). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(1)(D), substituted “workforce development systems” for “workforce investment systems” and “workforce development activities” for “workforce investment activities”. Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(2)(A), substituted “workforce development system” for “workforce investment system”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(2)(B), substituted “informed choice, and economic self-sufficiency,” for “and informed choice,”. Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(3)(A), substituted “competitive integrated employment” for “gainful employment in integrated settings”. Subsec. (a)(3)(E). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(a)(3)(B), inserted “should” before “facilitate the accomplishment”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–128, § 411(b), substituted “$3,302,053,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020” for “such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1999 through 2003”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions of Terms in Pub. L. 113–128 Except as otherwise provided, definitions in section 3 of Pub. L. 113–128, which is classified to section 3102 of this title, apply to this section.

§720 Declaration of Policy; Authorization of Appropriations