§12206 Technical Assistance

Summary

The Attorney General must, within 180 days after July 26, 1990, make a plan to help covered groups and other federal agencies understand their duties. The Attorney General must work with the heads of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, and the Federal Communications Commission, and publish the plan for public comment. The Attorney General can get help from other federal bodies like the National Council on Disability, the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Commerce. Different agencies will carry out the plan for different parts of the law: the EEOC and Attorney General for subchapter I; the Attorney General for part A of subchapter II and the Secretary of Transportation for part B; the Attorney General with the Secretary of Transportation and the ATBCB for subchapter III (except section 12184, which the Secretary of Transportation handles); and the FCC Chair with the Attorney General for Title IV. Federal agencies with responsibility under the law must give technical help to people and institutions with rights or duties under the law. They must provide appropriate how-to guides no later than six months after the final rules are published for subchapters I, II, III and Title IV. Agencies may, if money is available, make grants or sign contracts to spread information and provide help; grants can go to individuals, nonprofits (including schools), and associations, while contracts may also go to for-profit companies (for-profits cannot get the grants). Not getting technical help or guides does not excuse any employer, public place, or other covered entity from following the law.