TITLE III-- PROGRAM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKERS WHO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

42 USC 15111

SEC. 301. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that-

(1) direct support workers, especially young adults, have played essential roles in providing the support needed by individuals with developmental disabilities and expanding community options for those individuals;

(2) 4 factors have contributed to a decrease in the available pool of direct support workers, specifically-

(A) the small population of individuals who are age 18 through 25, an age group that has been attracted to direct support work in the past;

(B) the rapid expansion of the service sector, which attracts individuals who previously would have elected to pursue employment as direct support workers;

(C) the failure of wages in the human services sector to keep pace with wages in other service sectors; and

(D) the lack of quality training and career advancement opportunities available to direct support workers; and

(3) individuals with developmental disabilities benefit from assistance from direct support workers who are well trained, and benefit from receiving services from professionals who have spent time as direct support workers.

In this title:

(1) DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY. -The term ''developmental disability'' has the meaning given the term in section 102.

(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. -The term ''institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 1201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141).

(3) SECRETARY. -The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION. -The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to enable the entities to carry out scholarship programs by providing vouchers for postsecondary education to direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities residing in diverse settings. The Secretary shall award the grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers.

(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY. -To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be-

(1) an institution of higher education;

(2) a State agency; or

(3) a consortium of such institutions or agencies.

(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. -To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of-

(1) the basis for awarding the vouchers;

(2) the number of individuals to receive the vouchers; and

(3) the amount of funds that will be made available by the eligible entity to pay for the non-Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers.

(d) SELECTION CRITERIA. -In awarding a grant under this section for a scholarship program, the Secretary shall give priority to an entity submitting an application that-

(1) specifies that individuals who receive vouchers through the program will be individuals-

(A) who are direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities residing in diverse settings, while pursuing postsecondary education; and

(B) each of whom verifies, prior to receiving the voucher, that the worker has completed 250 hours as a direct support worker in the past 90 days;

(2) states that the vouchers that will be provided through the program will be in amounts of not more than $2,000 per year;

(3) provides an assurance that the eligible entity (or another specified entity that is not a voucher recipient) will contribute the non-Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers; and

(4) meets such other conditions as the Secretary may specify.

(e) FEDERAL SHARE. -The Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers shall be not more than 80 percent.

(a) FUNDING.-

(1) IN GENERAL. -The Secretary shall award funding, on a competitive basis, through a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract, to a public or private entity or a combination of such entities, for the development, evaluation, and dissemination of a staff development curriculum, and related guidelines, for computer-assisted, competency-based, multimedia, interactive instruction, relating to service as a direct support worker.

(2) PARTICIPANTS. -The curriculum shall be developed for individuals who-

(A) seek to become direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities or are such direct support workers; and

(B) seek to upgrade their skills and competencies related to being a direct support worker.

(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. -To be eligible to receive an award under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including-

(1) a comprehensive analysis of the content of direct support roles;

(2) information identifying an advisory group that-

(A) is comprised of individuals with experience and expertise with regard to the support provided by direct support workers, and effective ways to provide the support, for individuals with developmental disabilities in diverse settings; and

(B) will advise the entity throughout the development, evaluation, and dissemination of the staff development curriculum and guidelines;

(3) information describing how the entity will-

(A) develop, field test, and validate a staff development curriculum that-

(i) relates to the appropriate reading level for direct service workers who assist individuals with disabilities;

(ii) allows for multiple levels of instruction;

(iii) provides instruction appropriate for direct support workers who work in diverse settings; and

(iv) is consistent with subsections (b) and (c) of section 101 and section 109;

(B) develop, field test, and validate guidelines for the organizations that use the curriculum that provide for-

(i) providing necessary technical and instructional support to trainers and mentors for the participants;

(ii) ensuring easy access to and use of such curriculum by workers that choose to participate in using, and agencies that choose to use, the curriculum;

(iii) evaluating the proficiency of the participants with respect to the content of the curriculum;

(iv) providing necessary support to the participants to assure that the participants have access to, and proficiency in using, a computer in order to participate in the development, testing, and validation process;

(v) providing necessary technical and instructional support to trainers and mentors for the participants in conjunction with the development, testing, and validation process;

(vi) addressing the satisfaction of participants, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, providers of services for such individuals and families, and other relevant entities with the curriculum; and

(vii) developing methods to maintain a record of the instruction completed, and the content mastered, by each participant under the curriculum; and

(C) nationally disseminate the curriculum and guidelines, including dissemination through-

(i) parent training and information centers funded under part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.);

(ii) community-based organizations of and for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;

(iii) entities funded under title I;

(iv) centers for independent living;

(v) State educational agencies and local educational agencies;

(vi) entities operating appropriate medical facilities;

(vii) postsecondary education entities; and

(viii) other appropriate entities; and

(4) such other information as the Secretary may require.

(a) SCHOLARSHIPS. -There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 303 $800,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2007.

(b) STAFF DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM. -There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 304 $800,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

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