Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) for the Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers (TACE Centers); Proposed Extension of Project Period and Waiver, 16447-16448 [2013-06077]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Rehabilitation Services
Administration, Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
(OSERS), Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed extension of project
period and waiver.
12th Street SW., Washington, DC,
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, Monday
through Friday of each week except
Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request, we will
supply an appropriate accommodation
or auxiliary aid to an individual with a
disability who needs assistance to
review the comments or other
documents in the public rulemaking
record for this notice. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of
accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUMMARY: For 60-month projects
initially funded in fiscal year (FY) 2008
under the Rehabilitation Continuing
Education Program (RCEP) for the
Technical Assistance and Continuing
Education Centers (TACE Centers), the
Secretary proposes to waive the
requirements that generally prohibit
project periods exceeding five years and
extensions of project periods involving
the obligation of additional Federal
funds. The Secretary also proposes to
extend project periods for one year or
longer. The proposed extension and
waiver would enable the currently
funded TACE Centers to receive funding
through September 30, 2014.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about
this proposed extension of project
period and waiver to RoseAnn Ashby,
U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5055,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC
20202–2800.
If you prefer to send your comments
by email, use the following address:
roseann.ashby@ed.gov. You must
include the phrase ‘‘Proposed extension
of project period and waiver’’ in the
subject line of your message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
RoseAnn Ashby at the address listed in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Telephone: (202) 245–7258.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll-free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation to Comment: We invite you
to submit comments about this
proposed extension of project period
and waiver. During and after the
comment period, you may inspect all
public comments about this proposal in
room 5055, Potomac Center Plaza, 550
Background
On June 5, 2008, and October 20,
2008, the Department published notices
in the Federal Register (73 FR 32006, 73
FR 62263) inviting applications for new
awards for FYs 2008 and 2009 for TACE
Centers to be funded under the
Rehabilitation Training Program,
authorized under section 302 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehabilitation Act). The Department
awarded grants to a total of 10 TACE
Centers—eight in FY 2008, and two in
early FY 2009—for a period of 60
months. All 10 projects are scheduled to
end in calendar year 2013.
For these projects, the Secretary
proposes to waive the requirements in
34 CFR 75.250 and 34 CFR 75.261(c)(2),
which prohibit project periods
exceeding five years and project period
extensions that involve the obligation of
additional Federal funds. The Secretary
also proposes to extend the project
periods for up to 12 months to continue
operations.
The purpose of these Centers is to
improve the quantity and quality of
employment outcomes for individuals
with disabilities through enhanced
technical assistance (TA) and
continuing education (CE) for State
vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies
and agency partners that cooperate with
State VR agencies in providing VR and
other rehabilitation services (e.g.,
Centers for Independent Living (CILs),
Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), and
Community Rehabilitation Programs
(CRPs)).
The TACE Centers contribute to the
following outcomes: Improved quality
of VR services, increased effectiveness
and efficiency of State VR agencies in
delivering VR services, and improved
quantity and quality of VR employment
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities. The TACE Centers must
contribute to these outcomes by
providing, either directly or through
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Part 75 and Chapter III
Rehabilitation Continuing Education
Program (RCEP) for the Technical
Assistance and Continuing Education
Centers (TACE Centers); Proposed
Extension of Project Period and Waiver
[Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.264A.]
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
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16447
contract, TA to State VR agencies and
agency partners. The TACE Centers
must also provide CE to employees of
State VR agencies and agency partners
on topics that are identified jointly by
the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) and each TACE
Center’s advisory committee, and
included in the TACE Center’s annual
work plan.
At this time, the Department does not
believe that it would be in the public
interest to run a competition under this
program for new TACE Centers. The
Department is in the process of
reviewing and analyzing the current
program to determine future needs,
strategies, and funding priorities for FY
2014.
On November 8, 2012, the Department
published a request for information in
the Federal Register (77 FR 66959) to
allow the Department to gather input on
grants awarded under the Rehabilitation
Training Program. One section of this
notice posed specific questions about
how the provision of TA and CE to State
VR agencies would be most effective
and efficient. The Department is
currently analyzing responses to these
questions. The Department also plans to
conduct several focus groups, meet with
the representatives of several national
rehabilitation organizations over the
next six months, and pose similar
questions to these groups. The analysis
of the public input obtained from the
request for information and the input
gathered through meeting with groups
of rehabilitation stakeholders will form
the basis for future funding priorities.
Since 2008, when the TACE Centers
were established, the TA and CE needs
of the field have changed as a result of
new issues and economic challenges
facing State VR agencies. In addition, as
a result of technological advances, there
are new modes of service delivery that
must be fully explored before funding
new grants to provide TA and CE to
State VR agencies. The Department will
need the remainder of FY 2013 to meet
with groups of stakeholders and to do
the necessary analysis of the public
comments received. This will enable the
Department to develop a TA and CE
strategy for State VR agencies and their
partners that maximizes the
effectiveness and efficiency of the
services provided and addresses the
input of a broad spectrum of
stakeholders. The Department plans to
publish new funding priorities in FY
2014. Conducting a competition before
the Department has had an opportunity
to seek input from all stakeholders and
analyze the current and emerging TA
and CE needs of the VR field could
result in an ineffective or poorly
E:\FR\FM\15MRP1.SGM
15MRP1
16448
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 51 / Friday, March 15, 2013 / Proposed Rules
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
targeted investment that would not
serve the needs of State VR agencies,
their clients, or the public at large.
The Department has also concluded
that it would be contrary to the public
interest to have a lapse in the provision
of TA and CE currently provided by the
TACE Centers. Allowing funding to
lapse before a new TA and CE delivery
system can be implemented would leave
State VR agencies and their partners
without necessary supports in the event
that critical needs arise.
For these reasons, the Secretary
proposes to waive the requirements in
34 CFR 75.250, which prohibit project
periods exceeding five years, and the
requirements in 34 CFR 75.261(c)(2),
which limits the extension of a project
period if the extension involves the
obligation of additional Federal funds,
and to issue continuation awards to the
ten current TACE grantees for a total
amount not to exceed $9,000,000. Under
this proposal, the eight current TACE
grantees with project periods ending on
September 30, 2013, would receive
funding to operate for an additional 12
months. The two current TACE grantees
with project periods ending on
December 21, 2013, would receive funds
for an additional nine months.
Consequently, the expiration date for all
10 grants would be September 30, 2014.
Waiving these regulations and issuing
these continuation awards will ensure
that TA and CE to State VR agencies and
their partners will not be interrupted. It
will also ensure that the Department has
adequate opportunity to solicit feedback
and develop a coordinated TA and CE
strategy that will best meet the needs of
State VR agencies and their partners.
With this proposed extension of
project period and waiver, each TACE
Center will be required to continue to
carry out activities during the year of
the continuation award consistent with
the scope, goals, and objectives of the
grantee’s application as approved in the
2008 competition.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that this
proposed extension of project period
and waiver would not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. The only
entities that would be affected are the
ten current grantees receiving Federal
funds to serve as the TACE Centers and
any other potential applicants.
The Secretary certifies that the
proposed waivers and extensions would
not have a significant economic impact
on these entities because the proposed
waivers and extensions impose minimal
compliance costs to extend projects
already in existence, and the activities
VerDate Mar<14>2013
17:29 Mar 14, 2013
Jkt 229001
required to support the additional year
of funding would not impose additional
regulatory burdens or require
unnecessary Federal supervision.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This notice of proposed extension of
project period and waiver does not
contain any information collection
requirements.
Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to the requirements
of Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of
the objectives of the Executive order is
to foster an intergovernmental
partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies
on processes developed by State and
local governments for coordination and
review of proposed Federal financial
assistance. This document provides
early notification of our specific plans
and actions for this program.
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: March 12, 2013.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2013–06077 Filed 3–14–13; 8:45 am]
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ARCHITECTURAL AND
TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS
COMPLIANCE BOARD
36 CFR Part 1195
[Docket No. ATBCB–2012–0003]
RIN 3014–AA40
Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Accessibility Standards Advisory
Committee
Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board.
ACTION: Notice of advisory committee
meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Medical Diagnostic
Equipment Accessibility Standards
Advisory Committee will hold its fifth
meeting. On July 5, 2012, the
Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board (Access
Board) established the advisory
committee to make recommendations to
the Board on matters associated with
comments received and responses to
questions included in a previously
published Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) on Medical
Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility
Standards.
The Committee will meet on
March 26, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. and on March 27, 2013 from 9:00
a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Access Board’s Conference Room,
1331 F Street NW., Suite 800,
Washington, DC 20004–1111.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex
Pace, Office of Technical and
Information Services, Architectural and
Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 1000,
Washington, DC 20004–1111.
Telephone number (202) 272–0023
(Voice); (202) 272–0052 (TTY).
Electronic mail address: pace@accessboard.gov.
DATES:
On July 5,
2012, the Access Board established an
advisory committee to make
recommendations to the Board on
matters associated with comments
received and responses to questions
included in a previously published
NPRM on Medical Diagnostic
Equipment Accessibility Standards. See
77 FR 6916 (February 9, 2012). The
NPRM and information related to the
proposed standards are available on the
Access Board’s Web site at: https://
www.access-board.gov/medicalequipment.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\15MRP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16447-16448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06077]
[[Page 16447]]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Part 75 and Chapter III
Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) for the
Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers (TACE Centers);
Proposed Extension of Project Period and Waiver
[Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.264A.]
AGENCY: Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed extension of project period and waiver.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: For 60-month projects initially funded in fiscal year (FY)
2008 under the Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) for
the Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers (TACE
Centers), the Secretary proposes to waive the requirements that
generally prohibit project periods exceeding five years and extensions
of project periods involving the obligation of additional Federal
funds. The Secretary also proposes to extend project periods for one
year or longer. The proposed extension and waiver would enable the
currently funded TACE Centers to receive funding through September 30,
2014.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this proposed extension of
project period and waiver to RoseAnn Ashby, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5055, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2800.
If you prefer to send your comments by email, use the following
address: roseann.ashby@ed.gov. You must include the phrase ``Proposed
extension of project period and waiver'' in the subject line of your
message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseAnn Ashby at the address listed in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Telephone: (202) 245-7258.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll-free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments about this
proposed extension of project period and waiver. During and after the
comment period, you may inspect all public comments about this proposal
in room 5055, Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th Street SW., Washington,
DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,
Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request, we will supply an appropriate
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this notice. If you want to schedule an
appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Background
On June 5, 2008, and October 20, 2008, the Department published
notices in the Federal Register (73 FR 32006, 73 FR 62263) inviting
applications for new awards for FYs 2008 and 2009 for TACE Centers to
be funded under the Rehabilitation Training Program, authorized under
section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehabilitation Act). The Department awarded grants to a total of 10
TACE Centers--eight in FY 2008, and two in early FY 2009--for a period
of 60 months. All 10 projects are scheduled to end in calendar year
2013.
For these projects, the Secretary proposes to waive the
requirements in 34 CFR 75.250 and 34 CFR 75.261(c)(2), which prohibit
project periods exceeding five years and project period extensions that
involve the obligation of additional Federal funds. The Secretary also
proposes to extend the project periods for up to 12 months to continue
operations.
The purpose of these Centers is to improve the quantity and quality
of employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through
enhanced technical assistance (TA) and continuing education (CE) for
State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies and agency partners that
cooperate with State VR agencies in providing VR and other
rehabilitation services (e.g., Centers for Independent Living (CILs),
Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), and Community Rehabilitation
Programs (CRPs)).
The TACE Centers contribute to the following outcomes: Improved
quality of VR services, increased effectiveness and efficiency of State
VR agencies in delivering VR services, and improved quantity and
quality of VR employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
The TACE Centers must contribute to these outcomes by providing, either
directly or through contract, TA to State VR agencies and agency
partners. The TACE Centers must also provide CE to employees of State
VR agencies and agency partners on topics that are identified jointly
by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and each TACE
Center's advisory committee, and included in the TACE Center's annual
work plan.
At this time, the Department does not believe that it would be in
the public interest to run a competition under this program for new
TACE Centers. The Department is in the process of reviewing and
analyzing the current program to determine future needs, strategies,
and funding priorities for FY 2014.
On November 8, 2012, the Department published a request for
information in the Federal Register (77 FR 66959) to allow the
Department to gather input on grants awarded under the Rehabilitation
Training Program. One section of this notice posed specific questions
about how the provision of TA and CE to State VR agencies would be most
effective and efficient. The Department is currently analyzing
responses to these questions. The Department also plans to conduct
several focus groups, meet with the representatives of several national
rehabilitation organizations over the next six months, and pose similar
questions to these groups. The analysis of the public input obtained
from the request for information and the input gathered through meeting
with groups of rehabilitation stakeholders will form the basis for
future funding priorities.
Since 2008, when the TACE Centers were established, the TA and CE
needs of the field have changed as a result of new issues and economic
challenges facing State VR agencies. In addition, as a result of
technological advances, there are new modes of service delivery that
must be fully explored before funding new grants to provide TA and CE
to State VR agencies. The Department will need the remainder of FY 2013
to meet with groups of stakeholders and to do the necessary analysis of
the public comments received. This will enable the Department to
develop a TA and CE strategy for State VR agencies and their partners
that maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the services
provided and addresses the input of a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The Department plans to publish new funding priorities in FY 2014.
Conducting a competition before the Department has had an opportunity
to seek input from all stakeholders and analyze the current and
emerging TA and CE needs of the VR field could result in an ineffective
or poorly
[[Page 16448]]
targeted investment that would not serve the needs of State VR
agencies, their clients, or the public at large.
The Department has also concluded that it would be contrary to the
public interest to have a lapse in the provision of TA and CE currently
provided by the TACE Centers. Allowing funding to lapse before a new TA
and CE delivery system can be implemented would leave State VR agencies
and their partners without necessary supports in the event that
critical needs arise.
For these reasons, the Secretary proposes to waive the requirements
in 34 CFR 75.250, which prohibit project periods exceeding five years,
and the requirements in 34 CFR 75.261(c)(2), which limits the extension
of a project period if the extension involves the obligation of
additional Federal funds, and to issue continuation awards to the ten
current TACE grantees for a total amount not to exceed $9,000,000.
Under this proposal, the eight current TACE grantees with project
periods ending on September 30, 2013, would receive funding to operate
for an additional 12 months. The two current TACE grantees with project
periods ending on December 21, 2013, would receive funds for an
additional nine months. Consequently, the expiration date for all 10
grants would be September 30, 2014. Waiving these regulations and
issuing these continuation awards will ensure that TA and CE to State
VR agencies and their partners will not be interrupted. It will also
ensure that the Department has adequate opportunity to solicit feedback
and develop a coordinated TA and CE strategy that will best meet the
needs of State VR agencies and their partners.
With this proposed extension of project period and waiver, each
TACE Center will be required to continue to carry out activities during
the year of the continuation award consistent with the scope, goals,
and objectives of the grantee's application as approved in the 2008
competition.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that this proposed extension of project
period and waiver would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. The only entities that would be
affected are the ten current grantees receiving Federal funds to serve
as the TACE Centers and any other potential applicants.
The Secretary certifies that the proposed waivers and extensions
would not have a significant economic impact on these entities because
the proposed waivers and extensions impose minimal compliance costs to
extend projects already in existence, and the activities required to
support the additional year of funding would not impose additional
regulatory burdens or require unnecessary Federal supervision.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This notice of proposed extension of project period and waiver does
not contain any information collection requirements.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to the
requirements of Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive order is to foster an
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism. The
Executive order relies on processes developed by State and local
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance. This document provides early notification of our specific
plans and actions for this program.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: March 12, 2013.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-06077 Filed 3-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P