Proposed Priority-National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 11738-11742 [2014-04644]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 2014 / Proposed Rules
and Trademark Office, Madison
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Dated: February 25, 2014.
Bruce Borzino,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2014–04584 Filed 2–28–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Part 101
[Docket No. FDA–1994–P–0314 (Formerly
Docket No. 94P–0168)]
Food Labeling: Serving Sizes;
Reference Amount and Serving Size
Declaration for Hard Candies, Breath
Mints
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
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ACTION:
Proposed rule; withdrawal.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or we) is
withdrawing a proposed rule entitled
‘‘Food Labeling; Serving Sizes;
Reference Amount and Serving Size
Declaration for Hard Candies, Breath
Mints’’ that published in the Federal
Register of December 30, 1997 (62 FR
67775). We are taking this action
because we are issuing a proposed rule
on the serving sizes of foods in general
that is published elsewhere in this issue
of the Federal Register.
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The proposed rule that
published on December 30, 1997 (62 FR
67775), is withdrawn as of March 3,
2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Kantor, Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition (HFS–830), Food and
Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240–
402–1450.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
I. Background
In the Federal Register of December
30, 1997, FDA published a proposed
rule entitled ‘‘Food Labeling; Serving
Sizes; Reference Amount and Serving
Size Declaration for Hard Candies,
Breath Mints’’ (the 1997 breath mints
proposed rule). The 1997 breath mints
proposed rule would change the label
serving size for the product category
‘‘Hard candies, breath mints’’ so that the
serving size for all breath mint products
would be one unit. The 1997 breath
mints proposed rule was published, in
part, in response to a citizen petition
(Docket No. FDA–1994–P–0314
(formerly Docket No. 94P–0168)) that
requested a serving size for breath mints
that more accurately reflected the
amount customarily consumed per
eating occasion. Specifically, the
petition requested that FDA create a
separate product category with a 0.5gram (g) reference amount for small
breath mints (weighing 0.5 g or less).
The petition concluded that the serving
size for small breath mints should be ‘‘1
mint.’’ The 1997 breath mints proposed
rule also would amend the current
rounding requirements for calories as
described in 21 CFR 101.9(c)(1), which
states that the caloric content per
serving must be expressed to the nearest
5-calorie increment up to and including
50 calories, and 10-calorie increment
above 50 calories, except that amounts
less than 5 calories may be expressed as
zero. The 1997 breath mints proposed
rule would allow the declaration of
calorie amounts of less than 5 calories
on the Nutrition Facts label, provided
that the number of calories declared on
the Nutrition Facts label is consistent
with the number of calories declared in
any claim about the amount of calories
made under 21 CFR 101.13(i).
In the Federal Register of April 4,
2005 (70 FR 17010), we issued an
advance notice of proposed rulemaking
(ANPRM) entitled ‘‘Food Labeling:
Serving Sizes of Products That Can
Reasonably Be Consumed At One Eating
Occasion; Updating of Reference
Amounts Customarily Consumed;
Approaches for Recommending Smaller
Portion Sizes.’’ The ANPRM requested
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comment on whether we should amend
certain nutrition labeling regulations
concerning serving size.
In response to the ANPRM, elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register, we
are publishing a proposed rule that
would, in part, amend the serving size
for breath mints.
II. Withdrawal of the 1997 Proposed
Rule
Because we are addressing issues
related to the label serving size for
breath mints, in conjunction with other
serving size issues, in a proposed rule
entitled, ‘‘Serving Sizes of Foods That
Can Reasonably Be Consumed At OneEating Occasion; Dual-Column Labeling;
Updating, Modifying, and Establishing
Certain Reference Amounts Customarily
Consumed; Serving Size for Breath
Mints; and Technical Amendments,’’
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register, we are withdrawing
the 1997 breath mints proposed rule.
Dated: February 24, 2014.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014–04386 Filed 2–27–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED–2014–OSERS–0013; CFDA
Number: 84.133B–4]
Proposed Priority—National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research—Rehabilitation Research
and Training Centers
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Proposed priority.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for the
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Center (RRTC) Program administered by
the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),
specifically, a priority for an RRTC on
Health and Function of Individuals with
Physical Disabilities. We take this action
to focus research attention on an area of
national need. We intend the priority to
contribute to improved outcomes of
health and function of individuals with
physical disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
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or hand delivery. We will not accept
comments submitted by fax or by email
or those submitted after the comment
period. To ensure that we do not receive
duplicate copies, please submit your
comments only once. In addition, please
include the Docket ID at the top of your
comments.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov to submit your
comments electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing agency
documents, submitting comments, and
viewing the docket, is available on the
site under ‘‘Are you new to the site?’’
• Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery,
or Hand Delivery: If you mail or deliver
your comments about these proposed
regulations, address them to Patricia
Barrett, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142,
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Privacy Note: The Department’s policy is
to make all comments received from
members of the public available for public
viewing in their entirety on the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
Therefore, commenters should be careful to
include in their comments only information
that they wish to make publicly available.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202) 245–
6211 or by email: patricia.barrett@
ed.gov.
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: This
proposed priority is in concert with
NIDRR’s currently approved Long-Range
Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on
April 4, 2013 (78 FR 20299), can be
accessed on the Internet at the following
site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the
Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the
quality and utility of disability and
rehabilitation research; (2) foster an
exchange of research findings, expertise
and other information to advance
knowledge and understanding of the
needs of individuals with disabilities
and their family members, including
those from among traditionally
underserved populations; (3) determine
effective practices, programs, and
policies to improve community living
and participation, employment, and
health and function outcomes for
individuals with disabilities of all ages;
(4) identify research gaps and areas for
promising research investments; (5)
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identify and promote effective
mechanisms for integrating research and
practice; and (6) disseminate research
findings to all major stakeholder groups,
including individuals with disabilities
and their families in formats that are
appropriate and meaningful to them.
This notice proposes one priority that
NIDRR intends to use for one or more
competitions in FY 2014 and possibly in
later years. NIDRR is under no
obligation to make an award under this
priority. The decision to make an award
will be based on the quality of
applications received and available
funding. NIDRR may publish additional
priorities, as needed.
Invitation to Comment: We invite you
to submit comments regarding this
proposed priority. To ensure that your
comments have maximum effect in
developing the final priority, we urge
you to identify clearly the specific topic
that each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in
complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866
and 13563 and their overall requirement
of reducing regulatory burden that
might result from this proposed priority.
Please let us know of any further ways
we could reduce potential costs or
increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient
administration of the program.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all public comments
about this proposed priority in room
5142, 550 12th Street SW., PCP,
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
provide 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.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
is to plan and conduct research,
demonstration projects, training, and
related activities, including
international activities, to develop
methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society,
employment, independent living, family
support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with
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disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities. The
Program is also intended to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
The purpose of the RRTCs, which are
funded through the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program, is to achieve the goals
of, and improve the effectiveness of,
services authorized under the
Rehabilitation Act through welldesigned research, training, technical
assistance, and dissemination activities
in important topical areas as specified
by NIDRR with guidance from its
Rehabilitation Research Advisory
Council. These activities are designed to
benefit rehabilitation service providers,
individuals with disabilities, family
members, policymakers and other
research stakeholders. Additional
information on the RRTC program can
be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/
programs/rrtc/.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g)
and 764(b)(2).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR part 350.
Proposed Priority:
This notice contains one proposed
priority.
Background
Of the 51.5 million adults with a
disability in the United States, 41.5
million have physical disabilities, and
close to 12.0 million need assistance
from another person to perform one or
more physical functions or activities,
such as getting around inside the home,
getting into or out of bed, bathing,
dressing, eating, toileting, going outside
the home, managing money, preparing
meals, doing housework, taking
prescription medication, and using the
phone. (Brault, 2012). In addition to
functional limitations associated with
physical disability, individuals with
physical disabilities (as well as
individuals with other kinds of
disabilities) have more health problems
and less access to health care (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
2013; Drumm, Krahn, Culley,
Hammond, 2005; Campbell, Sheets,
Strong, 1999). Despite differences in the
type, onset, severity, and progression of
health problems experienced by
individuals with different causes of
physical disabilities, there are many
health problems that occur across a
wide range of physical disabilities,
including fatigue, chronic pain,
spasticity, weight problems, bladder and
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bowel problems, urinary tract
infections, depression, and isolation.
Common to all is that they have an
adverse impact on the individual’s wellbeing, they must be managed to prevent
further complications (Rimmer, Chen,
Hsieh, 2011), and they can impede high
school completion, employment, and
social activities (Drumm, Krahn, Culley,
Hammond, 2005).
Prospective research examining the
risk factors associated with the onset of
health problems, their severity, and
progression is limited. There is a need
to better understand how specific health
problems are interrelated with optimal
health and function; how they may
affect community participation, lost
work productivity, and decreased
quality of life; and how they may be
prevented or mitigated (Rimmer, Chen,
Hsieh, 2011; Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 2013a).
Despite their substantial health needs
and elevated risk of adverse health
outcomes, individuals with disabilities
are at a substantial disadvantage in
obtaining access to needed health care
services compared to those without
disabilities. Information remains
limited, but recent studies indicate that
people with disabilities, including
individuals with physical disabilities,
experience problems in gaining access
to appropriate health care and health
promotion and disease prevention
programs and services (National Council
on Disability, 2009; Yee, 2011). Reasons
cited for these disparities include lack
of health insurance or coverage for
necessary services, such as specialty
care, long-term care, care coordination,
prescription medications, durable
medical equipment, and assistive
technologies. Additional factors include
limited accessibility at medical
facilities, lack of examination
equipment and individualized
accommodations that can be used by
people with diverse disabilities, and the
absence of professional training on
disability competency issues for
healthcare practitioners.
NIDRR has funded a wide range of
disability research and development
projects related to the health and
functional outcomes of individuals with
disabilities. As described in NIDRR’s
long-range plan, the ‘‘health and
function’’ domain covers research that
improves the understanding of the
health status, health needs, and health
care access of individuals with
disabilities. In accordance with NIDRR’s
Plan, NIDRR seeks to build on these
investments by supporting innovative
and well-designed research and
development projects that fall under one
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or more of NIDRR’s general ‘‘health and
function’’ priority areas.
NIDRR hopes to increase competition
and innovation by allowing applicants
to specify the research topics under the
broad priority areas within the health
and function domain. An applicant
must identify the relevant priority area
or areas, indicate the stage or stages of
the proposed research in its application
(i.e., exploration and discovery,
intervention development, intervention
efficacy, and scale-up evaluation),
justify the need and rationale for
research at the proposed stage or stages,
and describe fully an appropriate
methodology or methodologies for the
proposed research.
References
Brault, M.W. (2012). Americans with
Disabilities: 2010. U.S. Census Bureau,
U.S. Department of Commerce. (available
at: www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70131.pdf).
Campbell, M.L., Sheets, D., & Strong, P.S.
(1999). Secondary health conditions
among middle-aged individuals with
chronic physical disabilities:
Implications for unmet needs for
services. Assistive Technology, 11, 2,
105–122.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(2013). Disability and Health: Related
Conditions. (available at: https://
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
disabilityandhealth/
relatedconditions.html).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(2013a). Healthy People 2020: Disability
and Health. (available at: https://
www.healthypeople.gov/2020/
topicsobjectives2020/
overview.aspx?topicid=9).
Drumm, C., Krahn, G., Culley, C., Hammond
L. (2005). Recognizing and responding to
the health disparities of people with
disabilities. California journal of health
promotion, 3, 3, 29–42.
National Council on Disability (2009). The
Current State of Health Care for People
with Disabilities. National Council on
Disability. Washington, DC. (available at:
www.ncd.gov/publications/2009/
Sept302009).
Rimmer, J.H., Chen, M., Hsieh, K. (2011). A
Conceptual Model for Identifying,
Preventing, and Managing Secondary
Conditions in People With Disabilities.
Physical Therapy, 91, 12, 1728–1739.
(available at: https://ptjournal.apta.org/
content/91/12/1728.full.pdf+html).
Yee, Sylvia (2011). Health and Health Care
Disparities Among People with
Disabilities. Disability Rights Education
& Defense Fund. Berkeley, CA. (available
at: www.dredf.org/healthcare/Healthand-Health-Care-Disparities-AmongPeople-with-Disabilities.pdf).
Definitions
The research that is proposed under
this priority must be focused on one or
more stages of research. If the RRTC is
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to conduct research that can be
categorized under more than one
research stage, or research that
progresses from one stage to another,
those research stages must be clearly
specified. For purposes of this priority,
the stages of research are from the final
priorities and definitions published in
the Federal Register on May 7, 2013 (78
FR 26513):
(i) Exploration and Discovery means
the stage of research that generates
hypotheses or theories by conducting
new and refined analyses of data,
producing observational findings, and
creating other sources of research-based
information. This research stage may
include identifying or describing the
barriers to and facilitators of improved
outcomes of individuals with
disabilities, as well as identifying or
describing existing practices, programs,
or policies that are associated with
important aspects of the lives of
individuals with disabilities. Results
achieved under this stage of research
may inform the development of
interventions or lead to evaluations of
interventions or policies. The results of
the exploration and discovery stage of
research may also be used to inform
decisions or priorities.
(ii) Intervention Development means
the stage of research that focuses on
generating and testing interventions that
have the potential to improve outcomes
for individuals with disabilities.
Intervention development involves
determining the active components of
possible interventions, developing
measures that would be required to
illustrate outcomes, specifying target
populations, conducting field tests, and
assessing the feasibility of conducting a
well-designed intervention study.
Results from this stage of research may
be used to inform the design of a study
to test the efficacy of an intervention.
(iii) Intervention Efficacy means the
stage of research during which a project
evaluates and tests whether an
intervention is feasible, practical, and
has the potential to yield positive
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities. Efficacy research may assess
the strength of the relationships
between an intervention and outcomes,
and may identify factors or individual
characteristics that affect the
relationship between the intervention
and outcomes. Efficacy research can
inform decisions about whether there is
sufficient evidence to support ‘‘scalingup’’ an intervention to other sites and
contexts. This stage of research can
include assessing the training needed
for wide-scale implementation of the
intervention, and approaches to
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evaluation of the intervention in real
world applications.
(iv) Scale-Up Evaluation means the
stage of research during which a project
analyzes whether an intervention is
effective in producing improved
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities when implemented in a realworld setting. During this stage of
research, a project tests the outcomes of
an evidence-based intervention in
different settings. The project examines
the challenges to successful replication
of the intervention, and the
circumstances and activities that
contribute to successful adoption of the
intervention in real-world settings. This
stage of research may also include welldesigned studies of an intervention that
has been widely adopted in practice, but
that lacks a sufficient evidence-base to
demonstrate its effectiveness.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
proposes a priority for an RRTC on
Health and Function of Individuals with
Physical Disabilities.
The RRTC must contribute to
maximizing the health and function
outcomes of individuals with physical
disabilities by:
(a) Conducting research activities in
one or more of the following priority
areas, focusing on individuals with
physical disabilities as a group or on
individuals in specific disability or
demographic subpopulations of
individuals with physical disabilities:
(i) Technology to improve health and
function outcomes for individuals with
physical disabilities.
(ii) Individual and environmental
factors associated with improved access
to rehabilitation and health care and
improved health and function outcomes
for individuals with physical
disabilities.
(iii) Interventions that contribute to
improved health and function outcomes
for individuals with physical
disabilities. Interventions include any
strategy, practice, program, policy, or
tool that, when implemented as
intended, contributes to improvements
in outcomes for the specified
population.
(iv) Effects of government practices,
policies, and programs on health care
access and on health and function
outcomes for individuals with physical
disabilities;
(v) Practices and policies that
contribute to improved health and
function outcomes for individuals with
physical disabilities.
(b) Focusing its research on one or
more specific stages of research. If the
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RRTC is to conduct research that can be
categorized under more than one of the
research stages, or research that
progresses from one stage to another,
those stages must be clearly specified.
The research stages and their definitions
are listed before the Definitions section
in this notice.
(c) Serving as a national resource
center related to health and function for
individuals with physical disabilities,
their families, and other stakeholders by
conducting knowledge translation
activities that include, but are not
limited to:
(i) Providing information and
technical assistance to service
providers, individuals with physical
disabilities and their representatives,
and other key stakeholders.
(ii) Providing training, including
graduate, pre-service, and in-service
training, to rehabilitation providers and
other disability service providers, to
facilitate more effective delivery of
services to individuals with physical
disabilities. This training may be
provided through conferences,
workshops, public education programs,
in-service training programs, and
similar activities.
(iii) Disseminating research-based
information and materials related to
health and function for individuals with
physical disabilities.
(iv) Involving key stakeholder groups
in the activities conducted under
paragraph (a) in order to maximize the
relevance and usability of the new
knowledge generated by the RRTC.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a
competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each
priority as absolute, competitive
preference, or invitational through a
notice in the Federal Register. The
effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute
priority, we consider only applications
that meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority:
Under a competitive preference priority,
we give competitive preference to an
application by (1) awarding additional
points, depending on the extent to
which the application meets the priority
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting
an application that meets the priority
over an application of comparable merit
that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an
invitational priority, we are particularly
interested in applications that meet the
priority. However, we do not give an
application that meets the priority a
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preference over other applications (34
CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Final Priority
We will announce the final priority in
a notice in the Federal Register. We will
determine the final priority after
considering responses to this notice and
other information available to the
Department. This notice does not
preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or
selection criteria, subject to meeting
applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit
applications. In any year in which we choose
to use this priority, we invite applications
through a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the
Secretary must determine whether this
regulatory action is ‘‘significant’’ and,
therefore, subject to the requirements of
the Executive order and subject to
review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive
Order 12866 defines a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ as an action likely to
result in a rule that may—
(1) Have an annual effect on the
economy of $100 million or more, or
adversely affect a sector of the economy,
productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities in a material way (also
referred to as an ‘‘economically
significant’’ rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impacts of entitlement grants, user fees,
or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
stated in the Executive order.
This proposed regulatory action is not
a significant regulatory action subject to
review by OMB under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866.
We have also reviewed this regulatory
action under Executive Order 13563,
which supplements and explicitly
reaffirms the principles, structures, and
definitions governing regulatory review
established in Executive Order 12866.
To the extent permitted by law,
Executive Order 13563 requires that an
agency—
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only
upon a reasoned determination that
their benefits justify their costs
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(recognizing that some benefits and
costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the
least burden on society, consistent with
obtaining regulatory objectives and
taking into account—among other things
and to the extent practicable—the costs
of cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, select those
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety,
and other advantages; distributive
impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify
performance objectives, rather than the
behavior or manner of compliance a
regulated entity must adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available
alternatives to direct regulation,
including economic incentives—such as
user fees or marketable permits—to
encourage the desired behavior, or
provide information that enables the
public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires
an agency ‘‘to use the best available
techniques to quantify anticipated
present and future benefits and costs as
accurately as possible.’’ The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of
OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ‘‘identifying
changing future compliance costs that
might result from technological
innovation or anticipated behavioral
changes.’’
We are issuing this proposed priority
only upon a reasoned determination
that its benefits would justify its costs.
In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, we selected
those approaches that would maximize
net benefits. Based on the analysis that
follows, the Department believes that
these proposed priorities are consistent
with the principles in Executive Order
13563.
We also have determined that this
regulatory action would not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal
governments in the exercise of their
governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive
orders, the Department has assessed the
potential costs and benefits, both
quantitative and qualitative, of this
regulatory action. The potential costs
are those resulting from statutory
requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for
administering the Department’s
programs and activities.
The benefits of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program have been well
established over the years. Projects
similar to the RRTCs have been
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:22 Feb 28, 2014
Jkt 232001
completed successfully, and the
proposed priorities will generate new
knowledge through research. The new
RRTCs will generate, disseminate, and
promote the use of new information that
would improve outcomes for
individuals with disabilities in the areas
of community living and participation,
employment, and health and function.
Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the
FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
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: February 26, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2014–04644 Filed 2–28–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[ CFDA Number: 84.133B–3.]
Proposed Priority—National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research—Rehabilitation Research
and Training Centers
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
ACTION:
Proposed priority.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for the
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Center (RRTC) Program administered by
the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Specifically, this notice proposes a
priority for an RRTC on Employment for
Individuals with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities. We take this
action to focus research attention on an
area of national need. We intend for this
priority to contribute to improved
employment outcomes of individuals
with intellectual and developmental
disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
or hand delivery. We will not accept
comments submitted by fax or by email
or those submitted after the comment
period. To ensure that we do not receive
duplicate copies, please submit your
comments only once. In addition, please
include the Docket ID at the top of your
comments.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov to submit your
comments electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing agency
documents, submitting comments, and
viewing the docket, is available on the
site under ‘‘Are you new to the site?’’
• Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery,
or Hand Delivery: If you mail or deliver
your comments about these proposed
regulations, address them to Patricia
Barrett, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142,
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Privacy Note: The Department’s policy is
to make all comments received from
members of the public available for public
viewing in their entirety on the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.
Therefore, commenters should be careful to
include in their comments only information
that they wish to make publicly available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202) 245–
6211 or by email: patricia.barrett@
ed.gov.
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: This
notice of proposed priority is in concert
with NIDRR’s currently approved Long-
E:\FR\FM\03MRP1.SGM
03MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11738-11742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04644]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2014-OSERS-0013; CFDA Number: 84.133B-4]
Proposed Priority--National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed priority.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services proposes a priority for the Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program administered by the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR),
specifically, a priority for an RRTC on Health and Function of
Individuals with Physical Disabilities. We take this action to focus
research attention on an area of national need. We intend the priority
to contribute to improved outcomes of health and function of
individuals with physical disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
[[Page 11739]]
or hand delivery. We will not accept comments submitted by fax or by
email or those submitted after the comment period. To ensure that we do
not receive duplicate copies, please submit your comments only once. In
addition, please include the Docket ID at the top of your comments.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to
submit your comments electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents,
submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site
under ``Are you new to the site?''
Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery: If you
mail or deliver your comments about these proposed regulations, address
them to Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC
20202-2700.
Privacy Note: The Department's policy is to make all comments
received from members of the public available for public viewing in
their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Therefore, commenters should be careful to
include in their comments only information that they wish to make
publicly available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett. Telephone: (202)
245-6211 or by email: patricia.barrett@ed.gov.
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: This proposed priority is in concert with
NIDRR's currently approved Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan, which was
published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2013 (78 FR 20299), can
be accessed on the Internet at the following site: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve
the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation research; (2)
foster an exchange of research findings, expertise and other
information to advance knowledge and understanding of the needs of
individuals with disabilities and their family members, including those
from among traditionally underserved populations; (3) determine
effective practices, programs, and policies to improve community living
and participation, employment, and health and function outcomes for
individuals with disabilities of all ages; (4) identify research gaps
and areas for promising research investments; (5) identify and promote
effective mechanisms for integrating research and practice; and (6)
disseminate research findings to all major stakeholder groups,
including individuals with disabilities and their families in formats
that are appropriate and meaningful to them.
This notice proposes one priority that NIDRR intends to use for one
or more competitions in FY 2014 and possibly in later years. NIDRR is
under no obligation to make an award under this priority. The decision
to make an award will be based on the quality of applications received
and available funding. NIDRR may publish additional priorities, as
needed.
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding
this proposed priority. To ensure that your comments have maximum
effect in developing the final priority, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific topic that each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 and their overall
requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result from this
proposed priority. Please let us know of any further ways we could
reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while preserving
the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about this proposed priority in room 5142, 550 12th Street
SW., PCP, 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 provide 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.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program is to plan and
conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related
activities, including international activities, to develop methods,
procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full
inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living,
family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals
with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe
disabilities. The Program is also intended to improve the effectiveness
of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
The purpose of the RRTCs, which are funded through the Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve
the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training,
technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topical
areas as specified by NIDRR with guidance from its Rehabilitation
Research Advisory Council. These activities are designed to benefit
rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family
members, policymakers and other research stakeholders. Additional
information on the RRTC program can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Proposed Priority:
This notice contains one proposed priority.
Background
Of the 51.5 million adults with a disability in the United States,
41.5 million have physical disabilities, and close to 12.0 million need
assistance from another person to perform one or more physical
functions or activities, such as getting around inside the home,
getting into or out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, going
outside the home, managing money, preparing meals, doing housework,
taking prescription medication, and using the phone. (Brault, 2012). In
addition to functional limitations associated with physical disability,
individuals with physical disabilities (as well as individuals with
other kinds of disabilities) have more health problems and less access
to health care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013;
Drumm, Krahn, Culley, Hammond, 2005; Campbell, Sheets, Strong, 1999).
Despite differences in the type, onset, severity, and progression of
health problems experienced by individuals with different causes of
physical disabilities, there are many health problems that occur across
a wide range of physical disabilities, including fatigue, chronic pain,
spasticity, weight problems, bladder and
[[Page 11740]]
bowel problems, urinary tract infections, depression, and isolation.
Common to all is that they have an adverse impact on the individual's
well-being, they must be managed to prevent further complications
(Rimmer, Chen, Hsieh, 2011), and they can impede high school
completion, employment, and social activities (Drumm, Krahn, Culley,
Hammond, 2005).
Prospective research examining the risk factors associated with the
onset of health problems, their severity, and progression is limited.
There is a need to better understand how specific health problems are
interrelated with optimal health and function; how they may affect
community participation, lost work productivity, and decreased quality
of life; and how they may be prevented or mitigated (Rimmer, Chen,
Hsieh, 2011; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013a).
Despite their substantial health needs and elevated risk of adverse
health outcomes, individuals with disabilities are at a substantial
disadvantage in obtaining access to needed health care services
compared to those without disabilities. Information remains limited,
but recent studies indicate that people with disabilities, including
individuals with physical disabilities, experience problems in gaining
access to appropriate health care and health promotion and disease
prevention programs and services (National Council on Disability, 2009;
Yee, 2011). Reasons cited for these disparities include lack of health
insurance or coverage for necessary services, such as specialty care,
long-term care, care coordination, prescription medications, durable
medical equipment, and assistive technologies. Additional factors
include limited accessibility at medical facilities, lack of
examination equipment and individualized accommodations that can be
used by people with diverse disabilities, and the absence of
professional training on disability competency issues for healthcare
practitioners.
NIDRR has funded a wide range of disability research and
development projects related to the health and functional outcomes of
individuals with disabilities. As described in NIDRR's long-range plan,
the ``health and function'' domain covers research that improves the
understanding of the health status, health needs, and health care
access of individuals with disabilities. In accordance with NIDRR's
Plan, NIDRR seeks to build on these investments by supporting
innovative and well-designed research and development projects that
fall under one or more of NIDRR's general ``health and function''
priority areas.
NIDRR hopes to increase competition and innovation by allowing
applicants to specify the research topics under the broad priority
areas within the health and function domain. An applicant must identify
the relevant priority area or areas, indicate the stage or stages of
the proposed research in its application (i.e., exploration and
discovery, intervention development, intervention efficacy, and scale-
up evaluation), justify the need and rationale for research at the
proposed stage or stages, and describe fully an appropriate methodology
or methodologies for the proposed research.
References
Brault, M.W. (2012). Americans with Disabilities: 2010. U.S. Census
Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. (available at: www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf).
Campbell, M.L., Sheets, D., & Strong, P.S. (1999). Secondary health
conditions among middle-aged individuals with chronic physical
disabilities: Implications for unmet needs for services. Assistive
Technology, 11, 2, 105-122.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013). Disability and
Health: Related Conditions. (available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/relatedconditions.html).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013a). Healthy People
2020: Disability and Health. (available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=9).
Drumm, C., Krahn, G., Culley, C., Hammond L. (2005). Recognizing and
responding to the health disparities of people with disabilities.
California journal of health promotion, 3, 3, 29-42.
National Council on Disability (2009). The Current State of Health
Care for People with Disabilities. National Council on Disability.
Washington, DC. (available at: www.ncd.gov/publications/2009/Sept302009).
Rimmer, J.H., Chen, M., Hsieh, K. (2011). A Conceptual Model for
Identifying, Preventing, and Managing Secondary Conditions in People
With Disabilities. Physical Therapy, 91, 12, 1728-1739. (available
at: https://ptjournal.apta.org/content/91/12/1728.full.pdf+html).
Yee, Sylvia (2011). Health and Health Care Disparities Among People
with Disabilities. Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund.
Berkeley, CA. (available at: www.dredf.org/healthcare/Health-and-Health-Care-Disparities-Among-People-with-Disabilities.pdf).
Definitions
The research that is proposed under this priority must be focused
on one or more stages of research. If the RRTC is to conduct research
that can be categorized under more than one research stage, or research
that progresses from one stage to another, those research stages must
be clearly specified. For purposes of this priority, the stages of
research are from the final priorities and definitions published in the
Federal Register on May 7, 2013 (78 FR 26513):
(i) Exploration and Discovery means the stage of research that
generates hypotheses or theories by conducting new and refined analyses
of data, producing observational findings, and creating other sources
of research-based information. This research stage may include
identifying or describing the barriers to and facilitators of improved
outcomes of individuals with disabilities, as well as identifying or
describing existing practices, programs, or policies that are
associated with important aspects of the lives of individuals with
disabilities. Results achieved under this stage of research may inform
the development of interventions or lead to evaluations of
interventions or policies. The results of the exploration and discovery
stage of research may also be used to inform decisions or priorities.
(ii) Intervention Development means the stage of research that
focuses on generating and testing interventions that have the potential
to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Intervention
development involves determining the active components of possible
interventions, developing measures that would be required to illustrate
outcomes, specifying target populations, conducting field tests, and
assessing the feasibility of conducting a well-designed intervention
study. Results from this stage of research may be used to inform the
design of a study to test the efficacy of an intervention.
(iii) Intervention Efficacy means the stage of research during
which a project evaluates and tests whether an intervention is
feasible, practical, and has the potential to yield positive outcomes
for individuals with disabilities. Efficacy research may assess the
strength of the relationships between an intervention and outcomes, and
may identify factors or individual characteristics that affect the
relationship between the intervention and outcomes. Efficacy research
can inform decisions about whether there is sufficient evidence to
support ``scaling-up'' an intervention to other sites and contexts.
This stage of research can include assessing the training needed for
wide-scale implementation of the intervention, and approaches to
[[Page 11741]]
evaluation of the intervention in real world applications.
(iv) Scale-Up Evaluation means the stage of research during which a
project analyzes whether an intervention is effective in producing
improved outcomes for individuals with disabilities when implemented in
a real-world setting. During this stage of research, a project tests
the outcomes of an evidence-based intervention in different settings.
The project examines the challenges to successful replication of the
intervention, and the circumstances and activities that contribute to
successful adoption of the intervention in real-world settings. This
stage of research may also include well-designed studies of an
intervention that has been widely adopted in practice, but that lacks a
sufficient evidence-base to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for an RRTC on Health and Function of
Individuals with Physical Disabilities.
The RRTC must contribute to maximizing the health and function
outcomes of individuals with physical disabilities by:
(a) Conducting research activities in one or more of the following
priority areas, focusing on individuals with physical disabilities as a
group or on individuals in specific disability or demographic
subpopulations of individuals with physical disabilities:
(i) Technology to improve health and function outcomes for
individuals with physical disabilities.
(ii) Individual and environmental factors associated with improved
access to rehabilitation and health care and improved health and
function outcomes for individuals with physical disabilities.
(iii) Interventions that contribute to improved health and function
outcomes for individuals with physical disabilities. Interventions
include any strategy, practice, program, policy, or tool that, when
implemented as intended, contributes to improvements in outcomes for
the specified population.
(iv) Effects of government practices, policies, and programs on
health care access and on health and function outcomes for individuals
with physical disabilities;
(v) Practices and policies that contribute to improved health and
function outcomes for individuals with physical disabilities.
(b) Focusing its research on one or more specific stages of
research. If the RRTC is to conduct research that can be categorized
under more than one of the research stages, or research that progresses
from one stage to another, those stages must be clearly specified. The
research stages and their definitions are listed before the Definitions
section in this notice.
(c) Serving as a national resource center related to health and
function for individuals with physical disabilities, their families,
and other stakeholders by conducting knowledge translation activities
that include, but are not limited to:
(i) Providing information and technical assistance to service
providers, individuals with physical disabilities and their
representatives, and other key stakeholders.
(ii) Providing training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to rehabilitation providers and other disability
service providers, to facilitate more effective delivery of services to
individuals with physical disabilities. This training may be provided
through conferences, workshops, public education programs, in-service
training programs, and similar activities.
(iii) Disseminating research-based information and materials
related to health and function for individuals with physical
disabilities.
(iv) Involving key stakeholder groups in the activities conducted
under paragraph (a) in order to maximize the relevance and usability of
the new knowledge generated by the RRTC.
Types of Priorities
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. The effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the priority over an application of
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Final Priority
We will announce the final priority in a notice in the Federal
Register. We will determine the final priority after considering
responses to this notice and other information available to the
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing additional
priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection criteria, subject
to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether
this regulatory action is ``significant'' and, therefore, subject to
the requirements of the Executive order and subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866 defines a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely
to result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more,
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or
tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
(2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the
Executive order.
This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866.
We have also reviewed this regulatory action under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order
13563 requires that an agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs
[[Page 11742]]
(recognizing that some benefits and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of
cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated
behavioral changes.''
We are issuing this proposed priority only upon a reasoned
determination that its benefits would justify its costs. In choosing
among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches
that would maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that follows,
the Department believes that these proposed priorities are consistent
with the principles in Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this regulatory action would not
unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with both Executive orders, the Department has
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
The benefits of the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program have been well established over the years. Projects
similar to the RRTCs have been completed successfully, and the proposed
priorities will generate new knowledge through research. The new RRTCs
will generate, disseminate, and promote the use of new information that
would improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities in the areas
of community living and participation, employment, and health and
function.
Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363.
If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
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: February 26, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-04644 Filed 2-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P