Proposed Priority-National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program, 27233-27236 [2014-10957]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / Proposed Rules
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
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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 proposed
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
on a reasoned determination that their
benefits justify their costs (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
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(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 on 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
this regulatory action is 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 Assistive
Technology Alternative Financing
Program have been well established
since FY 2000 through the successful,
ongoing performance of alternative
financing programs funded under title
III of the AT Act of 1998. This proposed
priority would promote financial loan
programs that will better prepare and
assist individuals with disabilities to
achieve education, community living,
and employment goals in today’s
challenging economy.
Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to 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.
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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 program 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: May 7, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2014–10943 Filed 5–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED–2014–OSERS–0011]
Proposed Priority—National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research—Advanced Rehabilitation
Research Training Program
[CFDA Number: 84.133P–5.]
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Proposed priority.
AGENCY:
The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority for the
Advanced Rehabilitation Research
Training (ARRT) Program administered
by the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Specifically, this notice proposes a
priority for an Advanced Rehabilitation
Research Policy Fellowship. We take
this action to focus attention on an area
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / Proposed Rules
of national need. We intend the priority
to strengthen the capacity of the
disability and rehabilitation fields to
train researchers to conduct advanced
policy research in the areas of
rehabilitation and disability.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before June 12, 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 LongRange 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,
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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
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
5133, 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.
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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
disabilities, especially individuals with
the most severe disabilities, and to
improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation
Act).
Advanced Rehabilitation Research
Training Program
The purpose of NIDRR’s ARRT
program, which is funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program, is to
provide advanced research training and
experience to individuals with
doctorates or similar degrees who have
clinical or other relevant experience.
ARRT projects train rehabilitation
researchers, including researchers with
disabilities, with particular attention to
research areas that support the
implementation and objectives of the
Rehabilitation Act, and that improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act. Additional
information on the ARRT program can
be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/
research/pubs/res-program.html#ARRT.
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.
Advanced Rehabilitation Research
Policy Fellowship Program.
Background:
NIDRR’s mission is to support the
generation of new knowledge and
promote its effective use to improve the
abilities of individuals with disabilities
to participate in community activities of
their choice and to enhance society’s
capacity to provide full opportunities
and accommodations for these
individuals. NIDRR research focuses on
major life domains as identified in
NIDRR’s Long-Range Plan published in
the Federal Register on April 4, 2013
(78 FR 20299): (1) Employment, (2)
Participation and Community Living,
and (3) Health and Function. NIDRR has
increasingly recognized the important
role of that government policies may
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / Proposed Rules
play in the adoption and use of research
findings. NIDRR wants to enhance the
capacity of the disability and
rehabilitation research field to
understand the effects of government
policies and programs on the outcomes
of individuals with disabilities in the
areas of employment, health and
function, and community living and
participation. In particular, NIDRR seeks
to increase the capacity of disability and
rehabilitation researchers to understand
the policy development process,
including how policymakers access,
adopt, and use research.
Proposed Priority:
The Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
proposes a new priority for an ARRT on
Rehabilitation Research Policy. This
proposed fellowship program will
expand the capacity of disability and
rehabilitation researchers and scholars
to conduct rigorous policy research that
addresses issues important to
policymakers and practitioners and that
contributes to improved outcomes for
individuals with disabilities and
increased use and adoption of research
findings to help shape future disabilityrelated policy. The ARRT must
contribute to improving the capacity of
disability and rehabilitation researchers
to conduct policy research by:
(a) Recruiting and selecting qualified
candidates, including individuals with
disabilities, for advanced research
training on policy issues affecting one of
NIDRR’s three domains of individual
well-being: (1) Community living and
participation, (2) employment, or (3)
health and function;
(b) Requiring that all Rehabilitation
Research Policy Fellows complete a
two-year training program in advanced
rehabilitation policy-related research
and analysis that is multidisciplinary,
emphasizes scientific methods, and
involves didactic and classroom
instruction in current disability policy
issues, as well as providing a disability
policy research practicum experience;
(c) Providing academic mentorship or
guidance, and opportunities for
scientific collaboration with qualified
researchers at the host institution or
another training or sponsoring
organization. Other institutions or
organizations used as training sites must
have the staff and facilities on site to
provide a suitable environment for
performing high-quality rehabilitationrelated policy research;
(d) Providing opportunities for
participation in the development of
professional presentations and
publications, and for attendance at
professional conferences and meetings,
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as appropriate for the individuals’ area
of study and level of experience;
(e) Requiring that all Rehabilitation
Research Policy Fellows complete a
policy research project related to the
NIDRR domains selected by the
applicant (community living and
participation, employment, or health
and function); and
(f) Ensuring that at least two Fellows
out of the total number of Fellows
proposed be residential fellows and that
each residential fellow spend the
equivalent of one year in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area to
conduct research at the Congress or any
relevant Federal department or agency
of the fellow’s choice within the Federal
Executive or Legislative branch. Fellows
must secure their own fellowship site
placement.
Note 1: The costs associated with
providing this residential policy practicum
are the responsibility of the grantee, and
must be reflected in the applicant’s proposed
budget.
Note 2: The grantee must ensure that
Fellows funded under this program are
informed about the anti-lobbying
requirements of Federal funding.
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
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27235
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
(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,
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / Proposed Rules
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
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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: May 8, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2014–10957 Filed 5–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED–2014–OSERS–0068]
Proposed Priority—Rehabilitation
Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term
Training Program—Rehabilitation
Specialty Areas
[CFDA Number: 84.129C, E, F, H, J, P, Q, R,
and W.]
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Proposed priority.
AGENCY:
The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a priority under the
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation
Long-Term Training program. The
Assistant Secretary may use this priority
for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2014
SUMMARY:
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and later years. This priority is designed
to ensure that the Department funds
high-quality rehabilitation programs in
the following nine rehabilitation
specialty areas of national need: (1)
Rehabilitation Administration
(84.129C); (2) Rehabilitation Technology
(84.129E); (3) Vocational Evaluation and
Work Adjustment (84.129F); (4)
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are
Mentally Ill (84.129H); (5)
Rehabilitation Psychology (84.129J); (6)
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are
Blind or Have Vision Impairments
(84.129P); (7) Rehabilitation of
Individuals Who are Deaf or Hard of
Hearing (84.129Q); (8) Job Development
and Job Placement Services (84.129R);
and (9) Comprehensive System of
Personnel Development (84.129W).
These programs must meet rigorous
standards in order to provide scholars
with the training necessary to become
qualified rehabilitation professionals
who are capable of meeting the current
challenges facing State vocational
rehabilitation (VR) agencies and related
agencies and who can assist individuals
with disabilities in achieving highquality employment outcomes.
We must receive your comments
on or before June 12, 2014.
DATES:
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 RoseAnn
Ashby, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5055,
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP),
Washington, DC 20202–2800.
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
ADDRESSES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27233-27236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10957]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2014-OSERS-0011]
Proposed Priority--National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research--Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training
Program
[CFDA Number: 84.133P-5.]
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 Advanced
Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program administered by the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Specifically, this notice proposes a priority for an Advanced
Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellowship. We take this action to focus
attention on an area
[[Page 27234]]
of national need. We intend the priority to strengthen the capacity of
the disability and rehabilitation fields to train researchers to
conduct advanced policy research in the areas of rehabilitation and
disability.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before June 12, 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-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 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 5133, 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, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program
The purpose of NIDRR's ARRT program, which is funded through the
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is
to provide advanced research training and experience to individuals
with doctorates or similar degrees who have clinical or other relevant
experience. ARRT projects train rehabilitation researchers, including
researchers with disabilities, with particular attention to research
areas that support the implementation and objectives of the
Rehabilitation Act, and that improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. Additional information on the
ARRT program can be found at: www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/res-program.html#ARRT.
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.
Advanced Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellowship Program.
Background:
NIDRR's mission is to support the generation of new knowledge and
promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals with
disabilities to participate in community activities of their choice and
to enhance society's capacity to provide full opportunities and
accommodations for these individuals. NIDRR research focuses on major
life domains as identified in NIDRR's Long-Range Plan published in the
Federal Register on April 4, 2013 (78 FR 20299): (1) Employment, (2)
Participation and Community Living, and (3) Health and Function. NIDRR
has increasingly recognized the important role of that government
policies may
[[Page 27235]]
play in the adoption and use of research findings. NIDRR wants to
enhance the capacity of the disability and rehabilitation research
field to understand the effects of government policies and programs on
the outcomes of individuals with disabilities in the areas of
employment, health and function, and community living and
participation. In particular, NIDRR seeks to increase the capacity of
disability and rehabilitation researchers to understand the policy
development process, including how policymakers access, adopt, and use
research.
Proposed Priority:
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes a new priority for an ARRT on Rehabilitation Research
Policy. This proposed fellowship program will expand the capacity of
disability and rehabilitation researchers and scholars to conduct
rigorous policy research that addresses issues important to
policymakers and practitioners and that contributes to improved
outcomes for individuals with disabilities and increased use and
adoption of research findings to help shape future disability-related
policy. The ARRT must contribute to improving the capacity of
disability and rehabilitation researchers to conduct policy research
by:
(a) Recruiting and selecting qualified candidates, including
individuals with disabilities, for advanced research training on policy
issues affecting one of NIDRR's three domains of individual well-being:
(1) Community living and participation, (2) employment, or (3) health
and function;
(b) Requiring that all Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellows
complete a two-year training program in advanced rehabilitation policy-
related research and analysis that is multidisciplinary, emphasizes
scientific methods, and involves didactic and classroom instruction in
current disability policy issues, as well as providing a disability
policy research practicum experience;
(c) Providing academic mentorship or guidance, and opportunities
for scientific collaboration with qualified researchers at the host
institution or another training or sponsoring organization. Other
institutions or organizations used as training sites must have the
staff and facilities on site to provide a suitable environment for
performing high-quality rehabilitation-related policy research;
(d) Providing opportunities for participation in the development of
professional presentations and publications, and for attendance at
professional conferences and meetings, as appropriate for the
individuals' area of study and level of experience;
(e) Requiring that all Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellows
complete a policy research project related to the NIDRR domains
selected by the applicant (community living and participation,
employment, or health and function); and
(f) Ensuring that at least two Fellows out of the total number of
Fellows proposed be residential fellows and that each residential
fellow spend the equivalent of one year in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area to conduct research at the Congress or any relevant
Federal department or agency of the fellow's choice within the Federal
Executive or Legislative branch. Fellows must secure their own
fellowship site placement.
Note 1: The costs associated with providing this residential
policy practicum are the responsibility of the grantee, and must be
reflected in the applicant's proposed budget.
Note 2: The grantee must ensure that Fellows funded under this
program are informed about the anti-lobbying requirements of Federal
funding.
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 (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,
[[Page 27236]]
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: May 8, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-10957 Filed 5-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
