[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42400-42402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17109]
[[Page 42399]]
Vol. 79
Monday,
No. 139
July 21, 2014
Part II
Department of Education
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34 CFR Chapter III
Final Priority; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers; Rule;
Applications for New Awards; National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers;
Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 139 / Monday, July 21, 2014 / Rules
and Regulations
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2014-OSERS-0011; CFDA Number: 84.133P-5.]
Final 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: Final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a priority under the Advanced
Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program administered by the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Specifically, we announce a priority for an ARRT on Advanced
Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellowship. The Assistant Secretary may
use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2014 and later
years. We take this action to focus research attention on an area 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: This priority is effective August 20, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marlene Spencer, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5133, Potomac Center Plaza
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7532 or by
email: [email protected].
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:
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).
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.
We published a notice of proposed priority for this program in the
Federal Register on May 13, 2014 (79 FR 27233). That notice contained
background information and our reasons for proposing the particular
priority.
There are differences between the proposed priority and this final
priority as discussed in the Analysis of Comments and Changes section
of this notice.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priority, three parties submitted comments on the proposed
priority.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes.
Analysis of Comments and Changes: An analysis of the comments and
of any changes in the priority since publication of the notice of
proposed priority follows.
Comment: One commenter expressed concern with the requirement in
paragraph (b), that applicants under this priority require their
Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellows to complete a training program
that lasts two years. The commenter stated that although a two-year
training program is ideal, some high-quality fellowship candidates may
not be able to dedicate two full years to such a program. The commenter
noted that outstanding candidates for policy research fellowship
positions may only desire a one-year fellowship or may be offered full-
time academic positions that preclude them from completing a two-year
fellowship program. The commenter suggested that NIDRR modify the
priority to allow the grantee greater flexibility in determining the
length of the fellowship period, if two years is not optimal for some
fellowship candidates.
Discussion: NIDRR's aim is to sponsor a program that provides high-
quality, multi-disciplinary policy research instruction and mentorship,
as well as opportunities to engage in policy research in Washington,
DC. Although the regulations for this program define the required
duration as a minimum of at least one academic year, in recent years,
the vast majority of grantees have elected to propose and implement a
two-year training program to satisfy all the required components of the
training program, including ensuring the desired outcome of independent
research. NIDRR feels it is reasonable to expect that, for ARRT fellows
who are selected to engage in the one-year Residential Fellowship
opportunity in Washington, DC, it will take approximately two years to
satisfy all the requirements of the program, including the residency in
Washington, DC, and the program's classroom, didactic, and research
productivity requirements described in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e).
At the same time, NIDRR generally agrees with the commenter that it
may be difficult for a grantee to require each of its fellows to
complete a two-year training program, especially those fellows who are
not residential fellows as described in paragraph (f).
Changes: NIDRR has modified paragraph (b) of the priority to
require that applicants design a two-year policy research fellowship
program that fulfills all the required functions of an ARRT and, to the
extent possible, to ensure that fellows complete the full program.
Final Priority
Advanced Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellowship
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services establishes a priority for an ARRT on Rehabilitation Research
Policy. This priority 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
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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) Designing a two-year training program in advanced
rehabilitation and disability policy-related research and analysis that
is multidisciplinary, emphasizes scientific methods, and involves
didactic and classroom instruction in current rehabilitation and
disability policy issues; providing a disability policy research
practicum experience; and, to the extent practical, ensuring that
fellows complete the full program;
(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' areas of study and levels 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 are residential fellows and
that each residential fellow spend the equivalent of one year in
Washington, DC to conduct research at 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)).
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 final 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 final 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, 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 final priority only on a reasoned determination
that its benefits justify its costs. In choosing among alternative
regulatory approaches, we selected those approaches that 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 does 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
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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, as
projects similar to the one envisioned by the final priority have been
completed successfully. The new ARRT will strengthen the capacity of
the disability and rehabilitation fields to train researchers to
conduct advanced policy research in the areas of rehabilitation and
disability.
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: July 16, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-17109 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 am]
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