[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21727-21729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09016]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Community Living
[CFDA Number: 84.133B-5]
Final Priority: National Institute on Disability, Independent
Living, and Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers
AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and
Human Services.
ACTION: Final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
announces a priority for the Rehabilitation Research and Training
Center (RRTC) Program administered by the National Institute on
Disability,
[[Page 21728]]
Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Specifically, we announce a priority for an RRTC on Employment for
Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments. The
Administrator of the Administration for Community Living may use this
priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and later years. We
take this action to focus research attention on an area of national
need. We intend for this priority to contribute to improved employment
for individuals with blindness or other visual impairments.
DATES: Effective Date: This priority is effective May 20, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of
Health And Human Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5142, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-
6211 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, and 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 NIDILRR. 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: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/rrtc/index.html#types.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2)(A).
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for this program
in the Federal Register on February 25, 2015 (80 FR 10099). That notice
contained background information and our reasons for proposing the
particular priority.
There are no differences between the proposed priority and this
final priority.
Public Comment: In response to our invitation in the notice of
proposed priority we did not receive any comments on the proposed
priority.
Final Priority:
The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living
establishes a priority for an RRTC to conduct research on Employment
for Individuals with Blindness or other Visual Impairments. The purpose
of the proposed RRTC is to conduct research that generates new
knowledge about the efficacy of rehabilitative services and technology
used to support improved employment outcomes of individuals with
blindness or other visual impairments, including subpopulations that
are the focus of this priority.
The RRTC must contribute to improving the employment outcomes of
individuals with blindness or other visual impairments by:
(a) Conducting research on the efficacy of rehabilitation services
and technology used to enhance employment outcomes of individuals with
blindness or other visual impairments. Outcomes must include but are
not limited to obtaining employment, retention, promotion, and quality
of salary and benefits. The RRTC must focus its research on the target
population of individuals with blindness or other visual impairments,
including at least one of the following subpopulations of particular
concern: (1) Individuals who are deaf-blind; (2) individuals with
blindness or low vision related to traumatic brain injury; and (3)
transition-age young people with blindness or other visual impairments;
(b) Generating new knowledge about how the outcomes of the services
and technologies investigated in paragraph (a) vary with relevant
variables such as service type, consumer characteristics, and provider
characteristics;
(c) 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 should be clearly justified.
(These stages and their definitions are provided at the end of the
background statement section of the notice of proposed priority
published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2015 (80 FR 10099));
(d) Serving as a national resource center related to employment for
individuals with blindness or other visual impairments, their families,
and other stakeholders by conducting knowledge translation, technical
assistance, and training activities;
(e) Disseminating research-based information and materials related
to improving the quality of services to individuals with blindness or
other visual impairments; and
(f) Involving key stakeholder groups in the activities conducted
under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this priority to promote 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 (45 CFR part 75); or (2) selecting an
application that meets the priority over an application of comparable
merit that does not meet the priority (45 CFR part 75).
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 (45 CFR part 75).
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.
[[Page 21729]]
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 Administration for
Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services
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, ACL 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 ACL'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, and the proposed priority will generate new
knowledge through research. The new RRTC 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.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
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Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
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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: April 14, 2015.
John Tschida,
Director, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and
Rehabilitation Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-09016 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P