106 STAT. 4414

PUBLIC LAW 102-569—OCT. 29, 1992

Urban and
rural areas.

Contracts.

29 USC 771a.

individuals with disabilities. Such opportunities shall include certifi-
cate or degree granting programs in vocational rehabilitation serv-
ices and related services.

"(2) An entity that receives a grant under paragraph (1) may
use the grant for purposes including—

"(A) establishing a program with an institution of higher
education to develop creative new programs and coursework
options, or to expand existing programs, concerning the fields
of vocational rehabilitation services and related services,
including—

"(i) providing release time for faculty and staff for
curriculum development; and

"(ii) paying for instructional costs and startup and
other program development costs;

"(B) establishing a career development mentoring program
using faculty and professional staff members of participating
agencies as role models, career sponsors, and academic advisors
for experienced State, city, and county employees, and volun-
teers, whoy-

"(i) have demonstrated a commitment to working in
the fields described in clause (i); and

"(ii) are enrolled in a program relating to such a field
at an institution of higher education;

"(C) supporting a wide range of programmatic and research
activities aimed at increasing opportunities for career advance-
ment and competency-based training in such fields; and

"(D) identifying existing public or private agency and labor
union personnel policies and benefit programs that may facili-
tate the ability of employees to take advantage of higher
education opportunities, such as leave time and tuition
reimbursement.

"(3) In making grants for projects under paragraph (1), the
Commissioner shall ensure that the projects shall be geographically
distributed throughout the United States in urban and rural areas.
"(4) The Commissioner shall, for the purpose of providing tech-
nical assistance to States or entities receiving grants under para-
graph (1), enter into a cooperative agreement through a separate
competition with an entity that has successfully demonstrated the
capacity and expertise in the education, training, and retention
of employees to serve individuals with disabilities through the use
of consortia or partnerships established for the purpose of retraining
the existing work force and providing opportunities for career
enhancement.

"(5) The Commissioner may conduct an evaluation of projects
funded under this subsection.

"(6) During the period in which an entity is receiving financial
assistance under paragraph (1), the entity may not receive financial
assistance under paragraph (4).".

(d) OFFICE OF DEAFNESS AND COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS.—
Section 302(f) (29 U.S.C. 774(f)) (as so redesignated by subsection
(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in the first sentence—

(i) by striking "deaf individuals'' and inserting
"individuals who are deaf and individuals who are
deaf-blind";