US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

29 U.S.C. § 772

Training

(a)

Grants and contracts for personnel training

(1)

Authority

The Commissioner shall make grants to, and enter into contracts with, States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations (including institutions of higher education) to pay part of the cost of projects to provide training, traineeships, and related activities, including the provision of technical assistance, that are designed to assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of, qualified personnel (especially rehabilitation counselors) who are trained in providing vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation services, who are trained to assist individuals with communication and related disorders, who are trained to provide other services provided under this chapter, to individuals with disabilities, and who may include—
(A)
personnel specifically trained in providing employment assistance to individuals with disabilities through job development and job placement services;
(B)
personnel specifically trained to identify, assess, and meet the individual rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities, including needs for rehabilitation technology;
(C)
personnel specifically trained to deliver services to individuals who may benefit from receiving independent living services;
(D)
personnel specifically trained to deliver services in the client assistance programs;
(E)
personnel specifically trained to deliver supported employment services and customized employment services to individuals with the most significant disabilities;
(F)
personnel specifically trained to deliver services to individuals with disabilities pursuing self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting;
(G)
personnel trained in performing other functions necessary to the provision of vocational, medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation services, and other services provided under this chapter; and
(H)
personnel trained in providing assistive technology services.
(2)

Authority to provide scholarships

Grants and contracts under paragraph (1) may be expended for scholarships and may include necessary stipends and allowances.

(3)

Related Federal statutes

section 794 of this title42 U.S.C. 1211142 U.S.C. 401In carrying out this subsection, the Commissioner may make grants to and enter into contracts with States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to furnish training regarding provisions of Federal statutes, including , title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( et seq.), and the provisions of titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act ( et seq. and 1381 et seq.), that are related to work incentives for individuals with disabilities.

(4)

Training for statewide workforce systems personnel

29 U.S.C. 3151The Commissioner may make grants to and enter into contracts under this subsection with States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to furnish training to personnel providing services to individuals with disabilities under subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [ et seq.]. Under this paragraph, personnel may be trained—
(A)
in evaluative skills to determine whether an individual with a disability may be served by the State vocational rehabilitation program or another component of a statewide workforce development system; or
(B)
28 U.S.C. 3151(e) to assist individuals with disabilities seeking assistance through one-stop delivery systems described in section 121(e) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [].
(5)

Joint funding

29 U.S.C. 3151Training and other activities provided under paragraph (4) for personnel may be jointly funded with the Department of Labor, using funds made available under subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [ et seq.].

(b)

Grants and contracts for academic degrees and academic certificate granting training projects

(1)

Authority

(A)

In general

The Commissioner may make grants to, and enter into contracts with, States and public or nonprofit agencies and organizations (including institutions of higher education) to pay part of the costs of academic training projects to provide training that leads to an academic degree or academic certificate. In making such grants or entering into such contracts, the Commissioner shall target funds to areas determined under subsection (e) to have shortages of qualified personnel.

(B)

Types of projects

Academic training projects described in this subsection may include—
(i)
projects to train personnel in the areas of assisting and supporting individuals with disabilities pursuing self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting, and of vocational rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation technology, rehabilitation medicine, rehabilitation nursing, rehabilitation social work, rehabilitation psychiatry, rehabilitation psychology, rehabilitation dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and audiology, physical education, therapeutic recreation, community rehabilitation programs, prosthetics and orthotics, vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility instruction, or low vision therapy;
(ii)
projects to train personnel to provide—
(I)
services to individuals with specific disabilities or individuals with disabilities who have specific impediments to rehabilitation, including individuals who are members of populations that are unserved or underserved by programs under this chapter;
(II)
job development and job placement services to individuals with disabilities;
(III)
supported employment services, including services of employment specialists for individuals with disabilities;
(IV)
specialized services for individuals with significant disabilities; or
(V)
recreation for individuals with disabilities;
(iii)
projects to train personnel in other fields contributing to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities; and
(iv)
projects to train personnel in the use, applications, and benefits of rehabilitation technology.
(2)

Application

No grant shall be awarded or contract entered into under this subsection unless the applicant has submitted to the Commissioner an application at such time, in such form, in accordance with such procedures, and including such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(A)
a description of how the designated State unit or units will participate in the project to be funded under the grant or contract, including, as appropriate, participation on advisory committees, as practicum sites, in curriculum development, and in other ways so as to build closer relationships between the applicant and the designated State unit and to encourage students to pursue careers in public vocational rehabilitation programs;
(B)
the identification of potential employers that provide employment that meets the requirements of paragraph (5)(A)(i); and
(C)
an assurance that data on the employment of graduates or trainees who participate in the project is accurate.
(3)

Limitation

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no grant or contract under this subsection may be used to provide any one course of study to an individual for a period of more than 4 years.

(B)

Exception

If a grant or contract recipient under this subsection determines that an individual has a disability which seriously affects the completion of training under this subsection, the grant or contract recipient may extend the period referred to in subparagraph (A).

(4)

Authority to provide scholarships

Grants and contracts under paragraph (1) may be expanded to provide services that include the provision of scholarships and necessary stipends and allowances.

(5)

Agreements

(A)

Contents

A recipient of a grant or contract under this subsection shall provide assurances to the Commissioner that each individual who receives a scholarship, for any academic year beginning after , utilizing funds provided under such grant or contract shall enter into an agreement with the recipient under which the individual shall—
(i)
maintain employment—
(I)
in a nonprofit rehabilitation agency or related agency or in a State rehabilitation agency or related agency, including a professional corporation or professional practice group through which the individual has a service arrangement with the designated State agency;
(II)
on a full- or part-time basis; and
(III)
for a period of not less than the full-time equivalent of 2 years for each year for which assistance under this section was received by the individual,
 within a period, beginning after the recipient completes the training for which the scholarship was awarded, of not more than the sum of the number of years in the period described in subclause (III) and 2 additional years; and
(ii)
repay all or part of any scholarship received, plus interest, if the individual does not fulfill the requirements of clause (i),
except as the Commissioner by regulation may provide for repayment exceptions and deferrals.
(B)

Enforcement

The Commissioner shall be responsible for the enforcement of each agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) upon completion of the training involved under such subparagraph.

(c)

Grants to historically Black colleges and universities

The Commissioner, in carrying out this section, shall make grants to historically Black colleges and universities and other institutions of higher education whose minority student enrollment is at least 50 percent of the total enrollment of the institution.

(d)

Application

A grant may not be awarded to a State or other organization under this section unless the State or organization has submitted an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such form, in accordance with such procedures, and containing such information as the Commissioner may require. Any such application shall include a detailed description of strategies that will be utilized to recruit and train individuals so as to reflect the diverse populations of the United States as part of the effort to increase the number of individuals with disabilities, and individuals who are from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, who are available to provide rehabilitation services.

(e)

Evaluation and collection of data

The Commissioner shall evaluate the impact of the training programs conducted under this section, and collect information on the training needs of, and data on shortages of qualified personnel necessary to provide services to individuals with disabilities. The Commissioner shall prepare and submit to Congress, by September 30 of each fiscal year, a report setting forth and justifying in detail how the funds made available for training under this section for the fiscal year prior to such submission are allocated by professional discipline and other program areas. The report shall also contain findings on such personnel shortages, how funds proposed for the succeeding fiscal year will be allocated under the President’s budget proposal, and how the findings on personnel shortages justify the allocations.

(f)

Grants for the training of interpreters

(1)

Authority

(A)

In general

For the purpose of training a sufficient number of qualified interpreters to meet the communications needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who are deaf-blind, the Commissioner, acting through a Federal office responsible for deafness and communicative disorders, may award grants to public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations to pay part of the costs—
(i)
for the establishment of interpreter training programs; or
(ii)
to enable such agencies or organizations to provide financial assistance for ongoing interpreter training programs.
(B)

Geographic areas

The Commissioner shall award grants under this subsection for programs in geographic areas throughout the United States that the Commissioner considers appropriate to best carry out the objectives of this section.

(C)

Priority

In awarding grants under this subsection, the Commissioner shall give priority to public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations with existing programs that have a demonstrated capacity for providing interpreter training services.

(D)

Funding

The Commissioner may award grants under this subsection through the use of—
(i)
amounts appropriated to carry out this section; or
(ii)
section 1402 of title 20section 1486 of title 20 pursuant to an agreement with the Director of the Office of the Special Education Program (established under ), amounts appropriated under .
(2)

Application

A grant may not be awarded to an agency or organization under paragraph (1) unless the agency or organization has submitted an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such form, in accordance with such procedures, and containing such information as the Commissioner may require, including—
(A)
a description of the manner in which an interpreter training program will be developed and operated during the 5-year period following the date on which a grant is received by the applicant under this subsection;
(B)
a demonstration of the applicant’s capacity or potential for providing training for interpreters for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who are deaf-blind;
(C)
assurances that any interpreter trained or retrained under a program funded under the grant will meet such minimum standards of competency as the Commissioner may establish for purposes of this subsection; and
(D)
such other information as the Commissioner may require.
(g)

Technical assistance

(1)

Technical assistance

The Commissioner is authorized to provide technical assistance to State designated agencies and community rehabilitation programs, directly or through contracts with State designated agencies or nonprofit organizations. Any technical assistance provided to community rehabilitation programs shall be focused on the employment outcome of competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.

(2)

Compensation

section 5382 of title 5section 5703 of title 5An expert or consultant appointed or serving under contract pursuant to this section shall be compensated at a rate, subject to approval of the Commissioner, that shall not exceed the daily equivalent of the rate of pay for level 4 of the Senior Executive Service Schedule under . Such an expert or consultant may be allowed travel and transportation expenses in accordance with .

(h)

Provision of information

section 776 of this titleThe Commissioner, subject to the provisions of , may require that recipients of grants or contracts under this section provide information, including data, with regard to the impact of activities funded under this section.

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $33,657,000 for fiscal year 2015, $36,257,000 for fiscal year 2016, $37,009,000 for fiscal year 2017, $37,830,000 for fiscal year 2018, $38,719,000 for fiscal year 2019, and $39,540,000 for fiscal year 2020.

Pub. L. 93–112, title III, § 302Pub. L. 105–220, title IV, § 406112 Stat. 1184Pub. L. 108–446, title III, § 305(h)(4)118 Stat. 2805Pub. L. 113–128, title IV, § 441(b)128 Stat. 1672(, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 101–336104 Stat. 327section 12101 of Title 42The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is , , . Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 12111 et seq.) of chapter 126 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 53149 Stat. 620section 1305 of Title 42The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is , , as amended. Titles II and XVI of the Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§ 401 et seq.) and XVI (§ 1381 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Pub. L. 113–128128 Stat. 1425section 3101 of this titleThe Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(4) and (5), is , , . Subtitle B of title I of the Act is classified generally to part B (§ 3151 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 32 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Prior Provisions

section 771a of this titlePub. L. 105–220Provisions similar to this section were contained in prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Pub. L. 93–112, title III, § 30387 Stat. 378Pub. L. 93–516, title I, § 10588 Stat. 1619Pub. L. 93–651, title I, § 10589 Stat. 2–4Pub. L. 94–23090 Stat. 212Pub. L. 95–602, title I92 Stat. 2968Pub. L. 98–221, title I, § 13298 Stat. 24Pub. L. 99–506, title I, § 103(d)(2)(C)100 Stat. 1810Pub. L. 100–630, title II, § 204(b)102 Stat. 3308Pub. L. 102–52, § 4(b)105 Stat. 261Pub. L. 102–569, title I, § 102(p)(16)106 Stat. 4358Pub. L. 105–220A prior section 772, , formerly § 302, , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 5, 11(b)(8), , , 213; , §§ 112(b), 122(c)(3), , , 2987; , , ; , title IV, § 402, title X, § 1001(d)(1), , , 1824, 1842; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 303 and amended , title III, §§ 301(b)(3), 303, , , 4411, 4416, related to vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

section 302 of Pub. L. 93–112section 771a of this titlePub. L. 105–220A prior was classified to prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(A)(i)2014—Subsec. (a)(1)(E). , substituted “supported employment services and customized employment services to individuals with the most significant disabilities;” for “services, through supported employment programs, to individuals with a most significant disability; and”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(A)(ii)Subsec. (a)(1)(H). –(iv), added subpar. (H).

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(B)(i)Subsec. (a)(4). , substituted “subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” for “title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(B)(ii)Subsec. (a)(4)(A). , substituted “workforce development system” for “workforce investment system”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(B)(iii)Subsec. (a)(4)(B). , substituted “section 121(e) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.” for “section 134(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.”

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(1)(C)Subsec. (a)(5). , substituted “subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” for “title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(2)Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i). , substituted “prosthetics and orthotics, vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility instruction, or low vision therapy” for “or prosthetics and orthotics”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(3)(A)Subsec. (g). , struck out “and in-service training” after “assistance” in heading.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(3)(B)Subsec. (g)(1). , inserted after period at end “Any technical assistance provided to community rehabilitation programs shall be focused on the employment outcome of competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.”

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(3)(C)Subsec. (g)(3). , struck out par. (3) which related to use of funding for projects for in-service training for rehabilitation personnel.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(4)section 776 of this titleSubsec. (h). , made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Pub. L. 113–128, § 441(b)(5)Subsec. (i). , substituted “$33,657,000 for fiscal year 2015, $36,257,000 for fiscal year 2016, $37,009,000 for fiscal year 2017, $37,830,000 for fiscal year 2018, $38,719,000 for fiscal year 2019, and $39,540,000 for fiscal year 2020.” for “such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2003.”

Pub. L. 108–446section 1402 of title 202004—Subsec. (f)(1)(D)(ii). made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .