42 U.S.C. § 15112 — Definitions

Page 8694 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 15111 1 See References in Text note below. (A) section 15098 of this title (relating to the provision of technical assistance and in- formation to States); and (B) section 15099 of this title (relating to the conduct of evaluations). (2) Special rule For each year that the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) is $10,000,000 or greater, the Secretary may reserve 5 percent of such amount to carry out section 15100 of this title. (Pub. L. 106–402, title II, § 212, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1734.) SUBCHAPTER III—PROGRAM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKERS WHO ASSIST INDI- VIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DIS- ABILITIES § 15111. Findings Congress finds that— (1) direct support workers, especially young adults, have played essential roles in pro- viding the support needed by individuals with developmental disabilities and expanding com- munity options for those individuals; (2) 4 factors have contributed to a decrease in the available pool of direct support work- ers, specifically— (A) the small population of individuals who are age 18 through 25, an age group that has been attracted to direct support work in the past; (B) the rapid expansion of the service sec- tor, which attracts individuals who pre- viously would have elected to pursue em- ployment as direct support workers; (C) the failure of wages in the human serv- ices sector to keep pace with wages in other service sectors; and (D) the lack of quality training and career advancement opportunities available to di- rect support workers; and (3) individuals with developmental disabil- ities benefit from assistance from direct sup- port workers who are well trained, and benefit from receiving services from professionals who have spent time as direct support workers. (Pub. L. 106–402, title III, § 301, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1734.) § 15112. Definitions In this subchapter: (1) Developmental disability The term ‘‘developmental disability’’ has the meaning given the term in section 15002 of this title. (2) Institution of higher education The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the meaning given the term in section 1141 1 of title 20. (3) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Pub. L. 106–402, title III, § 302, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1734.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 1141 of title 20, referred to in par. (2), was re- pealed by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title I, § 101(b), title VII, § 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1616, 1803, effective Oct. 1, 1998. However, the term ‘‘institution of higher edu- cation’’ is defined in section 1001 of Title 20, Education. § 15113. Reaching up scholarship program (a) Program authorization The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to enable the entities to carry out scholarship programs by providing vouchers for postsecondary education to direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities residing in di- verse settings. The Secretary shall award the grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers. (b) Eligible entity To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be— (1) an institution of higher education; (2) a State agency; or (3) a consortium of such institutions or agencies. (c) Application requirements To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of— (1) the basis for awarding the vouchers; (2) the number of individuals to receive the vouchers; and (3) the amount of funds that will be made available by the eligible entity to pay for the non-Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers. (d) Selection criteria In awarding a grant under this section for a scholarship program, the Secretary shall give priority to an entity submitting an application that— (1) specifies that individuals who receive vouchers through the program will be individ- uals— (A) who are direct support workers who as- sist individuals with developmental disabil- ities residing in diverse settings, while pur- suing postsecondary education; and (B) each of whom verifies, prior to receiv- ing the voucher, that the worker has com- pleted 250 hours as a direct support worker in the past 90 days; (2) states that the vouchers that will be pro- vided through the program will be in amounts of not more than $2,000 per year; (3) provides an assurance that the eligible entity (or another specified entity that is not a voucher recipient) will contribute the non- Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers; and