Proposed Rule2025-00268
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) proposes priorities and requirements under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program with a focus on the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) and six rehabilitation topic areas. The Department may use these priorities and requirements for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2025 and later years. This action is intended to address the national needs for the RLTT program, particularly the retention of qualified vocational rehabilitation (VR) personnel in the field of State VR services and the training of RSA scholars who aspire to become VR professionals and will fill critical VR positions where there are shortages.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6910-6915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00268]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2024-OSERS-0138]
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
(OSERS), Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed priorities and requirements.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) proposes priorities
and requirements under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT)
program with a focus on the Comprehensive System of Personnel
Development (CSPD) and six rehabilitation topic areas. The Department
may use these priorities and requirements for competitions in fiscal
year (FY) 2025 and later years. This action is intended to address the
national needs for the RLTT program, particularly the retention of
qualified vocational rehabilitation (VR) personnel in the field of
State VR services and the training of RSA scholars who aspire to become
VR professionals and will fill critical VR positions where there are
shortages.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 20, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. However, if you require an accommodation
or cannot otherwise submit your comments via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>,
please contact the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. The Department will not accept comments submitted
by fax or by email, or after the comment period closes. To ensure the
Department does not receive duplicate copies, please submit your
comments only once. In addition, please include the Docket ID at the
top of your comments.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> to submit
your comments electronically. Information on using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>,
including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting
comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site under
``FAQ.''
Note: The Department's policy is generally to make comments
received from members of the public available for public viewing in
their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Therefore, commenters should be careful to only
include information in their comments that they wish to make publicly
available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diandrea Bailey, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 4A10, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 987-0126. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#caf2fee4fbf8f38aafaee4ada5bc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ead2dec4dbd8d3aa8f8ec48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding
the proposed priorities and requirements. To ensure that your comments
have maximum effect in developing the final priorities and
requirements, we urge
[[Page 6911]]
you to clearly identify the specific section of the proposed priorities
and requirements that each comment addresses.
We are particularly interested in comments about whether the
proposed priorities or requirements would be challenging for new
applicants to meet and, if so, how the proposed priorities or
requirements could be revised to address potential challenges.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094 and their
overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result
from these proposed priorities and requirements. Please let us know of
any further ways we could reduce potential costs or increase potential
benefits while preserving the effective and efficient administration of
the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect public
comments about the proposed priorities and requirements, by accessing
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. To inspect comments in person, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request, we will provide an appropriate
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for the proposed priorities and requirements.
If you want to schedule an appointment for this type of aid, please
contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the RLTT program is to provide
financial assistance for academic training in areas of personnel
shortages identified by the Secretary and published in a notice in the
Federal Register. RLTT funds are awarded to colleges and universities.
Grantees must award at least 65 percent of project funds as
scholarships (i.e., awards of financial assistance, including
disbursements or credits for student stipends, tuition and fees, books
and supplies, and student travel in conjunction with training
assignments) to students (herein referred to as RSA scholars) enrolled
in the RLTT program.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.129.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
Applicable Regulations: 34 CFR parts 385 and 386.
Proposed Priorities: This document contains two proposed
priorities. The Department may use one or both priorities for the FY
2025 RLTT program competitions and for any subsequent competitions.
Proposed Priority 1: RLTT Program for State VR Agencies' CSPD:
Master's Degree or Certificate, Assistance Listing Number (ALN)
84.129W.
Background: The Department published a Notice of Final Priority in
the Federal Register on July 23, 2014, establishing a priority for nine
rehabilitation specialty areas of national need, including CSPD.
Subsequently, RSA awarded eight CSPD grants to institutions of higher
education (IHEs) in FY 2015 with a focus on providing academic training
leading to a master's degree or academic certificate that supported
State agency VR counselors. Grants were funded for a five-year cycle
and expired in FY 2020. RSA has not awarded CSPD grants since FY 2015
as the national need for CSPDs was not the primary priority.
Additionally, the RSA discretionary Rehabilitation Training-State
Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training program that
supported special projects to train state vocational rehabilitation
unit personnel was no longer available in 2015 (as a result of the
amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act). As such, there remains a need to provide
continuing education to rehabilitation professionals and
paraprofessionals within the designated State unit, particularly with
respect to rehabilitation technology so that they can establish and
maintain education and experience requirements, to ensure that the
personnel have a 21st century understanding of the evolving labor force
and the needs of individuals with disabilities as mandated by the
Rehabilitation Act. This continuing education is also important for
rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals to meet the current
challenges facing State VR agencies and related agencies in assisting
individuals with disabilities to achieve high-quality competitive
integrated employment outcomes.
Under Proposed Priority 1, applicants must propose a CSPD project
that provides training to currently employed State VR agency personnel,
including VR counselors with disabilities and VR counselors from
racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
The academic training for all participants must meet (A) the
designated State unit (DSU) personnel standards required under section
101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 34 CFR
361.18 and (B) the qualifications for the master's degree or academic
certificate specified in the State's CSPD plans or of the States with
which the State VR counselors and other personnel are working.
CSPD proposed projects must develop and use innovative approaches
to train VR professionals, including using cutting-edge technology or
innovative applications of advanced technology (e.g., hybrid learning
and competency-based programs) to maximize participation in, and
improve the effectiveness of, the academic training.
Proposed Priority 2: RLTT Program for Rehabilitation Topic Areas,
ALNs 84.129B, 84.129E, 84.129H, 84.129L, 84.129P, and 84.129Q.
Background: The goal of this priority is to increase the number of
RSA scholars, and upgrade the skills of qualified VR personnel,
especially rehabilitation counselors, who are trained in providing VR
and related services to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve
competitive integrated employment through academic training in six
rehabilitation topic areas. Upon successful completion of their program
of study, RSA scholars will be prepared to effectively meet the needs
and demands of consumers with disabilities, especially individuals with
significant disabilities, and employers.
Proposed Priority:
Under the Proposed Priority 2, applicants must propose a project
that provides academic training to RSA scholars where the training
leads to a degree (undergraduate or master's level) or academic
certificate in one of six rehabilitation topic areas that follow:
1. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counseling: Master's Degree (ALN
84.129B). Projects in this topic area must be designed to support RSA
scholars interested in pursuing a master's degree in VR counseling.
Projects must increase the skills of RSA scholars so that they are,
upon successful completion of their program of study, prepared to,
effectively and with an advanced level of expertise, help individuals
with disabilities (consumers) meet their career and personal goals and
help employers in their hiring efforts. Projects should also increase
RSA scholars understanding of and ability to support consumers access
to pre-employment transition services.
2. Rehabilitation Technology (ALN 84.129E). Projects in this topic
area must provide scholarships to RSA scholars to pursue a degree or
certificate in the application of advanced technology in rehabilitation
services, and for use in careers in rehabilitation technology.
Rehabilitation technology training includes training on the use,
applications, and benefits of technology (including assistive
technology and
[[Page 6912]]
artificial intelligence tools) to individuals with disabilities to
achieve and/or maintain competitive integrated employment and
independence.
The rehabilitation technology training program must be designed to
ensure that RSA scholars acquire a 21st-century understanding of the
evolving technology labor force, the needs of individuals with
disabilities that might be addressed via technology, and the ways
technology can unlock individuals' strengths.
3. Rehabilitation of Individuals With Mental Health Disorders or
Illnesses (ALN 84.129H). Projects in this topic area must be designed
to support RSA scholars interested in pursuing a degree or certificate
for careers that provide specialized services to individuals who have
mental health disorders or illnesses and are participants in the State
VR programs. Additionally, projects must be designed to prepare RSA
scholars to address a range of issues in VR services for individuals
with mental health disorders or illnesses to assist them to achieve and
maintain competitive integrated employment. Such mental health
disorders and illnesses might include mood disorders (e.g., depressive
disorders and bipolar disorders), suicidality, schizophrenia, eating
disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mild to severe
mental health disorders. This can include mental health issues related
to long-term effects of post-acute infection syndromes (COVID-19 and
myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) for which
mental health care may be part of treating a potentially more
systematic illness.
4. Undergraduate Education in the Rehabilitation Services (ALN
84.129L). Projects in this topic area must train undergraduate RSA
scholars interested in pursuing careers as rehabilitation generalists,
VR paraprofessionals, or other entry-level positions in the public VR
services. Projects must also be designed to provide training and
clinical learning experiences to equip RSA scholars with foundational
knowledge of disability conditions, VR processes, interviewing
techniques, and other skills required for working with consumers in the
public VR services, including the skills to coordinate the diagnosis
and evaluation of a person's disabling condition, create individual
plans, arrange various VR services, assist VR counselors in working
with persons with disabilities in selecting a vocational goal, provide
personal and social adjustment services, conduct job placement
activities, and provide follow-up services to individuals after other
services are completed. Pre-employment transition services should be
included as part of programmatic content.
5. Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
(ALN 84.129P). Projects in this topic area must train RSA scholars
interested in pursuing a degree or certificate for careers in providing
specialized services to persons who are blind or have low vision.
Projects must be designed to provide training and hands-on experiences
in VR services for persons who are blind or have low vision to assist
them to achieve and/or maintain competitive integrated employment,
including training in orientation and mobility, methods of independent
and safe travel, and application of advanced technology.
6. Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
(ALN 84.129Q). Projects in this topic area must train RSA scholars
interested in pursuing a degree or certificate for careers in providing
specialized rehabilitation to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The training must include opportunities for RSA scholars to acquire the
necessary skills to communicate effectively with individuals who are
deaf or hard of hearing, and to assess and address the communication
needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally,
projects must have plans to support RSA scholars in developing
competency in sign language/ASL and other communication methods as well
as familiarity with the use of various assistive listening devices and
application of other advanced assistive technology.
Projects must provide assistance to scholars to secure or maintain
employment with State VR agencies, where the job duties include
provision of rehabilitation of individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing (e.g., assessment services, vocational and adjustment
counseling services, provision of independent living skills training,
interpreting services, interpreter referral services, advocacy
services, and job placement services).
The academic training for all participants must meet (A) the DSU)
personnel standards required under section 101(a)(7) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and 34 CFR 361.18.
Rehabilitation topic area projects under this proposed priority
must develop and use innovative approaches to train RSA scholars,
including using cutting-edge technology or innovative application of
advanced technology (e.g., hybrid learning or competency-based
programs) to maximize participation in, and improve the effectiveness
of, the academic training.
In addition to academic training, RSA funded projects may provide a
one-time stipend, to an amount as specified in the Notice Inviting
Applications published in the Federal Register to RSA scholars based on
identified needs for--
(a) completing an internship (e.g., room and board, travel);
(b) obtaining qualifying employment in the specific field of study
within a period of time after graduating and maintaining qualifying
employment a minimum period of time beyond the required service
obligation period as specified in the NIA; and
(c) utilizing a vetted employment expert or consultant to assist
the RSA scholar in securing employment within a period of time after
graduating with a State VR or related agency in the field of study as
specified in the NIA.
Proposed Requirements
The Department proposes the following requirements for the RLTT
program. We may apply one or more of these requirements in any year in
which this program is in effect. We propose these requirements because
we believe they would help applicants to develop well-designed,
comprehensive projects. The proposed requirements would also provide
the Department information critical to grants monitoring, such as an
up-to-date picture of the employment needs in the applicant's
geographic area.
Application Requirements: All applicants must--
(a) Provide data on the current and projected employment needs and
personnel shortages in State VR agencies and other related agencies (as
defined in 34 CFR 386.4) in their local area, region, and State; and
describe how the proposed project will address those employment needs
and personnel shortages;
(b) Describe how the project will train RSA scholars, as
applicable, including how the project will provide them with an
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals
with disabilities to ensure that the RSA scholars have a 21st century
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals
with disabilities. Applicants must describe how, upon completion of the
training program, State VR personnel including VR counselors or RSA
scholars will be prepared to assist individuals with disabilities to
meet current demands and emerging trends in the labor market, including
how--
(1) The program provides a breadth of knowledge, experience, and
rigor that
[[Page 6913]]
will adequately prepare scholars to meet the employment needs and goals
of VR consumers and aligns with evidence-based (as defined in 34 CFR
77.1) practices and with competency-based skills (e.g., advanced
counseling skills, critical thinking skills, and skills in building
collaborative relationships);
(2) The program prepares RSA scholars to meet all applicable
certification standards;
(3) The program addresses new or emerging consumer employment needs
or trends at the national, State, and regional levels;
(4) The program trains RSA scholars to possess the skills needed to
address the specialized needs of individuals with specific types of
disability conditions and backgrounds, which may include, but are not
limited to, physical disabilities, mental health disorders or
illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities, blindness, and
deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with disabilities who are from
diverse cultural backgrounds or historically underserved populations;
(5) The program trains RSA scholars to understand the applications
and strategies related to the integration of advanced assistive
technology and artificial intelligence tools to fuel competitive
integrated employment in the 21st century for individuals with
disabilities, recognize the assistive technology needs of consumers and
employers who hire individuals with disabilities, throughout the
rehabilitation process so that they will be better able to coordinate
the provision of appropriate advanced assistive technology services and
devices including artificial intelligence in order to assist the
consumers to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment;
(6) The program teaches RSA scholars to work effectively with
employers, including by teaching strategies for developing
relationships with employers in their State and local areas,
identifying employer needs and skill demands, making initial employer
contacts, presenting job-ready clients to potential employers, and
conducting follow-up with employers;
(7) The program teaches RSA scholars to work effectively with state
education agencies (SEAs), and local educational agencies (LEAs),
particularly special education systems and educators. This includes
instruction on collaborating effectively with SEAs, LEAs, school
administrators, and special education teachers to ensure their
awareness of pre-employment transition services and vocational
rehabilitation transition services, and ensuring the successful
planning and provision of these services; and
(8) The latest technology is incorporated into the methods of
instruction (e.g., technology that supports the use of hybrid education
to reach scholars who live far from the university and the use of
technology to acquire labor market information);
(c) Describe their methods to--
(1) Recruit highly capable prospective State VR counselors or RSA
scholars who have the potential to successfully complete the academic
program, all required practicum and internship experiences, and the
required service obligation;
(2) Educate potential RSA scholars about the terms and conditions
of the service obligation under 34 CFR 386.4, 386.34, and 386.40
through 386.43 so that they will be fully informed before accepting a
scholarship and aware of the consequences should they fail to complete
the program;
(3) Maintain a system that ensures that RSA scholars sign a payback
agreement when they start and an exit certification form when they exit
the program, regardless of whether they drop out, are removed, or
successfully complete the program;
(4) Provide academic support and counseling to RSA scholars
throughout the course of the academic program to ensure successful
completion;
(5) Ensure that all RSA scholars complete an internship in a State
VR agency (as defined in 34 CFR 386.4) as a requirement for program
completion, unless the Secretary determines upon grantee request that
there is sufficient justification for not completing an internship;
(6) Provide career counseling, including informing RSA scholars of
professional contacts and networks, job leads including those available
through the RSA Payback Information Management System (PIMS), and other
necessary resources and information to support RSA scholars in
successfully obtaining and retaining qualifying employment;
(7) Maintain bi-monthly contact with RSA scholars upon successful
academic training program completion and provide post-graduation
support to assist RSA scholars to achieve qualifying employment as well
as employment support, at a minimum, for the RSA scholars' initial
three to six months of employment;
(8) Maintain quarterly communication with RSA scholars after
program exit until the beginning of their service obligation date to
ensure that scholar contact information in PIMS is up to date;
(9) Maintain and safeguard credentials to access PIMS for the
timely review and approval of scholar employment; and
(10) Maintain accurate financial information on, while safeguarding
the privacy of, current and former scholars from the time they are
enrolled in the program until they successfully meet their service
obligation;
(d) Describe a plan for developing and maintaining partnerships
with State VR agencies, community-based rehabilitation service
providers, and LEAs that includes--
(1) Coordination between the grantee and the State VR agencies and
community-based rehabilitation service providers that will promote
qualifying employment opportunities for RSA scholars and formalized on-
boarding and induction experiences for new hires;
(2) Formal opportunities for RSA scholars to obtain work
experiences through internships, practicum agreements, job shadowing,
and mentoring opportunities;
(3) Formal opportunities for RSA scholars to obtain work
experiences in LEAs to develop practical knowledge on effective special
education teacher-VR counselor collaborations that foster increased
awareness in LEAs of pre-employment transition services and vocational
rehabilitation transition services, and the successful planning and
provision of these services; and
(4) A scholar internship assessment tool that is developed to
ensure a consistent approach to the evaluation of scholars in a
particular program. Applicants must describe how--
(i) The tool will reflect the specific responsibilities of the
scholar during the internship;
(ii) Grantees and worksite supervisors will work together to
develop the assessment tool. Supervisors at the internship site will
complete the assessment detailing the scholar's strengths and areas for
improvement that must be addressed and provide the results of the
assessment to the grantee; and
(iii) The grantee will ensure that (A) RSA scholars are provided
with a copy of the assessment and all relevant rubrics prior to
beginning their internship, (B) supervisors have sufficient technical
support to accurately complete the assessment, and (C) scholars receive
a copy of the results of the assessment within 90 days of the end of
their internship;
(e) Describe how RSA scholars will be evaluated throughout the
program to ensure that they are proficient in meeting the needs and
demands of
[[Page 6914]]
consumers and employers, including the steps that will be taken to
provide assistance to an RSA scholar who is not meeting academic
standards or who is performing poorly in a practicum or internship
setting;
(f) Describe how the program will be evaluated, including how--
(1) The program will determine its effectiveness over time in
filling vacancies in the State VR agency with qualified counselors or
rehabilitation professionals capable of providing quality services to
consumers;
(2) Input from State VR agencies and community-based rehabilitation
service providers will be included in the evaluation;
(3) Feedback from consumers of VR services and employers (including
the assessments described in paragraph (d)(4)) will be included in the
evaluation;
(4) Data on the State VR program from other sources, such as the
Department, will be included in the evaluation; and
(5) The data and results from the evaluation will be used to make
necessary adjustments and improvements to the program.
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)).
Final Priority and Requirements:
We will announce the final priorities and requirements in a
document in the Federal Register. We will determine the final
priorities and requirements after considering public comments on the
proposed priorities and requirements and other information available to
the Department. This document does not preclude us from proposing
additional priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection
criteria subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This document does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use these proposed priorities and requirements, we
invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) determines whether this regulatory action is ``significant'' and,
therefore, subject to the requirements of the Executive order and
subject to review by OMB. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as
amended by Executive Order 14094, 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 $200 million or more
(adjusted every three years by the Administrator of Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for changes in gross domestic
product); or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector
of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment,
public health or safety, or State, local, territorial, or Tribal
governments or communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise legal or policy issues for which centralized review would
meaningfully further the President's priorities, or the principles set
forth in this Executive order, as specifically authorized in a timely
manner by the Administrator of OIRA in each case.
This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094.
We have also reviewed this proposed regulatory action under
Executive Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the
principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review
established in Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order
14094. 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.'' OIRA 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 these proposed priorities and requirements only on a
reasoned determination that their benefits would justify their costs.
In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those
approaches that would 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 would not
unduly interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with these Executive orders, the Department has
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 Department's programs and activities.
Clarity of the Regulations
Executive Order 12866 and the Presidential memorandum ``Plain
Language in Government Writing''
[[Page 6915]]
require each agency to write regulations that are easy to understand.
The Secretary invites comments on how to make the proposed
priorities and requirements easier to understand, including answers to
questions such as the following:
<bullet> Are the requirements in the proposed priorities and
requirements clearly stated?
<bullet> Do the proposed priorities and requirements contain
technical terms or other wording that interferes with their clarity?
<bullet> Does the format of the proposed priorities and
requirements (grouping and order of sections, use of headings,
paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce their clarity?
<bullet> Would the proposed priorities and requirements be easier
to understand if we divided them into more (but shorter) sections?
<bullet> Could the description of the proposed priorities and
requirements in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble
be more helpful in making the proposed priority and requirements easier
to understand? If so, how?
<bullet> What else could we do to make the proposed priorities and
requirements easier to understand?
To send any comments about how the Department could make the
proposed priorities and requirements easier to understand, see the
instructions in the ADDRESSES section.
Intergovernmental Review
These programs are subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that the proposed priorities and
requirements would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. The small entities that this
proposed regulatory action would affect are IHEs, Indian tribes, and
public or private nonprofit organizations. The Secretary believes that
the costs imposed on applicants by the proposed priorities and
requirements would be limited to paperwork burden related to preparing
an application and that the benefits would outweigh any costs incurred
by applicants.
Participation in this program is voluntary. For this reason, the
proposed priorities and requirements would impose no burden on small
entities unless they applied for funding under the program. We expect
that in determining whether to apply for RLTT funds, an eligible
applicant would evaluate the requirements of preparing an application
and any associated costs and weigh them against the benefits likely to
be achieved by receiving a RLTT grant. Eligible applicants most likely
would apply only if they determine that the likely benefits exceed the
costs of preparing an application. The likely benefits include the
potential receipt of a grant as well as other benefits that may accrue
to an entity through its development of an application, such as the use
of that application to seek funding from other sources to train State
VR counselors or RSA scholars in their pursuit to successfully graduate
with an undergraduate or master's level degree, or certificate of
completion and then secure or maintain employment at the State VR
agency, filling critical VR positions where there are shortages or a
need.
This proposed regulatory action would not have a significant
economic impact on a small entity once it receives a grant because it
would be able to meet the costs of compliance using the funds provided
under this program. We invite comments from eligible small entities as
to whether they believe this proposed regulatory action would have a
significant economic impact on them and, if so, request evidence to
support that belief.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
The proposed priorities and requirements do not contain any
information collection requirements.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file,
braille, large print, audiotape, compact disc, or other accessible
format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other Department documents published in the
Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access Department documents published in the Federal
Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Glenna Wright-Gallo,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2025-00268 Filed 1-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 21, 2025.
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