Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 5.djvu/463

 PUBLIC LAW 103-382—OCT. 20, 1994 108 STAT. 3953 per diem and consultant fees not to exceed the rate provided to other consultants used by the Secretary. The Secretary may use funds available under section 716 to pay expenses and fees of a member of a Panel who is not a Federal employee. "(b) PROVISION OF INFORMATION. —To assist the Secretary in carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary under this section, the Secretary may require States to provide relevant information, including recommendations and relevant reports of the Council. "(c) APPEALS.— The Secretary shall establish appeals procedures for States that are found in noncompliance with the provisions of this part as the result of failure to supply information required under section 705 or 710. The Secretary shall take into consideration the comments of the Council. "(d) EFFECT ON OTHER ASSISTANCE. — This part may not be construed as authorizing a Federal or State agency to reduce medical or other assistance available, or to alter eligibility, under any Federal law. "(e) UNOBLIGATED FUNDS.— Any amount paid to a State for a fiscal year and remaining unobligated at the end of such year shall remain available to such State for the next fiscal year for the purposes for which such amount was paid. "SEC. 712. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. Grants. "(a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary shall make grants, or enter 20 USC I49ik. into contracts or cooperative agreements, with appropriate public or private agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, with documented experience, expertise, and capacity, for the purpose of providing techiiic£d assistance and information with respect to the development and implementation, or expansion and enhancement, of a statewide system of family support for families of children with disabilities. "(b) PURPOSE. —With respect to States receiving assistance under this part, the technical assistance and information described under subsection (a) shall be provided to the State agency designated as the lead entity, the Council, family members of children with disabilities, organizations, service providers, and policymakers involved with children with disabilities and their families. Such technical assistance shall also be available to States that do not receive assistance under this part. Such technical assistance and information shall— "(1) facilitate effective systems change activities; "(2) promote effective approaches to the development and implementation, or expansion and enhancement of, the statewide systems of family support for families of children with disabilities that increase access to, funding for, and awareness of family support for families of children with disabilities; "(3) promote partnerships with families at all levels of the service system; "(4) foster awareness and understanding of Federal, State,, and local laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to, funding for, and access to family support for families of children with disabilities; "(5) foster the development and replication of effective approaches to strategic plan development, interagency coordination, training, outreach to underserved groups, and public awareness activities;

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