[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 105 (Monday, June 1, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10261]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Part 361
[Docket ID ED-2019-OSERS-0140]
State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S.
Department of Education.
ACTION: Reopening of comment period; policy interpretation.
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SUMMARY: On February 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education
(Department) published a policy interpretation and request for comment
concerning a change in policy regarding the use of Federal vocational
rehabilitation (VR) funds reserved for pre-employment transition
services. The interpretation established a deadline of March 30, 2020,
for submitting comments. This document reopens the comment period.
DATES: The comment period for the policy interpretation that published
February 28, 2020, at 85 FR 11848, is reopened. Comments are due July
1, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Dobak, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5153, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-5108. Telephone: (202) 245-7325. Email:
[email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 28, 2020, the Department
published in the Federal Register (85 FR 11848) a notice of policy
interpretation and request for comment concerning a change in policy
regarding the use of Federal VR funds reserved for pre-employment
transition services.
Specifically, the Department issued this notice of interpretation
to--(1) clarify current policy regarding the use of Federal VR funds
reserved for the provision of pre-employment transition services to pay
for auxiliary aids and services needed by all students with
disabilities in order to access or participate in required pre-
employment transition services under section 113(b) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and (2) announce a change in
policy with respect to additional VR services needed by eligible
students with disabilities that may be paid for with the 15 percent
minimum of Federal VR grant funds reserved for the provision of pre-
employment transition services and the circumstances under which those
funds may be used to pay for those additional VR services.
The comment period closed on March 30, 2020. Because the novel
coronavirus pandemic has disrupted operations of VR agencies, service
providers, educational agencies, and other stakeholders nationwide, and
because we have received a number of requests to reopen the comment
period on this important issue, we are reopening the comment period
until July 1, 2020.
Note: All information in the notice of policy interpretation and
request for comment concerning a change in policy regarding the use
of Federal VR funds reserved for the provision of pre-employment
transition services remains the same, except for the deadline for
comments. For purposes of making comments, the notice of
interpretation is published in full at 85 FR 11848 (Feb. 28, 2020).
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
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 www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department 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 documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Mark Schultz,
Commissioner, Rehabilitation, Services Administration. Delegated the
authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-10261 Filed 5-29-20; 8:45 am]
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