REGIONAL RESOURCE AND FEDERAL CENTERS.

SEC. 301. REGIONAL RESOURCE AND FEDERAL CENTERS. (a) Amendments to Subsection (a).— Section 621(a) (20 U.S.C. 1421(a)) is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by striking “regional resource centers.” and inserting the following: “regional resource centers that focus on special education and related services and early intervention services.”; (2) in the second sentence— (A) by striking “training to State” and inserting “training, as requested, to State”; and (B) by inserting after “agencies providing” the following: “special education and related services and”; (3) in the third sentence, by striking “center” the second place such term appears and all that follows and inserting “center.”; and (4) in paragraph (3), by striking “relevant projects conducted by” and inserting “relevant programs and projects conducted under parts C through G and by”. (b) Amendments to Subsection (b).— Section 621(b) (20 U.S.C. 1421(b)) is amended by striking “shall consider” and inserting “shall104 STAT. 1118 utilize criteria for setting criteria that are consistent with the needs identified by States within the region served by such center, consistent with requirements established by the Secretary under subsection (f), and, to the extent appropriate, consistent with requirements under section 610, and shall consider”. (c) Amendments to Subsection (d).— Section 621(d) (20 U.S.C. 1421(d)) is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new sentence: “Such coordinating technical assistance center is authorized to— “(1) provide information to, and training for, agencies, institutions, and organizations, regarding techniques and approaches for submitting applications for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this part and parts D through G, and shall make such information available to the regional resource centers on request; “(2) give priority to providing technical assistance concerning the education of children with disabilities from minority backgrounds; “(3) exchange information with, and, where appropriate, cooperate with, other centers addressing the needs of children with disabilities from minority backgrounds; and “(4) provide assistance to State educational agencies, through the regional resource centers, for the training of hearing officers.”. (d) New Subsection.— Section 621 (20 U.S.C. 1421) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(f) (1) The Secretary shall develop guidelines and criteria for the operation of Regional and Federal Resource Centers. In developing such criteria and guidelines, the Secretary shall establish a panel representing the Office of Special Education Programs staff, State special education directors, representatives of disability advocates, and, when appropriate, consult with the regional resource center directors. “(2) Such guidelines and criteria shall include— “(A) a description of how the Federal and Regional Resource Centers Program will be administered by the Secretary; “(B) a description of the geographic region each Center is expected to serve; “(C) a description of the role of a Center in terms of expected leadership and dissemination efforts; “(D) a description of expected relationships with State agencies, research and demonstration centers, and with other entities deemed necessary; “(E) a description of how a Center will be evaluated; and “(F) other guidelines and criteria deemed necessary. “(3) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register by July 1, 1991, for review and comment, proposed and (then following such review and comment) final guidelines developed by the panel.”.