authority of president, council, and secretary

authority of president, council, and secretary Sec. 302. (a) The President is authorized to call a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals not later than two years after the date of enactment of this title in order to develop recommendations and stimulate a national assessment of problems, and solutions to such problems, facing individuals with handicaps. Such a conference shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the National Planning and Advisory Council, established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and the Secretary of Health. Education, and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) and each Federal department and agency shall provide such cooperation and assistance to the Council, including the assignment of personnel, as may reasonably be required by the Secretary. (b)(1) There is established a National Planning and Advisory Council (in this title referred to as the “Council”), appointed by the 88 Stat. 1632Secretary, composed of twenty-eight members of whom not less than ten shall be individuals with handicaps appointed to represent all individuals with handicaps, and five shall be parents of individuals with handicaps appointed to represent all such parents and individuals. The Council shall provide guidance and planning for the Conference. (2) Any member of the Council who is otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to that received in his regular employment. (3) Members of the Council, other than those referred to in paragraph (1), shall receive compensation at rates not to exceed the daily rate prescribed for GS-18 under section 5332, title 5, United States Code, for each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties (including traveltime); and, while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as the expenses authorized by section 5703, title 5, United States Code, for persons in Government service employed intermittently. (4) Such Council shall cease to exist one-hundred and twenty days after the submission of the final report required by section 302(e). (c) For the purpose of ascertaining facts and making recommendations concerning the utilization of skills, experience, and energies, and the improvement of the conditions of individuals with handicaps, the Conference shall bring together individuals with handicaps and members of their families and representatives of Federal, State, and local governments, professional experts, and members of the general public recognized by individuals with handicaps as being knowledgeable about problems affecting their lives. (d) Participants in the White House Conference, and in conferences and other activities leading up to the White House Conference at the local and State level are authorized to consider all matters related to the purposes of the Conference set forth in subsection (a), but shall give special consideration to recommendations for: (1) providing education, health, and diagnostic services for all children early in life so that handicapping conditions may be discovered and treated; (2) assuring that every individual with a handicap receives appropriately designed benefits of the educational system; (3) assuring that individuals with handicaps have available to them all special services and assistance which will enable them to live their lives as fully and independently as possible; (4) enabling individuals with handicaps to have access to usable communication services and devices at costs comparable to other members of the population; (5) assuring that individuals with handicaps will have maximum mobility to participate in all aspects of society, including access to all publicly-assisted transportation services and, when necessary, alternative means of transportation at comparable cost; (6) improving utilization and adaptation of modern engineering and other technology to ameliorate the impact of handicapping conditions on the lives of individuals and especially on their access to housing and other structures; (7) assuring individuals with handicaps of equal opportunity with others to engage in gainful employment; (8) enabling individuals with handicaps to have incomes sufficient for health and for participation in family and community life as self-respecting citizens; 88 Stat. 1633 (9) increasing research relating to all aspects of handicapping conditions, stressing the elimination of causes of handicapping conditions and the amelioration of the effects of such conditions; (10) assuring close attention and assessment of all aspects of diagnosis and evaluation of individuals with handicaps; (11) assuring review and evaluation of all governmental programs in areas affecting individuals with handicaps, and a close examination of the public role in order to plan for the future; (12) resolving the special problems of veterans with handicaps; (13) resolving the problems of public awareness and attitudes that restrict individuals with handicaps from participating in society to their fullest extent; (14) resolving the special problems of individuals with handicaps who are homebound or institutionalized; (15) resolving the special problems of individuals with handicaps who have limited English-speaking ability; (16) alloting funds for basic vocational rehabilitation services under part B of title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in a fair and equitable manner in consideration of the factors set forth in section 407(a) of such Act; and (17) promoting other related matters for individuals with handicaps. (e) A final report of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals shall be submitted by the Council to the President not later than one hundred and twenty days following the date on which the conference is called, and the findings and recommendations included therein shall be immediately made available to the public. The Council and the Secretary shall, within ninety days after the submission of such final report, transmit to the President and the Congress their recommendations for administrative action and legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained in such report.