NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION MATERIALS.

SEC. 1521. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION MATERIALS. (a) Purpose.— The purpose of this section is to coordinate the production and distribution of educational materials in an accessible form, especially audio and digital text production, to college and university based print-disabled populations. (b) Program Authority.— (1) In general.— The Secretary of Education is authorized to award a grant or contract to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing a National Clearinghouse for Postsecondary Education Materials (hereafter in this part referred to as the “Clearinghouse”) to coordinate the production and distribution of educational materials, in an accessible form, including audio and digital, for students with disabilities. (2) Award basis.— The grant or contract awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made on a competitive basis. (3) Duration.— The grant or contract awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period of 3 years. (c) Use of Funds.— The grant or contract awarded under this section shall be used to— (1) catalog in computer-readable form postsecondary education materials; (2) identify college campus-based services producing taped texts whose technical and reader quality make them eligible for inclusion in the Clearinghouse and share its quality control standards with campus-based student support services offices serving students with disabilities; (3) promote data conversion and programming to allow the electronic exchange of bibliographic information between existing on line systems; (4) encourage outreach efforts that will educate print-disabled individuals, as defined by section 652(d)(2) of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, educators, schools, and agencies about the Clearinghouse’s activities; (5) upgrade existing computer systems at the Clearinghouse; (6) coordinate with identifiable and existing data bases containing postsecondary education materials, including the pro-106 STAT. 834grams authorized under section 652(d) of the Individuals With Disabilities Act; and (7) develop and share national guidelines and standards for the production of audio and digital text materials. (d) Federal Share Limitation.— The Federal share under this section may not be more than— (1) 80 percent of the total cost of the program in the first year; (2) 60 percent of the total cost of the program in the second year; and (3) 50 percent of the total cost of the program in the third year. (e) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995.