responsibilities of council and secretary

responsibilities of council and secretary Sec. 303. (a) In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Council and the Secretary shall— (1) request the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including Federal advisory bodies having responsibilities in areas affecting individuals with handicaps; (2) render all reasonable assistance, including financial assistance, to the States in enabling them to organize and conduct conferences on handicapped individuals prior to the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals; (3) prepare and make available necessary background materials for the use of delegates to the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals; (4) prepare and distribute such interim reports of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals as may be appropriate; and (5) engage such individuals with handicaps and additional personnel as may be necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive civil service, and without regard to chapter 57 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates; but at rates of pay not to exceed the rate prescribed for GS–18 under section 5332 of such title. (b) In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Secretary shall employ individuals with handicaps.