STUDY BY NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE HANDICAPPED.

SEC. 201. STUDY BY NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE HANDICAPPED. (a) Study and Recommendations.—The National Council on the Handicapped (hereafter in this part referred to as the “Council”), in addition to the duties of the Council described in section 401 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the Congress and the President concerning— (1) Federal laws, regulations, procedures, and practices that facilitate or impede the ability of the States to develop and implement consumer-responsive statewide programs of technology-related assistance for individuals with disabilities; (2) Federal and State laws, regulations, procedures, and practices that facilitate or impede the acquisition of, financing of, or payment for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities; (3) policies, practices, and procedures of private entities (including insurers) that facilitate or impede the acquisition of, financing of, or payment for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities; and (4) alternative strategies for acquiring or paying for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services. (b) Advisory Committee.—The Council shall appoint an advisory committee in accordance with section 404(c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to assist the Council in carrying out the duties of the Council under this part. Such advisory committee shall be appointed from individuals from both the public and private sectors who have broad experience and expertise directly relevant to the issues to be studied by the Council under this part, and shall also include individuals with disabilities, families of individuals with disabilities, 102 STAT. 1060and representatives of organizations representing individuals with disabilities. (c) Cooperation of Other Agencies.— (1) Federal agencies.—The heads of all Federal agencies shall, to the extent not prohibited by law, cooperate with the Council in carrying out the duties of the Council under this part. (2) Use of resources of federal, state, and local agencies.—The Council may use in carrying out its duties under this part, with the consent of the agency involved, services, personnel, information, and facilities of other Federal, State, local, and private agencies, with or without reimbursement. (d) Reports.—The Council shall submit to the President and to the appropriate committees of the Congress— (1) such interim reports as the Council considers advisable; and (2) not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of an Act providing appropriations to carry out this part, a final report of its study and investigation together with such recommendations, including specific proposals for legislation, as the Council considers advisable.