106 STAT. 4414 PUBLIC LAW 102-569 —OCT. 29, 1992 Urban and rural areas. Contracts. 29 USC 771a. individuals with disabilities. Such opportunities shall include certificate or degree granting programs in vocational rehabilitation services and related services. "(2) An entity that receives a grant under paragraph (1) may use the grant for piirposes including— "(A) establishing a program with an institution of higher education to develop creative new programs and coursework options, or to expand existing programs, concerning the fields of vocational rehabilitation services and related services, including— "(i) providing release time for faculty and staff for curriculum development; and "(ii) paying for instructional costs and startup and other program development costs; "(B) establishing a career development mentoring program using faculty and professional staff members of participating agencies as role models, career sponsors, and academic advisors for experienced State, city, and county employees, and volunteers, who— "(i) have demonstrated a commitment to working in the fields described in clause (i); and "(ii) are enrolled in a program relating to such a field at an institution of higher education; "(C) supporting a wide range of programmatic and research activities aimed at increasing opportunities for career advancement and competency-based training in such fields; and "(D) identifying existing public or private agency and labor union personnel policies and benefit programs that may facilitate the ability of employees to take advantage of higher education opportunities, such as leave time and tuition reimbursement. "(3) In making grants for projects under paragraph (1), the Commissioner shall ensure that the projects shall be geographically distributed throughout the United States in urban and rural areas. "(4) The Commissioner shall, for the purpose of providing technical assistance to States or entities receiving grants under paragraph (1), enter into a cooperative agreement through a separate competition with an entity that has successfully demonstrated the capacity and expertise in the education, training, and retention of employees to serve individuals with disabilities through the use of consortia or partnerships established for the purpose of retraining the existing work force and providing opportunities for career enhancement. "(5) The Commissioner may conduct an evaluation of projects funded under this subsection. "(6) During the period in which an entity is receiving financial assistance under paragraph (1), the entity may not receive financial assistance under paragraph (4).". (d) OFFICE OF DEAFNESS AND COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS.— Section 302(f) (29 U.S.C. 774(f)) (as so redesignated by subsection (c)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the first sentence— (i) by striking "deaf individuals'* and inserting "individuals who are deaf and individuals who are deaf-blind";
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