PUBLIC LAW 104-299—OCT. 11, 1996 110 STAT. 3639 of political subdivisions, school districts, and Federal and State health and social service programs; and "(iii) ensure that the boundaries of such area eliminate, to the extent possible, barriers to access to the services of the center, including barriers resulting from the area's physical characteristics, its residential patterns, its economic and social grouping, and available transportation; "(K) in the case of a center which serves a population including a substantial proportion of individuals of limited English-speaking ability, the center has— "(i) developed a plan and made arrangements responsive to the needs of such population for providing services to the extent practicable in the language and cultural context most appropriate to such individuals; and "(ii) identified an individual on its staff who is fluent in both that language and in English and whose responsibilities shall include providing guidance to such individuals and to appropriate staff members with respect to cultural sensitivities and bridging linguistic and cultural differences; and "(L) the center, has developed an ongoing referral relationship with one or more hospitals. For purposes of subparagraph (H), the term 'public center' means a health center funded (or to be funded) through a grant under this section to a public agency. "(4) APPROVAL OF NEW OR EXPANDED SERVICE APPLICA- TIONS. — The Secretary shall approve applications for grants under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (e)(1) for health centers which— "(A) have not received a previous grant under such subsection; or "(B) have applied for such a grant to expand their services; in such a manner that the ratio of the medically underserved populations in rural areas which may be expected to use the services provided by such centers to the medically underserved populations in urban areas which may be expected to use the services provided by such centers is not less than two to three or greater than three to two. " (k) TECHNICAL AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. —The Secretary may provide (either through the Department of Health and Human Services or by grant or contract) all necessary technical and other nonfinancial assistance (including fiscal and program management assistance and training in such management) to any public or private nonprofit entity to assist entities in developing plans for, or operating as, health centers, and in meeting the requirements of subsection (j)(2). "(1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of carrying out this section, in addition to the amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection (d), there are authorized to be appropriated $802,124,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001. " (2) SPECIAL PROVISIONS.—
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