108 STAT. 82 PUBLIC LAW 103-218—MAR. 9, 1994 accomplishment of section 2(b)(l) with respect to the Federal Government. "(2) COMMENTS.—The report shall include any comments submitted by the National Council on Disability as to the appropriateness of the response described in paragraph (1)(A) and the effectiveness of the activities described in paragraph (I)(B) in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services. "(g) EFFECT ON OTHER ASSISTANCE.— This title may not be construed as authorizing a Federal or a State agency to reduce medical or other assistance available or to alter eligibility under any other Federal law.". SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 106 (29 U.S.C. 2216) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. "(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. — There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such svims as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998. " (b) RESERVATIONS. — "(1) PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSIST- ANCE.— "(A) IN GENERAL.— O f the funds appropriated for any fiscal year under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reserve at least 2 percent or $1,500,000, whichever is greater, of such funds, for the purpose of providing information and technical assistance as described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) to States, individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives, community-based organizations, and protection and advocacy agencies. "(B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES.— In providing such information and technical assistance to States, the Secretary shall consider the input of the directors of consumer-responsive comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance, shall provide a clearinghouse for activities that have been developed and implemented through programs funded under this title, and shall provide information and technical assistance that— " (i) facilitate service delivery capacity building, training of personnel from a variety of disciplines, and improvement of evaluation strategies, research, and data collection; "(ii) foster the development and replication of effective approaches to information referral, interagencv coordination of training and service delivery, outreach to underrepresented populations and rural populations, and public awareness activities; "(iii) improve the awareness and adoption of successful approaches to increasing the availability of public and private funding for and access to the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services by appropriate State agencies; "(iv) assist in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating appropriate activities to further extend
�
