The following is a summary of the final assistive technology (AT) reauthorization language.

Oversight Agency
The bill moves federal oversight of the AT programs from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) acting through the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the Department of Education. The bill includes a clause stating the requirement of RSA to ensure that programs funded under this program will address the needs of individuals with disabilities of all ages. The Secretary shall prepare and submit an annual report on the activities funded under the Act to the President, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate.

Definitions
There are new definitions added for Adult Service Program, American Indian Consortium and State Assistive Technology Program. The definition for Advocacy Services has been deleted. The definition of Assistive Technology Service has been amended to include "a service consisting of expanding the availability of access to technology, including electronic and information technology, to individuals with disabilities." The definition for Targeted Individuals has been changed to include underrepresented populations including the aging workforce, technology experts (including web designers and procurement officials,) providers of employment and training services, and entities that manufacture or sell assistive technology devices. There is an added emphasis on small business employers.

Authorized Funding Levels
The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" be appropriated to the AT programs for state grants and national activities and authorizes the Assistive Technology Act for fiscal years 2005 through 2010. Any funds appropriated via the FY2005 appropriations process are subject to the legislation. There is no sunset provision in the legislation. Baring exceptional appropriations situations, all states are guaranteed to receive funds equal to the amount they received for FY2004. The legislation is not bound by any maximum authorized appropriations levels except for National Activities (Section 6), which are capped at $1.9 million. Protection and advocacy services (Section 5) grants are authorized separately at $4.419 million for FY2005 and such sums as may be necessary for FY2006-2010.

Funding Allocations
The legislation allocates funding differently depending on the following appropriations scenarios. It is important to note that if $665,000 or more is appropriated above FY2004 levels, the Secretary of Education may award up to $665,000 annually for research and development grants (as specified in Section 6 National Activities). The Secretary may use a portion of these funds to make a one-time grant, contract or cooperative agreement for the National Public Awareness Toolkit (see "Research and Development Grants and the Toolkit"). The Secretary cannot award these funds if the appropriation is anything less than $665,000 above the FY2004 funding level.

Base year:
The legislation defines the "base year" as the aggregate level of funding each state program received in FY2004. If the appropriations level is less than the base year each state will receive a ratable reduction. For example, if there is a 30 percent cut in funding relative to FY2004, then each project will receive 30 percent less funding than it did in FY2004. If more funds are made available during the year (via a supplemental appropriations bill or some other vehicle), then all projects will receive a ratable increase until appropriations reach a level equal to the base year. If the appropriations level is greater than the base year, then each state program is brought up to a minimum level of funding - $410,000 for states and $125,000 for outlying areas - using a specific formula. Once states reach the minimum, a different funding formula is used. To reach the program minimum, of the money appropriated beyond the base year 50% is disbursed equally to all the states and outlaying area; and 50% is disbursed according to a state's population (if your state's population is 25% of the national population, you would receive 25% of this share of the funds).

After the project minimums are reached, the money is distributed in the following manner:

• 80% of the funds are distributed proportionally according to population; and
  
• 20% of the funds are distributed equally amongst all states.

• State finance systems (includes alternative finance programs)
  
• Device reutilization programs
  
• Device loan programs
  
• Device demonstrations
  
• The remaining 40 percent goes towards the following "state leadership activities:"
  
• Training and technical assistance
  
  • General awareness
    
  • Skills-development training
    
  • Use and application training
    
  • Assessment and implementation training
    
  • Technical integrating training
    
  • Transition assistance - a minimum of 5 percent of the 40 percent must be directed to this area
• Public awareness
  
  • Communication between providers and users
    
  • Dissemination of information to targeted individuals
    
  • Statewide information and referral system
• Coordination and collaboration- coordination with entities responsible for policies, procedures, or funding for AT devices and services.
  

1. Already performs the activity with state or non-federal financial resources; and
   
2. The level of non-federal support is comparable to the amount that would be expended if the state were to use federal funding (meaning that a state cannot use $1 of state money to fund a device loan project and claim that it "performs" the activity using non-federal dollars).

• Alternative Financing Programs
  
  • The amount and type of financial assistance given to participants in the alternative financing programs including:
    • Number of applications for assistance
      
    • Number of applications approved and rejected
      
    • Default rate
      
    • Range and average interest rate
      
    • Average income for approved applicants
      
    • Type and value of devices financed
• Device Loan Program
  
  • Number, type and length of loans made to individuals with disabilities, employers, public agencies, or public accommodations, including any analysis of individuals that have benefited from the program.
• Device Exchange Program
  
  • Number, type and estimated value and scope of devices exchanged, repaired, recycled, or re-utilized (including redistributed though device sales, rentals or donations) including an analysis of individuals that have benefited from the program.
• Device Demonstration Program
  
  • Number and type of device demonstrations and referrals including an analysis of individuals with disabilities who have benefited from the program.

• Training
  
  • The number and general characteristics of those who participated in training activities (e.g., individuals with disabilities, parents, guardians, employers, policy makers, vendors)
    • Where feasible, their geographic distribution
• Technical Assistance
  
  • The amount and nature of technical assistance provided to state and local agencies and other entities.
• Public Awareness and Information & Referral
  
  • The number of individuals assisted through public-awareness related activities
• Policy Advocacy
  
  • Outcomes of any improvement initiatives related to policy, practices, and procedures that the state has developed and implemented regarding access to, provision of, and funding for AT devices and services in the contexts of education, health care, employment, community living, and information technology and telecommunications including e-government.
• Leveraged Funding
  
  • The source of leveraged funding or other contributed resources, subcontracts, or other collaborative resource-sharing agreements from and with public and private entities.
    
  • The number of individuals served with those resources (not previously reported)
    
  • Other outcomes accomplished as a result of activities with said resources.
• Customer Satisfaction
  
  • Levels of customer satisfaction with the services provided.

• Expand public awareness;
  
• Create and disseminate multimedia materials; and
  
• Coordinate with state programs.