42 U.S.C. § 15004 — Responsibilities of the Secretary

(a) Program accountability. (1) In general. To monitor entities that receive funding under Parts B, C, and D, and see how well they meet this subchapter's purpose and the policy in section 15001(c), the Secretary must build and run an accountability process, covering activities carried out after October 1, 2001. (2) Areas of emphasis. The Secretary must set up a way to identify and report — under section 15005 — progress these entities made, through advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities, in helping people with developmental disabilities and their families participate in designing, and get access to, needed community services, supports, and assistance, specifically in the areas of emphasis. (3) Indicators of progress. (A) In general — the Secretary, with the Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the funded entities, must develop indicators for each area of emphasis. (B) Proposed indicators — within 180 days of October 30, 2000, the Secretary must publish proposed indicators in the Federal Register for public comment. (C) Final indicators — by October 1, 2001, the Secretary must revise the proposed indicators based on comments and publish final indicators in the Federal Register. (D) Specific measures — at minimum, the indicators must measure (i) how satisfied people with developmental disabilities are with the funded activities; (ii) whether those activities improved (I) people's ability to make choices and control their services, (II) their ability to take part in community life with people of their choosing, and (III) their ability to access services safely, free from abuse, exploitation, rights violations, and improper restraint or seclusion; and (iii) how well the funded entities collaborate with each other. (4) Time line for compliance with indicators of progress. The Secretary must require the funded entities to meet these indicators. Starting with fiscal year 2002, the Secretary must apply the indicators when monitoring activities conducted after October 1, 2001. (b) Time line for regulations. Unless this subchapter says otherwise, the Secretary must issue whatever regulations are needed to carry it out within 1 year of October 30, 2000. (c) Interagency committee. (1) In general. The Secretary must keep running the interagency committee authorized under section 6007, as it existed the day before October 30, 2000, except as changed in this subsection. (2) Composition. The committee is made up of representatives from (A) the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Health Resources and Services Administration — all within HHS — and (B) any other federal departments or agencies the Secretary considers appropriate. (3) Duties. The committee must meet regularly to coordinate and plan federal activities for people with developmental disabilities. (4) Meetings. Every meeting, except subcommittee meetings, must be open to the public, with notice and an agenda published in the Federal Register at least 14 days beforehand.