42 U.S.C. § 300d–52 — State grants for projects regarding traumatic brain injury

(a) In general The Secretary, through the Administrator for the Administration for Community Living, may give grants to States and American Indian consortia for projects that improve access to rehabilitation and other services for traumatic brain injury. (b) State advisory board (1) A grant requires the State or consortium to set up an advisory board within its health department, or another department its chief executive names. (2) The board advises on improving service coordination for traumatic brain injury, encourages public participation through hearings and outreach, and must consult government agencies, citizens groups, and private entities. (3) The board must include representatives of relevant state or consortium agencies, health organizations, disability groups, brain-injury organizations, and injury control programs, plus a substantial number of people with traumatic brain injury or their family members. (c) Matching funds (1) The grantee must contribute non-federal funds of at least $1 for every $2 of federal grant money. (2) These contributions can be cash or in-kind, such as equipment or services, fairly valued — but money that already came from the federal government cannot count. (d) Application for grant A grant requires an application in the form, manner, and with the agreements, assurances, and information the Secretary decides are needed. (e) Use of grants (1) Community services and supports. Grantees must use funds to build or improve community-based service systems that let people with traumatic brain injury and their families take part in decisions, designed for children, youth, and adults; to reach underserved groups, such as people in institutions, with low income, in rural areas, or in diverse communities; to fund consumer and family training, support, and peer mentoring; to develop case management systems; and to support other needs identified by the advisory board. (2) Best practices. Services must reflect the field's best practices, comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and use quality assurance and modern care regardless of injury severity. The responsible state agency must show it has real expertise in traumatic brain injury. (3) State capacity building. Grantees may also use funds to educate consumers and families, train professionals in financing options, improve case management systems, develop best practices in areas like housing and assistive technology, adapt existing state systems, improve cross-system data, and build capacity in target communities. (f) Coordination of activities The Secretary must coordinate these activities with other federal agencies working on traumatic brain injury. (g) Report At least every two years, the Secretary must report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate HELP Committee on the results of programs under this section and section 300d–53, including outcomes and satisfaction measures. (h) Definitions "American Indian consortium" and "State" have the same meanings as in section 300d–53. "Traumatic brain injury" means an acquired brain injury; it does not include brain problems from birth defects or degenerative disease or birth trauma, but can include injury from lack of oxygen due to trauma. The Secretary may revise this definition after consulting with States and other groups. (i) Authorization of appropriations Congress authorized $7,321,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.