52 U.S.C. § 21061 — Payments for protection and advocacy systems

(a) In general: Besides any other payments under this part, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must pay each state's protection and advocacy system, defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, to help people with disabilities fully take part in elections, including registering, voting, and reaching polling places. When providing these services, protection and advocacy systems get the same general powers they have under subtitle C of title I of that Act. (b) Minimum grant amount: Each protection and advocacy system's minimum grant is set the same way as under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(5), (e), and (g) of section 794e of title 29, except the minimum is $70,000 for systems under subsection (c)(3)(B) of that section, and $35,000 for systems under subsections (c)(1)(B) and (c)(4). (c) Eligible grant recipients: (1) Definition of State: "State" here has the meaning given in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. (2) American Indian consortium eligible: A system serving the American Indian consortium, funded under section 794e(c)(1)(B) of title 29, is eligible for these payments just like a state's protection and advocacy system. (d) Training and technical assistance program: (1) In general: Within 90 days after the first year's funding is appropriated under section 21062 of this title, the Secretary must set aside 7 percent of that money to pay eligible groups for training and technical assistance related to this section's activities. (2) Use of funds: A recipient may use this money to train people in using voting systems and technologies, and to demonstrate and evaluate them, for people with disabilities, including blindness, so their availability and use can be assessed. At least one recipient must use its payment to train people specifically in nonvisual access. (3) Eligibility: A group qualifies for this payment if it (A) is a public or private nonprofit with real experience in disability voting issues, (B) has a governing board where most members are people with disabilities, their family members, or blind individuals, and (C) applies to the Secretary in the required time, form, and manner.