APPENDIX 2 MAJOR DISABILITY-RELATED LEGISLATION 1956-1999 1956 - Social Security Amendments of 1956 (P.L. 84-880) established the Disability Insurance Trust Fund under Title II of the Social Security Act and provided for payment of benefits to workers with disabilities under the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Benefits were limited to workers 50 and over. 1960 - Social Security Amendments of 1960 (P.L. 86-778) the limitation on benefits to workers over age 50 (1956) was eliminated and workers were encouraged to work authorizing a nine-month trial work period during which the beneficiary could have earnings without jeopardizing benefits. 1958 - Captioned Films for the Deaf Act (P.L. 85-905) permitted the Office of Education to purchase, lease or accept films (primarily recreational films), provide captions for them, and distribute them through state schools for the deaf, as well as through other appropriate state agencies. 1963 - Social Security Act Amendments of 1963 (P.L. 88-156) established a new project grant program to improve prenatal care for women from low income families for whom the risk of mental retardation and other birth defects was known to be inordinately high. In addition, authorizations for grants to the states under the Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's programs were increased (originally established in 1935 under P.L. 74-271) and a research grant program was added. 1963 - Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-164) authorized federal support for the construction of mental retardation research centers, university-affiliated training facilities, and community service facilities for children and adults with mental retardation. 1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-10) The core of the Act, Title I, authorized a multi-billion dollar program of aid to assist the states and local school districts to provide compensatory education to educationally disadvantaged children residing in low-income areas. 1965 - Social Security Act Amendments of 1965 (P.L. 89-97) Title XVIII (Medicare) authorizes health insurance benefits for eligible elderly persons or eligible persons with disabilities. Direct payments are made for medical services on behalf of eligible participants through "fiscal intermediaries" e.g., private health insurance companies. "Part A" reimburses hospitals and other covered entities. "Part B" provides for supplemental medical insurance benefits. Title XIX, authorizes grants-in-aid to the states for the establishment of a medical assistance program to improve the accessibility and quality of medical care for low-income individuals (Medicaid). 1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1965 (P.L. 89-313) authorized aid to state agencies operating and/or supporting schools for children with disabilities. 1966 - Library Services and Construction Act Amendments of 1966 (P.L. 89-511) authorized assistance for students with physical or mental disabilities who were in residential schools operated or substantially supported by the state. Also Part B of Title IV of the Act made federal funds available to state agencies for library services for individuals who were certified by a responsible authority as unable to read or to use conventional printed materials as a result of physical limitations. Such services could be provided through public or nonprofit library agencies or organizations. 1967 - The Mental Retardation Amendments of 1967 (P.L. 90-170) authorized federal funds to assist in the costs of initiating services in community mental retardation facilities. 1966 - Military Medical Benefits Act Amendments of 1966 (P.L. 89-614) expanded health care benefits for dependents of active duty members of the uniformed services (the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and the commissioned corps of Public Health Service). Under the expanded benefits of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) Program for the Handicapped, the spouse or child of an active duty member is eligible for services if he or she has a serious physical disability or is moderately to severely mentally retarded. 1967 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1967 (P.L. 90-247) expanded instructional media program to provide for the production and distribution of educational media for the use of persons with all types of disabling conditions (not just deafness), their parents, actual or potential employers, and other persons directly involved in working on behalf of persons with disabilities. 1967 - Social Security Act Amendments of 1967 (P.L. 90-248) added a list of mandatory and optional services under the Medicaid program and required participating states to offer early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment services to all Medicaid-eligible children. 1968 - National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-302) the child care component provided federal assistance for meals served in institutions providing nonresidential day care for children. Facilities eligible to participate included day care centers, settlement houses, recreation centers and institutions providing day care for youngsters with disabilities. 1968 - The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-480) requires buildings and facilities designed, constructed, altered or financed by the Federal government after 1969 to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. 1968 - Vocational Education Act Amendments (P.L. 90-576) required each state to earmark 10% of its basic grant for services for youth with disabilities. 1970 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1970 (P.L. 91-230) created a separate Act - The Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA). Part B authorized grants to states to assist them in initiating, expanding, and improving programs for the education of children with disabilities. EHA also established several competitive grant programs such as personal preparation, research and demonstration. 1970 - Urban Mass Transportation Act Amendments of 1970 (P.L. 91-453) required eligible local jurisdictions to plan and design mass transit facilities and services so that they would be accessible to and useable by people with disabilities. 1970 - The Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments of 1970 (P.L. 91-517) included broad responsibilities for a state planning and advisory council to plan and implement a comprehensive program of services for persons with developmental disabilities. In addition, the legislation authorized grants to support interdisciplinary training in institutions of higher education of personnel providing services to persons with developmental disabilities (currently known as university affiliated programs). 1971 - Amendments to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid Program) (P.L. 92-223) authorized public mental retardation programs to be certified as intermediate care facilities and requires that these programs offer, among other things, "active treatment." 1972 - Small Business Act Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-595) expanded the authority of the Small Business Administration to provide direct and guaranteed loans for non-profit sheltered workshops employing persons with disabling conditions and individuals with disabilities interested in establishing their own businesses. 1972 - Social Security Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-603) repealed existing public assistance programs and added in their place a new Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income, SSI) program. This program authorizes cash benefits for individuals and couples who are aged, blind, or disabled. In addition, children under 18 years of age with disabilities or blindness are eligible for benefits, provided that their disabilities were comparable in severity to adult recipients. Medicare coverage was authorized for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities after they fulfilled a specified waiting period. 1973 - Social Security Disability Act Amendments of 1973 (P.L. 93-66) tied increases in benefit levels under the disability insurance program to the Consumer Price Index, thus authorizing automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments in benefit payments. 1973 - Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-87) authorized the use of funds under the Highway Program "to provide adequate and reasonable access for the safe and convient movement of physically handicapped persons, such as across curbs constructed or replaced at all pedestrian crosswalks throughout the states". Also improvement funds may be used for providing accessible rest stop facilities. 1973 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112) includes a total rewrite of the state formula grant supporting the vocational rehabilitation program and the competitive programs supporting personnel development, research, and demonstrations. In addition, the legislation, among other things, adds "Section 502," which establishes the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to enforce the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and provide technical assistance to agencies subject to Section 504 regulations. In addition, the legislation adds "Section 504," which prohibits discrimination against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities in any program or activity receiving federal funds. 1973 - Amtrak Improvement Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-146) The National Railroad Passenger corporation was directed to take all steps necessary to ensure that no elderly or handicapped individual is denied intercity transportation on any passenger train operated by or on behalf of the Corporation. Steps include: acquiring special equipment and devices and conducting special training for employees; designing and acquiring new equipment and facilities and eliminating architectural and other barriers in existing equipment or facilities; and providing special assistance to persons who are elderly or disabled while boarding and alighting and within terminal areas. 1974 - The Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-383) expanded the low-income rent subsidy program under "Section 8" to include families consisting of single persons with disabilities. The legislation also extended the "Section 202" direct loan program to nonprofit agencies to projects for persons with mental as well as physical disabilities. 1974 - Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-380) included amendments to Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) that laid the basis for comprehensive planning, the delivery of additional financial assistance to the States, and the protection of handicapped children's rights. 1974 - Urban Mass Transportation Act Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-503) require project applicants to assure that the fares charged to the elderly or persons with disabilities during nonpeak hours do not exceed one-half of generally applicable rates for other riders during peak hours. In addition, localities were permitted under this Act to transport riders who are elderly or disabled free of charge and still be eligible for federal grant aid. 1974 - The Community Services Act (P.L. 93-644) stipulated that 10% of children enrolled in the Head Start program must be children with disabilities. 1974 - The Social Services Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-647) consolidated social service grants to states under a new Title XX of the Social Security Act. 1975 - The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (P.L. 94-103) created a "bill of rights" for persons with developmental disabilities, funded services for persons with developmental disabilities, added a new funding authority for university affiliated facilities, and established a system of protection and advocacy organizations in each state. 1975 - The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) amended the Education of the Handicapped Act to mandate a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities in a state, regardless of the nature or severity of the child's disability (Part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act). 1977 - Tax Reduction and Simplification Act (P.L. 95-30), Congress authorized a special tax credit to induce businesses to hire certain categories of chronically unemployed workers, disadvantaged youth, welfare recipients and other hard to place persons, including individuals with disabilities. 1977 - Legal Services Corporation Act Amendments of 1977 (P.L. 95-222) required the Corporation to establish procedures for determining and implementing service priorities, taking into account the relative needs of clients eligible for assistance, including people with disabilities and other individuals facing special difficulties in accessing legal services. 1978 - Civil Rights Commission Act Amendments of 1978 (P.L. 95-444) expanded the jurisdiction of the Civil Rights Commission to include protection against discrimination on the basis of handicap. 1978 - The Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services and Developmental Disabilities Amendments (P.L. 95-602) establishes the National Institute of Handicapped Research and new programs for people with disabilities, including comprehensive service centers, independent living centers, recreation programs, and pilot programs for employment. The legislation also updated and made functional the definition of the term "developmental disability" and clarified the functions of the university-affiliated programs. 1979 - Food Stamp Act of 1979 (P.L. 96-58) authorized food stamps for residents of community living arrangements for persons with blindness or disabilities, by redefining "eligible households" to include disabled or blind recipients of benefits under Title II or Title XVI of the Social Security Act who are residents in a public or private nonprofit group living, arrangement that is certified by the appropriate state agency or agencies regulations issued under Section 1616(e) of the Social Security Act. 1980 - The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (P.L. 96-247) authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to sue states for alleged violations of the rights of institutionalized persons, including persons in mental hospitals or facilities for people with mental retardation. 1980 - Social Security Act Amendments (P.L. 96-265) authorized special cash payments (Section 1619(a) and continued Medicaid eligibility (Section 1619(b)) for individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits but, nonetheless, engage in substantial gainful activity. Provision made effective for 3 years. 1980 - Federal Advisory Committee Act (P.L. 96-523) permits the employment of personal assistants for federal employees with disabilities both at their regular duty station and while on travel status. 1981 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (P.L. 97-35) * consolidated six programs authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act into a single block grant authority (Maternal and Child Health) to address, among other things, the needs of children with special health care needs. In addition, the existing Title XX program was converted into a Social Services Block Grant Program. * authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to grant "home and community-based" waivers to enable states to furnish personal assistance and other services to individuals who, without such services, would require institutional care as long as costs under the waiver do not exceed the cost of providing institutional care to the target population. * limited Child Care Program to children up to age 12, except children with disabilities for whom no age limit was set. 1981 - Small Business Act Amendments of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) placed the Handicapped Assistance Loan Program administratively within the regular SBA loan system. 1982 - The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-248) permits states to cover under their Medicaid plans home care services for certain children with disabilities even through family's income and resources exceeded state's normal eligibility standards. 1982 - The Job Training Partnership Act (P.L. 97-300) revamped the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). The Act emphasizes training for private sector jobs. The Act establishes a "State Job Training Coordinating Council" and the "Private Industry Council (PIC)". 1982 - Telecommunications for the Disabled Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-410) requires that workplace telephones used by persons with hearing aids and emergency phones are hearing-aid-compatible. 1984 - The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1984 (P.L. 98-221) transformed the National Council on Disability from an Advisory Board in the Department of Education into an independent Federal agency. 1984 - The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (P.L. 98-435) requires that registration and polling places for federal elections be accessible to persons with disabilities. 1984 - Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 (P.L. 98-457) requires states to enact procedures or programs within child protection agencies to respond to cases in which medical treatment is withheld from disabled infants. 1984 - Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-460) extended the Section 1619 worker incentive program under SSI for an additional 3 years. The 1984 amendments also (a) required the Secretary of HHS to publish uniform standards for SSI and SSDI disability determinations. 1984 - The Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-527) added a statement of purpose to the Act, authorized protection and advocacy systems to have access to the records of persons with developmental disabilities residing in institutions. 1985 - The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-272) authorizes states to cover case management services on less than a statewide or comparable basis to targeted groups under Medicaid; expanded the definition of "habilitation" for Home and Community-Based Waiver recipients with developmental disabilities to cover certain pre-vocational services and supported employment for previously institutionalized individuals; authorizes states to cover ventilator-dependent children under the waiver program if they would otherwise require continued inpatient care. 1986 - The Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-139) establishes a formula grant program operated by existing protection and advocacy systems primarily focusing on incidences of abuse and neglect of mentally ill individuals. 1986 - Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-371) * the name of the school was changed from "Gallaudet College" to "Gallaudet University" * Title II of the Act also extends the statutory authority of the National Training Institute for the Deaf (a residential facility for postsecondary technical training and education for individuals who are deaf in order to prepare them for successful employment). * A Commission on Education of the Deaf was established under Title III of the Act. The Commission consists of 12 members that study the quality of infant and early childhood programs, as well as elementary, secondary, postsecondary, adult, and continuing education programs for individuals who are deaf. The Commission makes Recommendations to the President and Congress for improving current programs and practices. 1986 - The Handicapped Children's Protection Act (P.L. 99-372) Overturned a Supreme Court decision and authorizes courts to award reasonable attorneys fees to parents who prevail in due process proceedings and court actions under part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act. 1986 - The Air Carriers Access Act (P.L. 99-435) prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by air carriers and provides for enforcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 1986 - The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (P.L. 99-457) includes a new grant program for states to develop an early intervention system for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and provide greater incentives for states to provide preschool programs for children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 5. 1986 - Amendments to the Job Training Partnership Act (P.L. 99-496) require special consideration for persons with disabilities in the awarding of discretionary grants. 1986 - Higher Education Act Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-498) authorizes construction/renovation grants and loans to institutions of higher education. Among the purposes for which funds under this Act may be used to bring academic facilities into compliance with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 1986 - The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-506) clarified that supported employment is a viable outcome of vocational rehabilitation and specified that states must plan for individuals making the transition from school to work. 1986 - Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L 99-514) "targeted jobs tax credit" extended through 12/31/88. 1986 - The Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act (P.L. 99-643) made the Section 1619(a) and 1619(b) work incentives a permanent feature of the Social Security Act. The Act also added provisions to enable individuals to move back and forth among regular SSI, Section 1619(a) and Section 1919(b) eligibility status. 1987 - The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1987 (P.L. 100-146) updated language in the legislation, strengthened the independence of the State Planning Councils, strengthened authority of protection and advocacy systems to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect and created separate line items for core funding and training for university affiliated programs. 1987 - The Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (P.L. 100-242) requires HUD to earmark 15 percent of Section 202 funds for non-elderly persons with disabilities. 1988 - The Civil Rights Restoration Act (P.L. 100-259) amends the Rehabilitation Act's definition of an individual with a disability and defines coverage of Section 504 as broad (e.g., extending to an entire university) rather than narrow (e.g., extending to just one department of the university) when federal funds are involved. 1988 - Education Amendments of 1988 (P.L. 100-297) made a number of changes in Chapter 1, including the provisions dealing with aid to state-operated and supported schools for children with disabilities. 1988 - The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-360) clarifies the circumstances under which Medicaid reimbursement would be available for services included in a child's individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family services plan (IFSP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 1988 - Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-394) requires most telephones manufactured or imported into the U.S. must be compatible for use with telecoil-equipped hearing aids. 1988 - The Temporary Child Care for Handicapped Children and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986 (P.L. 100-403) authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states for public and nonprofit agencies to furnish temporary, non-medical care services to children with disabilities and special health care needs. 1988 - The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (P.L. 100-407) provides grants to states to develop statewide assistive technology programs. 1988 - The Fair Housing Act Amendments (P.L. 100-430) adds persons with disabilities as a group protected from discrimination in housing and ensures that persons with disabilities are allowed to adapt their dwelling place to meet their needs. 1988 - Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-542) the Administrator of General Services Administration (GSA) is to take such actions as are necessary to assure that the federal telecommunications system is fully accessible to hearing and speech impaired individuals. 1988 - Small Business Administration Reauthorization and Amendment Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-590) enlarged the class of organizations eligible to receive Handicapped Assistance Loans to include both public and private entities. 1988 - Traffic Safety for Handicapped Individuals Act (P.L. 100-641) required the Department of Transportation to issue regulations establishing a uniform parking system for people with disabilities. 1989 - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-239) * specified, among other things, that at least 30% of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant under Title V of the Social Security Act must be used to improve services for children with special health care needs. * included a major expansion in required services under Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT). * the Social Security Administration (SSA) was required to establish a permanent outreach program for children who are blind or otherwise disabled. 1990 - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (P.L. 101-336) guarantees the civil rights of people with disabilities by prohibiting the discrimination against anyone who has a mental or physical disability in the area of employment, public services, transportation, pubic accommodations, and telecommunications. 1990 - Carl D. Perkins Vocational Educational Applied Technology Amendments (P.L. 101-392) rewrote the vocational legislation, eliminated the 10% earmarking for disabled youth but included specific language to assure students with disabilities access to qualified vocational programs and supplementary services. 1990 - The Television Decoder Circuitry Act (P.L. 101-431) requires closed caption circuitry (computer chip) to be part of all televisions with screens 13 inches or larger manufactured for sale and use in the United States. 1990 - Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1990 (P.L. 101-476) to stimulate the improvement of the vocational and life skills of students with disabilities to enable them to be better prepared for the transition to adult life and services. 1990 - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments (IDEA) (P.L. 101-476) renames the Education of the Handicapped Act and reauthorizes programs under the Act to improve support services to students with disabilities, especially in the areas of transition and assistive technology. 1990 - The Developmental Disabilities Act Amendments of 1990 (P.L. 101-496) maintained and further strengthened programs authorized under the Act. 1990 - The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508) * established a limited purpose optional state coverage of community supported living arrangements services for persons with mental retardation and related conditions (authority has since expired) * authorizes community supported living arrangements and stresses individualized support rather than the standardized services common to the ICF/MR program. * includes a provision called the "access credit" that enables small businesses to claim credit against taxes for half of the first $10,000 of eligible costs of complying with the ADA. 1990 - National Affordable Housing Act (P.L. 101-625) established a distinct statutory authority to fund supportive housing for people with disabilities, with a separate financing mechanism and selection criteria. 1991 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-119) enhances infants and toddlers program and extends the IDEA support programs. 1991 - The Civil Rights Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-166) reversed numerous U.S. Supreme Court decisions that restricted the protections in employment discrimination cases and authorized compensatory and punitive damages under Title V of the Rehabilitation Act and ADA. 1991 - Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-240) authorizes increased set aside funds under Section 16(b) of the Act to assist facilities in meeting the special transportation accessibility needs of who are elderly or disabled. 1992 - The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992 (P.L. 102-569) includes changes that increase access to state vocational rehabilitation systems for those with the most significant disabilities, enables consumers to have greater choice and control in the rehabilitation process, and provides opportunities for career advancement. 1993 - The Family and Medical Leave Act (P.L. 103-3) allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for newborn and adopted children and family members with serious health conditions or to recover from serious health conditions. 1993 - National Voter Registration Act (P.L. 103-31) requires states to liberalize their voter registration rules to allow people to register to vote by mail, when they apply for driver's licenses or at offices that provide public assistance and programs, for individuals with disabilities such as vocational rehabilitation programs. 1993 - National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-82) established a national service program, including tuition assistance and a living allowance for individuals age 17 and older who volunteer part-time or full-time in community service programs. 1994 - Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments (P.L. 103-218) reauthorized the 1988 "Tech Act," which was established to develop consumer-driven, statewide service delivery systems that increase access to assistive technology devices and services to individuals of all ages with disabilities. The 1994 amendments emphasize advocacy, systems changes activities and consumer involvement. 1994 - The Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-227) provides a framework for meeting national educational goals and carrying out systemic school reform for all children, including children with disabilities. 1994 - Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Amendments of 1993 (P.L. 103-230) totally rewrites and updates provisions pertaining to State Planning Councils and extends and strengthens provisions pertaining to protection and advocacy systems, university affiliated programs and programs of national significance. 1994 - The School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-239) authorizes funds for programs to assist students, including students with disabilities, in the transition from school to work. 1994 - Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (IASA) (P.L. 103-382) reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) the ESEA provides the framework of federal grants to states for elementary and secondary education programs. Among other provisions, the legislation amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to establish a new state program supporting statewide systems of support for families of children with disabilities. 1995 - Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Amendments of 1995 (P.L. 104-235) includes new family resource and support program that supports state efforts to develop, operate, expand and enhance a network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs which would be equipped to address, among other things, the additional family support needs of families with children with disabilities. 1996 - Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104) requires telecommunications manufacturers and service providers to ensure that equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if this is readily achievable. 1996 - The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-183) extends authority to fund Developmental Disabilities Councils, Protection and Advocacy Systems, University Affiliated Programs, and Projects of National Significance. 1996 - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-191) improves access to health care for 25 million Americans by guaranteeing that private health insurance is available, portable, and renewable; limiting pre-existing condition exclusions; and, increasing the purchasing clout of individuals and small employers through incentives to form private, voluntary coalitions to negotiate with providers and health plans. 1996 - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) provides a new, more restrictive, definition of disability for children under the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) focusing on functional limitations, mandates changes to the evaluation process for claims and continuing disability reviews and requires redeterminations to be performed before a child turns 18. 1996 - Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-204) includes a provision that prohibits insurance companies from having lower lifetime caps for treatment of mental illness compared with treatment of other medical conditions. 1997 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (P.L. 105-17) includes the first major changes to part B since enactment in 1975, extends the early intervention program, and includes a significant streamlining of the discretionary programs. 1997 - Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) establishes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to expand health insurance coverage for low-income children not covered by Medicaid * authorizes the Social Security Administration to make redeterminations of childhood SSI recipients who attain age 18 using adult disability criteria one year after they turn 18; * provides that states must continue Medicaid coverage for disabled children who were receiving SSI benefits as of August 22, 1996 and would have been eligible except their eligibility terminated because they did not meet the new SSI childhood disability criteria; * permits states to allow workers with disabilities whose family income is less than 250% of poverty to buy into Medicaid (and pay premiums based on sliding scale of income); * eliminates the requirement of prior institutionalization with respect to habilitation services provided under the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver; * provides that "qualified alien" noncitizens lawfully residing in the United States who received SSI on August 22, 1996, would remain eligible for SSI - i.e., eligibility "grandfathered." Also provides that "qualified aliens" lawfully residing in the United States on August 22, 1996 would be eligible for SSI if they meet the SSI definition of disability or blindness; * directs the Secretary in consultation with specified organizations to conduct a study of Medicaid's EPSDT program; * permits states to mandate adults (including adults with disabilities into Medicaid managed care by an amendment to state Medicaid plan and not having a waiver approved. Exempts SSI eligible kids, certain foster care and adopted kids and certain Native Americans; and * directs the Secretary to undertake a study of any special challenges of serving children with special health care needs and chronic conditions in Medicaid managed care. 1998 - Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) consolidates many of the Federal job training programs and provides workforce investment activities through statewide and local workforce investment systems. The law also reauthorizes the Rehabilitation Act by providing for greater linkages with the generic workforce investment systems, increased consumer choice and involvement, and greater accountability (outcome measures). 1998 - Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394) reauthorizes and extends the programs formerly authorized under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, while limiting to 13 years a state's eligibility for a systems change grant. 1998 - Crime Victims and Disabilities Awareness Act (P.L. 105-301) directs the Attorney General to conduct a study to examine the nature and extent of crimes committed against people with disabilities. 1999 - Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (P.L. 106-170) provides health care and employment preparation and placement services to individuals with disabilities that will enable those individuals to reduce their dependency on cash benefit programs; to encourage States to adopt the option of allowing individuals with disabilities to purchase Medicaid coverage that is necessary to enable such individuals to maintain employment; to provide individuals with disabilities the option of maintaining Medicare coverage while working; and to establish a return to work ticket program that will allow individuals with disabilities to seek the services necessary to obtain and retain employment and reduce their dependency on cash benefit programs. 16 1