(a) In general

The Secretary shall make grants to States on a competitive basis, in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, to support systems change activities designed to assist States to develop and implement, or expand and enhance, a statewide system of family support services for families of children with disabilities that accomplishes the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) Award period and grant limitation

Terms Used In 42 USC 15093

  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • State: means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. See 1 USC 7

No grant shall be awarded under this section for a period of more than 3 years. No State shall be eligible for more than 1 grant under this section.

(c) Amount of grants

(1) Grants to States

(A) Federal matching share

From amounts appropriated under section 15101(a) of this title, the Secretary shall pay to each State that has an application approved under section 15094 of this title, for each year of the grant period, an amount that is—

(i) equal to not more than 75 percent of the cost of the systems change activities to be carried out by the State; and

(ii) not less than $100,000 and not more than $500,000.

(B) Non-Federal share

The non-Federal share of the cost of the systems change activities may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.

(2) Calculation of amounts

The Secretary shall calculate a grant amount described in paragraph (1) on the basis of—

(A) the amounts available for making grants under this section; and

(B) the child population of the State concerned.

(d) Priority for previously participating States

For the second and third fiscal years for which amounts are appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary, in providing payments under this section, shall give priority to States that received payments under this section during the preceding fiscal year.

(e) Priorities for distribution

To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall award grants to States under this section in a manner that—

(1) is geographically equitable;

(2) distributes the grants among States that have differing levels of development of statewide systems of family support services for families of children with disabilities; and

(3) distributes the grants among States that attempt to meet the needs of unserved and underserved populations, such as individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, disadvantaged individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals from underserved geographic areas (rural or urban).