,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ecgh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ba1 #bjbd,mr4 ,booker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program to facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of #baa services relating to developmental disabilities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,enhancing ,access to ,support and ,emergency ,services for ,individuals with ,developmental ,disabilities through #baa or the ,,ease with #baa ,act4 #b4 ,grant program facilitating nationwide accessibility and coordination of #baa services relating to developmental disabilities 7a7 #baa grant program ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary71 shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary awards grants to improve the capacity of #baa services to support individuals with developmental disabilities4 7b7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including a description of an advisory council that the eligible entity will establish for purposes of advising on the implementation and oversight of the eligible entity that will be supported by the grant4 7#b7 ,advisory council 7,a7 ,members ,an advisory council described in paragraph 7#a7 shall be comprised of individuals selected by the eligible entity1 including-- 7i7 individuals with developmental disabilities2 7ii7 family members and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities2 7iii7 representatives of stakeholder groups with experience administering #baa services1 such as ,united ,way ,worldwide2 and 7iv7 representatives of other relevant stakeholder groups1 including relevant nonprofit and advocacy groups such as ,state developmental disabilities councils1 centers of excellence on developmental disabilities of institutions of higher education1 protection and advocacy systems1 centers for independent living1 parent training and information centers1 and family-to-family health information centers4 7,b7 ,duties ,an advisory council described in paragraph 7#a7 shall advise the eligible entity receiving the grant with respect to-- 7i7 developing training standards for #baa specialists2 7ii7 compiling reports required under subsection 7f71 and policy improvement recommendations2 7iii7 increasing the awareness and effectiveness of #baa services in all communities of the area served2 7iv7 developing accessible resource materials and making accessibility improvements to phone1 text1 and other communication interfaces and systems2 and 7v7 other appropriate topics4 7,c7 ,priority ,in selecting members for an advisory council described in paragraph 7#a71 an eligible entity shall prioritize selecting members described in subparagraph 7,a77i74 7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity shall use amounts awarded under this section to carry out any of the following3 7#a7 ,establishing1 improving1 or maintaining the #baa database of the eligible entity with respect to developmental disability resources4 7#b7 ,hiring and training #baa specialists to assist individuals with developmental disabilities in navigating services4 7#c7 ,developing and implementing data collection protocols ensuring that data is disaggregated by race and type of disability4 7#d7 ,upgrading technology and data management systems to track and analyze service referrals4 7#e7 ,conducting resource mapping to identify gaps in resources relating to developmental disabilities in the area served4 7#f7 ,conducting accessible outreach and public awareness campaigns targeting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers regarding the availability and use of #baa services for such individuals1 families1 and caregivers4 7d7 ,data collection ,the ,secretary shall establish data collection protocols for use by eligible entities in monitoring the use of #baa services by individuals with developmental disabilities1 including with respect to the collection of-- 7#a7 information on referral outcomes and barriers encountered2 and 7#b7 disaggregated and deidentified data on race and type of disability to identify disparities in service access and quality4 7e7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with other applicable ,federal agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 award #a or more grants to entities1 determined by the ,secretary to be qualified for such grants1 to establish technical assistance centers2 and 7#b7 work in coordination with each entity carrying out such a center to provide technical assistance to recipients of awards under subsection 7a7 to facilitate the planning1 development1 and implementation of activities described in subsection 7c74 7f7 ,recipient reports ,each recipient of an award under this section shall submit an annual report to the ,secretary on activities carried out under this section1 for the duration of the award4 7g7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after the end of the grant program under this section1 the ,secretary shall issue a report containing information regarding-- 7#a7 best practices for ,states desiring to expand their #baa services1 including how to make the services more accessible2 7#b7 the most common needs relating to developmental disabilities for which individuals use #baa services2 7#c7 how many individuals and families are assisted by the #baa service helplines2 7#d7 the demographics1 including age1 race1 language1 and support needs1 of individuals with developmental disabilities utilizing the #baa service helpline1 or on whose behalf such helpline is utilized2 and 7#e7 best practices for establishing a resource database with resources relating to developmental disabilities4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 #baa service ,the term #baa service means a service providing residents with information and referrals with respect to health and human services and other provider agencies-- 7,a7 via voice telephone1 text telephone1 short message service1 text1 internet phone1 or other telecommunication methods2 or 7,b7 by utilizing the #baa public-facing1 online social service directory4 7#b7 ,developmental disability ,the term developmental disability has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,developmental ,disabilities ,assistance and ,bill of ,rights ,act of #bjjj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb74 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 or 7,b7 a local or regional entity1 or other entity1 providing a #baa service for a ,state4 7#d7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states of the ,united ,states and the ,district of ,columbia4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ge1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4 #c4 ,developmental disability peer and family navigator grant program 7a7 ,program authorized ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary awards grants to eligible entities described in subsection 7b71 to enable the eligible entities to provide peer or family navigators to help individuals with developmental disabilities and families and caregivers providing support for such individuals to access services and resources relating to developmental disabilities4 ,the navigators shall take a person-centered approach in providing services under this section4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an eligible entity described in this subsection shall be a ,state1 ,tribal1 or local health or human services department1 or a nonprofit entity that is family-led1 disabled peer-led1 or disabled family-staffed4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,prioritization ,in making grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that indicate in their applications an intention to provide services to underserved or underrepresented communities or to secondary schools underperforming in providing transition planning described in subsection 7e77#b74 7e7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section-- 7#a7 shall provide peer or family navigators to help individuals with developmental disabilities and families and caretakers providing services or support for such individuals to connect to1 and access1 appropriate resources and services2 and 7#b7 may be used to coordinate with local educational agencies 7as defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja77 for purposes of transition planning with respect to individuals with developmental disabilities1 such as planning for-- 7,a7 postsecondary education and employment2 7,b7 housing2 7,c7 legal and financial matters 7such as supported decisions-making and alternatives to guardianship72 7,d7 use of ,federal benefit programs and eligibility2 7,e7 self-direction and self-advocacy2 7,f7 health and behavioral health1 including home and community-based services2 7,g7 building and maintaining community ties and friendships2 7,h7 planning and visioning a life course2 and 7,i7 disaster and emergency preparedness and safety4 7f7 ,report ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall1 not later than #a year after the activities carried out under the grant are completed1 submit to the ,secretary a report that contains data on how the grant funds were used4 7g7 ,developmental disability ,in this section1 the term developmental disability has the meaning given such term in section #b4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4