| SPIL Instrument and Instructions Posted to Federal Register:
Comments Due by March 9, 2020
ACL has announced that the new State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) Instrument and Instructions were published in the Federal Register. The document is available for comments through March 9, 2020. You can find the SPIL Instrument and Instructions at acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
After the comment period has closed, ACL will review the comments and release the final SPIL Instrument and Instructions. The new instrument must be used to complete the FY 2021 – FY 2023 SPIL. The SPIL must be submitted to ACL for review and approval by June 30, 2020.
Comments can be submitted:
a) By email to OIRA_submissions@omb.eop.gov, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL;
b) By fax for (202) 395-5806, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL; or
c) By mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. NW, Rm. 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.
You can read the full email ACL sent to the network below. It has additional information and instructions.
Dear Colleague:
ACL is pleased to announce the new Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) Instrument and Instructions published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2020. During the previous 60-day comment period, the public submitted 251 comments for ACL to review and process. ACL made appropriate changes to the SPIL according to the public comments, and the instrument is now available for your review and comments for an additional 30 days. You can review the notice here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/07/2020-02497/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-for-omb-review-the-state-plan-for-independent.
Comments on the revised SPIL Instrument and Instructions must be submitted by
11:59 PM EST on March 9, 2020. You may submit written comments by:
a) email to OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL;
b) fax to 202.395.5806, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL; or
c) by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. NW, Rm. 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.
After the 30 days have concluded, ACL will release the SPIL Instrument and Instructions to the network as a final product. The new SPIL Instrument must be used to complete the FY 2021 – FY 2023 SPIL. The SPIL must be submitted to ACL for review and approval by 11:59 PM EST on June 30, 2020.
SPIL Development Process
States wishing to receive financial assistance under Parts B and C of Chapter 1 of Title VII, must submit an approvable three-year SPIL to ACL that meets the requirements of Section 704 of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 796c no later than 11:59 PM EST June 30, 2020.
The SPIL encompasses the activities planned by the state to achieve its specified independent living objectives and reflects the state’s commitment to comply with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements during the three years covered by the plan. A single SPIL is to be submitted for each state, jointly developed by the SILC, and directors of Centers for Independent Living (CILs).
During the SPIL development process, to comply with federal requirements, states are required to hold public hearings that provide all segments of the public, including interested groups, organizations, and individuals, the opportunity to comment on the contents of the SPIL prior to its submission. The SILC may meet the public participation requirement by holding the public meetings before a preliminary draft State plan is prepared or by providing a preliminary draft State plan for comment at the public meetings. The SILC must identify, during the public hearings, any provisions in the State plan that are State-imposed requirements relating to the administration or operation of any program funded under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
The SPIL must be signed by the chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), on behalf of the SILC, not less than 51% of the center directors in the state, and the DSE director prior to submission to ACL.
SPIL Submission Process
The FY 2021 – 2023 SPIL must be submitted by Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC) to Regina Blye, ILS Program Officer (PO) by email at Regina.Blye@acl.hhs.gov. The email should include the completed new SPIL Instrument as a Word document, and the signature page(s) as a PDF document. The two attachments must be submitted as 508 compliant documents. When approved, ACL will provide an approval letter to the SILC Chair. If not approved, ACL will provide the SILC Chair a notice requesting changes to un-approvable sections.
ACL is currently working on developing a federal reporting system that will allow Statewide Independent Living Councils to submit the SPIL data electronically. The system will not be available for this SPIL submission cycle. ACL will provide additional guidance on the federal reporting system when it is available.
If additional guidance is needed regarding the SPIL development and submission process, please reach out to the ILS Program Officer at Regina.Blye@acl.hhs.gov. As a reminder, comments should be submitted via the three options listed above. |
