---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 796–1"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "796–1"
heading: "Administration of the independent living program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/796-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Vocational Rehabilitation and Other Rehabilitation Services"
  - "Subchapter VII — Independent Living Services and Centers for Independent Living"
  - "Part A — Individuals With Significant Disabilities"
  - "Subpart 1 — general provisions"
---

# §796–1. Administration of the independent living program


There is established within the Administration for Community Living of the Department of Health and Human Services, an Independent Living Administration. The Independent Living Administration shall be headed by a Director (referred to in this section as the “Director”) appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/29/705.md?p=33) of Health and Human Services. The Director shall be an [individual](/usc/29/705.md?p=22) with substantial knowledge of [independent living services](/usc/29/705.md?p=18). The Independent Living Administration shall be the principal agency, and the Director shall be the principal officer, to carry out this part. In performing the functions of the office, the Director shall be directly responsible to the [Administrator](/usc/29/796a.md?p=1) of the Administration for Community Living of the Department of Health and Human Services. The [Secretary](/usc/29/705.md?p=33) shall ensure that the Independent Living Administration has sufficient resources (including designating at least 1 [individual](/usc/29/705.md?p=22) from the Office of General Counsel who is knowledgeable about [independent living services](/usc/29/705.md?p=18)) to provide technical assistance and support to, and oversight of, the programs funded under this part.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–112, title VII, § 701A, as added Pub. L. 113–128, title IV, § 472, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1685.)