Purposes of 1202 Commissions and projected new roles with respect to continuing education are discussed. Both the House and Senate versions of the legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965 delete any reference to 1202 Commissions and substitute for it a state agreement provision. What in effect the new legislation does is to carry forward the 1202 functions, to reinforce further the recognition of the federal interest in comprehensive statewide planning, but to leave the matter of structure and means of accomplishing educational objectives to states, their legislatively authorized higher education boards or agencies, and to institutions. One of the changes related to the 1202 Commissions or the 1202 functions of state higher education agencies is an increase in the scope of statewide planning. A second change is the number of states in which responsibility for administration of Title I has been assigned to the principal state agency responsible for coordination or governance of higher education in spite of the fact that the federal legislation does not mandate such consolidation. A third change indicating a concern for continuing, adult education, and lifelong learning has been frequent funding for studies of and planning in this area. The new Title I and policy issues on the state level related to continuing education and social policy are considered. (SW)