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CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE in FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Jacqueline Jackson Senior Attorney-Advisor Office of the Solicitor Department of the Interior.
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CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE in FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Jacqueline Jackson Senior Attorney-Advisor Office of the Solicitor Department of the Interior
“Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination.” President John F. Kennedy, 1963
No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, age, sex, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The Law
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 42 U.S.C. 2000d, etseq • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 29 U.S.C. 794 • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act • Age Discrimination Act of 1975 42 U.S.C. 6101 etseq • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 20 U.S.C. 1681 etseq • EO 13166 – Limited English Proficiency We are governed by: Public Laws
Title VI – 43 CFR Part 17 Subpart A – Nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin Subpart B – Nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap Subpart C – Nondiscrimination on the basis of age Title VI Special Regs – 43 CFR 4.800 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – 43 CFR 41.100 – DOI grant-related regulation covering recipients of Federal financial assistance DOI Financial Assistance Related Civil Rights Regulations
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments 43 U.S.C. 1863; 30 CFR 270.1 Office of Surface Mining Procedures – 43 CFR 4.1200 Trans Alaska Pipeline – 43 CFR 27.1 Alaska Natural Gas Transportation - 43 CFR 34.4 Mineral Development Impact Relief Loans 43 CFR 1882.5-7 Fish and Wildlife Service 31 CFR 3.1 DOI Financial Assistance Related Civil Rights Regulations
The Executive Branch shall distribute Recovery Act funds in accordance with all anti-discrimination and equal opportunity statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders that apply to the expenditure of funds under Federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other forms of Federal assistance. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Grant Cooperative Agreement Loan Contract (other than a procurement contract or contract of insurance or guaranty) Other: funds, Federal personnel, real and personal property Federal Assistance
Training Provision of valuable services at less than market value Commodities/personal property Use of interest in land/real property Other arrangements with the intent of providing assistance Federal Financial Assistance Includes
State Government Local Government Territories and Possessions Indian Tribal Governments Non-profit Organizations and Institutions Private Individuals Recipients of Federal Awards/Funds
An applicant for Federal financial assistance for a program or activity shall provide assurances that the program will be operated in compliance with the regulations. OMB Circular A-102 Must comply with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. 453 C.F.R. 174 Assurances Required
The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for all civil rights, equal opportunity and diversity functions in the DOI Compliance Reviews Complaint Investigations Technical Assistance Public Notification DOI Delegation
Failure to provide assurance of civil rights compliance Based on prior knowledge of complaints, civil rights problems, or unequal access Coordination with Bureau Program Official/Grants Officer Sufficient Notification to Recipient 43 CFR 17.7(b) Pre-Award Compliance Review Based on:
Coordination with Bureau Program Official/Grants Officer Sufficient notification to the Recipient Access to Recipient Records and Documents Onsite inspections of facilities, programs, services and their availability to all Interviews with program beneficiaries, representatives of local civil rights organizations, civic leaders, local government human rights officials Post Award Compliance Reviews43 CFR 17.5
To communicate to the public: the commitment to nondiscrimination the right to program participation the procedures for filing civil rights complaints Public Notification
Technical assistance on compliance issues Training on civil rights laws and implementation strategies Improvement of practices and procedures Assistance to Recipients
Termination or refusal to grant or to continue financial assistance Secretary or designee must advise applicant or recipient of failure to comply Determination made that compliance cannot be secured through voluntary means An express finding on the record, after a hearing, of non-compliance (hearing by Office of Hearings and Appeals) Approval by the Secretary Written report to the House and committee of the Senate having jurisdiction over the program supporting finding (30 days) Non-Compliance with Civil Rights Laws
Deny program services, aids, or benefits Provide different services, aids, or benefits, or provide them in a manner different than they are provided to others Treat an individual differently from others in determining whether he/she satisfies any admission, enrollment, quota, eligibility, membership or other requirement or condition Segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter related to the receipt of any service, aid or benefit In Operating a Federally Assisted Program, a recipient cannot:
Treat an individual differently from others in determining whether he/she satisfies any admission, enrollment, quota, eligibility, membership or other requirement or condition Restrict an individual in any way from enjoyment of any advantage or privilege enjoyed by others Deny an individual an opportunity to participate in the program through provisions of services Deny a person the opportunity to participate as a member of a planning or advisory body A recipient cannot: (cont)
Filed with the Director, Office of Civil Rights or the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Compliance Division Investigation by Bureau EO Offices Compliance sought through Informal and Voluntary Means Alternative Dispute Resolution Civil Rights Complaints