A-2006-242 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Attachment E 2006-DJ-BX-0158 Congratulations on your recent award. In establishing financial assistance programs, Congress linked the receipt of Federal funding to compliance with Federal civil rights laws. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for ensuring that recipients of financial aid from OJP, its component offices and bureaus, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) comply with applicable Federal civil rights statutes and regulations. We at OCR are available to help you and your organization meet the civil rights requirements that come with Justice Department funding. As you know, Federal laws prohibit recipients of financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability in funded programs or activities, not only in respect to employment practices but also in the delivery of services or benefits. Federal law also prohibits funded programs or activities from discriminating on the basis of age in the delivery of services or benefits. In addition to these general prohibitions, your organization, which is a recipient of financial assistance subject to the nondiscrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (Safe Streets Act) of 1968, 42 U.S.C. ~ 3789d(c), must meet two additional requirements:(l) complying with Federal regulations pertaining to the development of an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP), 28 C.F.R. ~ 42.301-.308, and (2) submitting to OCR Findings of Discrimination (see 28 C.F.R. ~~ 42.205(5) or 31.202(5)). Complying with the EEOP Requirement In accordance with Federal regulations, and Assurance No.6 in the Standard Assurances, your organization must comply with the following EEOP reporting requirements: If your organization has received an award for $500,000 or more and has 50 or more employees (counting both full- and part-time employees but excluding political appointees), then it has to prepare an EEOP and submit it to OCR for review within 60 days from the date of this letter. For assistance in developing an EEOP, please consult OCR's website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ocr/. You may also request technical assistance from an EEOP specialist at OCR by dialing (202) 616-3208. If your organization received an award between $25,000 and $500,000 and has 50 or more employees, your organization still has to prepare an EEOP, but it does not have submit the EEOP to OCR for review. Instead, your organization has to maintain the EEOP on file and make it available for review on request. In addition, your organization has to complete Section B of the enclosed Certification Form and return it to OCR. The certification form can be found at http:///www.ojp.usdoi.gov/ocr/. If your organization received an award for less than $25,000; or if your organization has less than 50 employees, regardless of the amount of the award; or if your organization is a medical institution, educational institution, nonprofit organization or Indian tribe, then your organization is exempt from the EEOP requirement. However, your organization must complete Section A of the enclosed Certification Form and return it to OCR. The certification form can be found at http:///www.oip.usdoi.gov/ocr/. Submitting Findings of Discrimination In the event a Federal or State court or Federal or State administrative agency makes an adverse finding of discrimination against your organization after a due process hearing, on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, your organization must submit a copy of the fmding to OCR for review. Providing Services to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Individuals In accordance with recent Department of Justice Guidance pertaining to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 D.S.C. ~ 2000d, recipients of Federal financial assistance must take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). For more information on the civil rights responsibilities that recipients have in providing language services to LEP individuals, please see the website www.lep.gov.