CFR Subpart B

CFR Subpart B
in effect

15 C.F.R. § 8.7 Cooperation, compliance reports and reviews and access to records.

(a) Cooperation and assistance. Each responsible Department official shall to the fullest extent practicable seek the cooperation of recipients and other parties subject to this part in obtaining compliance with this part and shall provide assistance and guidance to recipients and other parties to help them comply voluntarily with this part. (b) Compliance reports. Each recipient and other party subject to this part shall keep such records and submit to the responsible Department official timely, complete, and accurate compliance reports at such times and in such form and containing such information as the responsible Department official may determine to be necessary to enable him to ascertain whether the recipient or such other party has complied or is complying with this part. In general, recipients should have available for the department racial and ethnic data showing the extent to which members of minority groups are beneficiaries of federally assisted programs. In the case in which a primary recipient extends Federal financial assistance to any other recipient, or under which a recipient is obligated to obtain or to cooperate in obtaining the compliance of other parties subject to this part, such other recipients or other parties shall also submit such compliance reports to the primary recipient or recipients as may be necessary to enable them to carry out their obligations under this part. (c) Access to sources of information. Each recipient or other party subject to this part shall permit access by the responsible Department official or his designee during normal business hours to such of its books, records, accounts, and other sources of information, and its facilities, as may be pertinent to ascertain compliance with this part. Where any information required of a recipient or other party is in the exclusive possession of another who fails or refuses to furnish this information, the recipient or other party shall so certify in its report and shall set forth what efforts it has made to obtain the information. (d) Information to beneficiaries and participants. Each recipient or other party subject to this part shall make available to participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons such information regarding the provisions of this part and its applicability to the program for which the recipient receives Federal financial assistance, and make such information available to them in such manner as this part and the responsible Department official finds necessary to apprise such persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by the Act and this part. (e) Compliance review. The responsible Department official or his designee shall from time to time review the practices of recipients and other parties subject to this part to determine whether they are complying with this part.

15 C.F.R. § 8.8 Complaints.

(a) Filing complaints. Any person who believes himself or any specific class of persons to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by this part may by himself or by a representative file with the responsible Department official a written complaint. A complaint shall be filed not later than 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by the responsible Department official. (b) [Reserved]

15 C.F.R. § 8.9 Intimidatory or retaliatory acts prohibited.

(a) No recipient or other party subject to this part shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against, any person for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by section 601 of the Act of this part, or because the person has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this part. (b) The identity of complainants shall be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this part, including the conduct of any investigation, hearing, or judicial or other proceeding arising thereunder.

15 C.F.R. § 8.10 Investigations.

(a) Making the investigation. The responsible Department official or his designee will make a prompt investigation whenever a compliance review, report, complaint, or any other information indicates a possible failure to comply with this part. The investigation shall include, where appropriate, a review of the pertinent practices and policies of the recipient or other party subject to this part, the circumstances under which the possible noncompliance with this part occurred, and other factors relevant to a determination as to whether there has been a failure to comply with this part. (b) Resolution of matters. (1) If an investigation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section indicates a failure to comply with this part, the responsible Department official will so inform the recipient or other party subject to this part and the matter will be resolved by informal means whenever possible. If it has been determined that the matter cannot be resolved by informal means, action will be taken as provided for in § 8.11. (2) If an investigation does not warrant action pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the responsible Department official will so inform the recipient or other party subject to this part and the complainant, if any, in writing.

15 C.F.R. § 8.11 Procedures for effecting compliance.

(a) General. If there appears to be a failure or threatened failure to comply with this part, and if the noncompliance or threatened noncompliance cannot be corrected by informal means, compliance with this part may be effected by the suspension or termination of or refusal to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance or by any other means authorized by law. Such other means may include, but are not limited to, (1) a reference to the Department of Justice with a recommendation that appropriate proceedings be brought to enforce any rights of the United States under any law of the United States (including other titles of the Act), or any assurance or other contractural undertaking, and (2) any applicable proceeding under State or local law. (b) Noncompliance with § 8.5. If a recipient or other party subject to this part fails or refuses to furnish an assurance required under § 8.5 or otherwise fails or refuses to comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to that section, Federal financial assistance may be refused in accordance with the procedures of paragraph (c) of this section. The Department shall not be required to provide assistance in such a case during the pendency of the administrative proceedings under said paragraph except that the Department shall continue assistance during the pendency of such proceedings where such assistance is due and payable pursuant to an application or contract therefor approved prior to the effective date of this part. (c) Termination of or refusal to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance. No order suspending, terminating, or refusing to grant or continue Federal financial assistance shall become effective until (1) the responsible Department official has advised the recipient or other party subject to this part of his failure to comply and has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means, (2) there has been an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing, of a failure by such recipient or other party to comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to this part, (3) the action has been approved by the Secretary pursuant to § 8.13(e), and (4) the expiration of 30 days after the Secretary has filed with the committee of the House and the committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction over the program involved, a full written report of the circumstances and the grounds for such action. Any action to suspend or terminate or to refuse to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance shall be limited to the particular political entity, or part thereof, or other recipient or other party as to whom such a finding has been made and shall be limited in its effect to the particular program, or part thereof, in which such noncompliance has been so found. (d) Other means authorized by law. No action to effect compliance by any other means authorized by law shall be taken until (1) the responsible Department official has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means, (2) the recipient or other party has been notified of its failure to comply and of the action to be taken to effect compliance, and (3) the expiration of at least 10 days from the mailing of such notice to the recipient or other party. During this period of at least 10 days additional efforts shall be made to persuade the recipient or other party to comply with this part and to take such corrective action as may be appropriate.

15 C.F.R. § 8.12 Hearings.

(a) Opportunity for hearing. Whenever an opportunity for a hearing is required by § 8.11(c), reasonable notice shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the affected recipient or other party subject to this part. This notice shall advise the recipient or other party of the action proposed to be taken, the specific provision under which the proposed action against it is to be taken, and the matters of fact or law asserted as the basis for this action, and either (1) fix a date not less than 20 days after the date of such notice within which the recipient or other party may request of the responsible Department official that the matter be scheduled for hearing, or (2) advise the recipient or other party that the matter in question has been set down for hearing at a stated place and time. The time and place so fixed shall be reasonable and shall be subject to change for cause. The complainant, if any, shall be advised of the time and place of the hearing. A recipient or other party may waive a hearing and submit written information and argument for the record. The failure of a recipient or other party to request a hearing under this paragraph of this section or to appear at a hearing for which a date has been set shall be deemed to be a waiver of the right to a hearing under section 602 of the Act and § 8.11(c) and consent to the making of a decision on the basis of such information as is available. (b) Time and place of hearing. Hearings shall be held at the offices of the Department in Washington, D.C., at a time fixed by the responsible Department official or hearing officer unless he determines that the convenience of the recipient or other party or of the Department requires that another place be selected. Hearings shall be held before the responsible Department official, or at his discretion, before a hearing officer. (c) Right to counsel. In all proceedings under this section, the recipient or other party and the Department shall have the right to be represented by counsel. (d) Procedures, evidence, and record. (1) The hearing, decision, and any administrative review thereof shall be conducted in conformity with 5 U.S.C. 554-557 (sections 5-8 of the Administrative Procedures Act), and in accordance with such rules of procedure as are proper (and not inconsistent with this section) relating to the conduct of the hearing, giving of notices subsequent to those provided for in paragraph (a) of this section, taking of testimony, exhibits, arguments and briefs, requests for findings, and other related matters. Both the Department and the recipient or other party shall be entitled to introduce all relevant evidence on the issues as stated in the notice for hearing or as determined by the officer conducting the hearing at the outset of or during the hearing. (2) Technical rules of evidence shall not apply to hearings conducted pursuant to this part, but rules or principles designed to assure production of the most credible evidence available and to subject testimony to test by cross-examination shall be applied where reasonably necessary by the officer conducting the hearing. The hearing officer may exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence. All documents and other evidence offered or taken for the record shall be open to examination by the parties and opportunity shall be given to refute facts and arguments advanced on either side of the issues. A transcript shall be made of the oral evidence except to the extent the substance thereof is stipulated for the record. All decisions shall be based upon the hearing record and written findings shall be made. (e) Consolidated or joint hearings. In cases in which the same or related facts are asserted to constitute noncompliance with this part with respect to two or more Federal statutes, authorities, or other means by which Federal financial assistance is extended and to which this part applies, or noncompliance with this part and the regulations of one or more other Federal departments or agencies issued under Title VI of the Act, the Secretary may, by agreement with such other departments or agencies where applicable, provide for the conduct of consolidated or joint hearings and for the application to such hearings of rules of procedures not inconsistent with this part. Final decisions in such cases, insofar as this part is concerned, shall be made in accordance with § 8.13.

15 C.F.R. § 8.13 Decisions and notices.

(a) Decision by person other than the responsible Department official. If the hearing is held by a hearing officer such hearing officer shall either make an initial decision, if so authorized, or certify the entire record including his recommended findings and proposed decision to the responsible Department official for a final decision, and a copy of such initial decision or certification shall be mailed to the recipient or other party subject to this part. Where the initial decision is made by the hearing officer, the recipient or other party may within 30 days of the mailing of such notice of initial decision file with the responsible Department official his exceptions to the initial decision, with his reasons therefor. In the absence of exceptions, the responsible Department official may on his own motion within 45 days after the initial decision serve on the recipient or other party a notice that he will review the decision. Upon the filing of such exceptions or of such notice of review, the responsible Department official shall review the initial decision and issue his own decision thereon including the reasons therefor. In the absence of either exceptions or a notice of review the initial decision shall constitute the final decision of the responsible Department official. (b) Decisions on record or review by the responsible Department official. Whenever a record is certified to the responsible Department official for decision or he reviews the decision of a hearing officer pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or whenever the responsible Department official conducts the hearing, the recipient or other party shall be given reasonable opportunity to file with him briefs or other written statements of its contentions, and a copy of the final decision of the responsible Department official shall be given in writing to the recipient or other party and to the complainant, if any. (c) Decisions on record where a hearing is waived. Whenever a hearing is waived pursuant to § 8.12(a) a decision shall be made by the responsible departmental official on the record and a copy of such decision shall be given in writing to the recipient or other party, and to the complainant, if any. (d) Ruling required. Each decision of a hearing officer or responsible Department official shall set forth his ruling on each finding, conclusion, or exception presented, and shall identify the requirement or requirements imposed by or pursuant to this part with which it is found that the recipient or other party has failed to comply. (e) Approval by Secretary. Any final decision of a responsible Department official (other than the Secretary) which provides for the suspension or termination of, or the refusal to grant or continue, Federal financial assistance, or the imposition of any other sanction available under this part of the Act, shall promptly be transmitted to the Secretary, who may approve such decision, may vacate it, or remit or mitigate any sanction imposed. (f) Content of orders. The final decision may provide for suspension or termination of, or refusal to grant or continue, Federal financial assistance, in whole or in part, to which this regulation applies, and may contain such terms, conditions, and other provisions as are consistent with and will effectuate the purposes of the Act and this part, including provisions designed to assure that no Federal financial assistance to which this regulation applies will thereafter be extended to the recipient or other party determined by such decision to be in default in its performance of an assurance given by it pursuant to this part, or to have otherwise failed to comply with this part, unless and until it corrects its noncompliance and satisfies the responsible Department official that it will fully comply with this part. (g) Posttermination proceedings. (1) Any recipient or other party which is adversely affected by an order issued under paragraph (f) of this section shall be restored to full eligibility to receive Federal financial assistance if it satisfies the terms and conditions of that order for such eligibility or if it brings itself into compliance with this part and provides reasonable assurance that it will fully comply with this part. (2) Any recipient or other party adversely affected by an order entered pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section may at any time request the responsible Department official to restore fully its eligibility to receive Federal financial assistance. Any such request shall be supported by information showing that the recipient or other party has met the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this section. If the responsible Department official determines that those requirements have been satisfied, he shall restore such eligibility. (3) If the responsible Department official denies any such request, the recipient or other party may submit a request for a hearing in writing, specifying why it believes such official to have been in error. It shall thereupon be given an expeditious hearing, with a decision on the record in accordance with rules of procedure issued by the responsible Department official. The recipient or other party will be restored to such eligibility if it proves at such a hearing that it satisfied the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this section. While proceedings under this paragraph are pending, the sanctions imposed by the order issued under paragraph (f) of this section shall remain in effect.

15 C.F.R. § 8.14 Judicial review.

Action taken pursuant to section 602 of the Act is subject to judicial review as provided in section 603 of the Act.

15 C.F.R. § 8.15 Effect on other laws; supplementary instructions; coordination.

(a) Effect on other laws. All regulations, orders, or like directions heretofore issued by any officer of the Department which impose requirements designed to prohibit any discrimination against individuals on the ground of race, color, or national origin under any program to which this part applies, and which authorizes the suspension or termination of or refusal to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance to any recipient or other party subject to this part of such assistance for failure to comply with such requirements, are hereby superseded to the extent that such discrimination is prohibited by this part, except that nothing in this part shall be deemed to relieve any one of any obligations assumed or imposed under any such superseded regulation, order, instruction, or like direction prior to January 9, 1965. Nothing in this part, however, shall be deemed to supersede any of the following (including future amendments thereof): (1) Executive Order 11246 and regulations issued thereunder, or (2) Executive Order 11063 and regulations issued thereunder, or any other regulations or instructions, insofar as such order, regulations, or instructions prohibit discrimination on the ground of race, color, or national origin in any program or situation to which this part is inapplicable, or prohibit discrimination on any other ground. (b) Forms and instructions. Each responsible Department official shall issue and promptly make available to interested parties forms and detailed instructions and procedures for effectuating this part as applied to programs to which this part applies and for which he is responsible. (c) Supervision and coordination. The Secretary may from time to time assign to officials of the Department, or to officials of other departments or agencies of the Government with the consent of such departments or agencies, responsibilities in connection with the effectuation of the purposes of title VI of the Act and this part (other than responsibility for final decision as provided in § 8.13), including the achievement of effective coordination and maximum uniformity within the Department and within the executive branch of the government in the application of title VI and this part to similar programs and in similar situations. Any action taken, determination made, or requirement imposed by an official of another Department or agency acting pursuant to an assignment of responsibility under this paragraph shall have the same effect as though such action had been taken by the responsible official of this Department.

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