CFR Subpart G

CFR Subpart G
in effect

28 C.F.R. § 42.540 Definitions.

As used in this subpart the term: (a) The Act means the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93-112, as amended (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). (b) Section 504 means section 504 of the Act (29 U.S.C. 794). (c) Department means the Department of Justice. (d) LEAA means the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration; NIJ means the National Institute of Justice; BJS means the Bureau of Justice Statistics; OJARS means the Office of Justice Assistance, Research and Statistics; OJJDP means Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (e) Recipient means any State or unit of local government, any instrumentality of a State or unit of local government, any public or private agency, institution, organization, or other public or private entity, or any person to which Federal financial assistance is extended directly or through another recipient, including any successor, assignee, or transferree of a recipient, but excluding the ultimate beneficiary of the assistance. (f) Federal financial assistance means any grant, cooperative agreement, loan, contract (other than a direct Federal procurement contract or a contract of insurance or guaranty), subgrant, contract under a grant or any other arrangement by which the Department provides or otherwise makes available assistance in the form of: (1) Funds; (2) Services of Federal personnel; (3) Real and personal property or any interest in or use of such property, including: (i) Transfers or leases of such property for less than fair market value or for reduced consideration; and (ii) Proceeds from a subsequent transfer or lease of such property if the Federal share of its fair market value is not returned to the Federal Government; (4) Any other thing of value by way of grant, loan, contract or cooperative agreement. (g) Facility means all or any portion of buildings, structures, equipment, roads, walks, parking lots, or other real or personal property or interest in such property. (h) Program or activity means all of the operations of any entity described in paragraphs (h) (1) through (4) of this section, any part of which is extended Federal financial assistance: (1)(i) A department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State or of a local government; or (ii) The entity of such State or local government that distributes such assistance and each such department or agency (and each other State or local government entity) to which the assistance is extended, in the case of assistance to a State or local government; (2)(i) A college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of higher education; or (ii) A local educational agency (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801), system of vocational education, or other school system; (3)(i) An entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship— (A) If assistance is extended to such corporation, partnership, private organization, or sole proprietorship as a whole; or (B) Which is principally engaged in the business of providing education, health care, housing, social services, or parks and recreation; or (ii) The entire plant or other comparable, geographically separate facility to which Federal financial assistance is extended, in the case of any other corporation, partnership, private organization, or sole proprietorship; or (4) Any other entity which is established by two or more of the entities described in paragraph (h)(1), (2), or (3) of this section. (i) Ultimate beneficiary is one among a class of persons who are entitled to benefit from, or otherwise participate in, programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance and to whom the protections of this subpart extend. The ultimate beneficiary class may be the general public or some narrower group of persons. (j) Benefit includes provision of services, financial aid or disposition (i.e., treatment, handling, decision, sentencing, confinement, or other prescription of conduct). (k) Handicapped person. (1) Handicapped person means any person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of such an impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having such an impairment. For purposes of employment, such term does not include any individual who is an alcoholic or drug abuser whose current use of alcohol or drugs prevents such individual from performing the duties of the job in question or whose employment, by reason of such current alcohol or drug abuse, would constitute a direct threat to property or the safety of others. (2) As used in this subpart the phrase: (i) Physical or mental impairment means: (A) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive, digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; (B) Any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. (ii) Major life activities mean functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. (iii) Has a record of such an impairment means has a history of, or has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (iv) Is regarded as having an impairment means: (A) Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but that is treated by a recipient as constituting such a limitation; (B) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or (C) Has none of the impairments defined in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section but is treated by a recipient as having such an impairment. (l) Qualified handicapped person means: (1) With respect to employment, a handicapped person who, with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question; (2) With respect to services, a handicapped person who meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of such services. (m) Handicap means any condition or characteristic that renders a person a handicapped person as defined in paragraph (k) of this section. (n) Drug abuse means: (1) The use of any drug or substance listed by the Department of Justice in 21 CFR 1308.11, under authority of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801, as a controlled substance unavailable for prescription because: (i) The drug or substance has a high potential for abuse, (ii) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, (iii) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision; (2) The misuse of any drug or substance listed by the Department of Justice in 21 CFR 1308.12 through 1308.15 under authority of the Controlled Substances Act as a controlled substance available for prescription. (o) Alcohol abuse includes alcoholism but also means any misuse of alcohol which demonstrably interferes with a person's health, interpersonal relations or working.

28 C.F.R. § 42.510 Discrimination prohibited.

(a) General. (1) No qualified handicapped person shall on the basis of handicap be subjected to discrimination in employment under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. (2) A recipient shall make all decisions concerning employment under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance in a manner which insures that discrimination on the basis of handicap does not occur and may not limit, segregate, or classify applicants or employees in any way that adversely affects their opportunities or status because of handicap. (3) A recipient may not participate in a contractual or other relationship that has the effect of subjecting qualified handicapped applicants or employees to discrimination prohibited by this section. The relationships referred to in this paragraph include relationships with employment and referral agencies, labor unions, organizations providing or administering fringe benefits to employees of the recipient, and organizations providing training and apprenticeships, and with civil service agencies in State or local units of government. (b) Specific activities. The prohibition against discrimination in employment applies to the following activities: (1) Recruitment, advertising, and application processing; (2) Hiring, upgrading, promotion, award of tenure, demotion, transfer, layoff, termination, right of return from layoff and rehiring; (3) Pay and any other form of compensation and changes in compensation, including fringe benefits available by virtue of employment, whether or not administered by the recipient; (4) Job assignments, job classifications, organizational structures, position descriptions, lines of progression, and seniority lists; (5) Leaves of absence, sick leave, or any other leave; (6) Selection and financial support for training, including apprenticeship, professional meetings, conferences, and selection for leaves of absence to pursue training; (7) Employer-sponsored activities, including those that are social or recreational; and (8) Any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. (c) In offering employment or promotions to handicapped individuals, recipients may not reduce the amount of compensation offered because of any disability income, pension or other benefit the applicant or employee receives from another source. (d) A recipient's obligation to comply with this section is not affected by any inconsistent term of any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

28 C.F.R. § 42.511 Reasonable accommodation.

(a) A recipient shall make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified handicapped applicant or employee unless the recipient can demonstrate, based on the individual assessment of the applicant or employee, that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of its program or activity. (b) Reasonable accommodation may include making facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons, job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, acquisition or modification of equipment or devices (e.g., telecommunication or other telephone devices), the provisions of readers or qualified interpreters, and other similar actions. (c) Whether an accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of a recipient's program or activity depends upon a case-by-case analysis weighing factors that include: (1) The overall size of the recipient's program or activity with respect to number of employees, number and type of facilities, and size of budget; (2) The type of the recipient's operation, including the composition and structure of the recipient's workforce; and (3) The nature and cost of the accommodation needed.

28 C.F.R. § 42.512 Employment criteria.

(a) A recipient may not use any employment test or other selection criterion that tends to screen out handicapped persons unless: (1) The test score or other selection criterion, as used by the recipient, is shown to be job-related for the position in question, and (2) Alternative job-related tests or criteria that tend to screen out fewer handicapped persons are not shown by the appropriate Department officials to be available. (b) A recipient shall administer tests using procedures (e.g., auxiliary aids such as readers for visually-impaired persons or qualified sign language interpreters for hearing-impaired persons) that accommodate the special problems of handicapped persons to the fullest extent, consistent with the objectives of the test. When a test is administered to an applicant or employee who has a handicap that impairs sensory, manual, or speaking skills, the test results must accurately reflect the applicant's or employee's job skills, aptitude, or whatever other factor the test purports to measure, rather than reflecting the applicant's or employee's impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills (except where those skills are the factors that the test purports to measure).

28 C.F.R. § 42.513 Preemployment inquiries.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a recipient may not conduct a preemployment medical examination and may not make preemployment inquiry of an applicant as to whether the applicant is a handicapped person or as to the nature or severity of a handicap. A recipient may, however, make preemployment inquiry into an applicant's ability to perform job-related functions. (b) When a recipient is taking remedial action to correct the effects of past discrimination pursuant to § 42.505(a) of this subpart, when a recipient is taking voluntary action to overcome the effects of conditions that resulted in limited participation in its Federally assisted program or activity pursuant to § 42.505(b) of this subpart, or when a recipient is taking affirmative action pursuant to section 503 of the Act, the recipient may invite applicants for employment to indicate whether and to what extent they are handicapped: Provided, That: (1) The recipient states clearly on any written questionnaire used for this purpose or makes clear orally if no written questionnaire is used that the information requested is intended for use solely in connection with its remedial action obligations or its voluntary efforts; (2) The recipient states clearly that the information is being requested on a voluntary basis, that it will be kept confidential as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, that refusal to provide it will not subject the applicant or employee to any adverse treatment, and that it will be used only in accordance with this part. (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a recipient from conditioning an offer of employment on the results of a medical examination conducted prior to the employee's entrance on duty: Provided, That: (1) All entering employees are subjected to such an examination regardless of handicap, and (2) The results of such an examination are used only in accordance with the requirements of this subpart. (d) The applicant's medical record shall be collected and maintained on separate forms and kept confidential, except that the following persons may be informed: (1) Supervisors and managers regarding restrictions on the work of handicapped persons and necessary accommodations; (2) First aid and safety personnel if the condition might require emergency treatment; and (3) Government officials investigating compliance with the Act upon request for relevant information.

28 C.F.R. § 42.530 Procedures.

(a) The procedural provisions applicable to title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (28 CFR 42.106-42.110) apply to this subpart except that the provision contained in §§ 42.110(e) and 42.108(c)(3) which requires the Attorney General's approval before the imposition of any sanction against a recipient does not apply to programs or activities funded by LEAA, NIJ, BJS, OJARS and OJJDP. The applicable provisions contain requirements for compliance information (§ 42.106), conduct of investigations (§ 42.107), procedure for effecting compliance (§ 42.108), hearings (§ 42.109), and decisions and notices (§ 42.110). (See appendix C.) (b) In the case of programs or activities funded by LEAA, NIJ, BJS, OJARS and OJJDP, the timetables and standards for investigation of complaints and for the conduct of compliance reviews contained in § 42.205(c)(1) through (c)(3) and § 42.206 (c) and (d) are applicable to this subpart except that any finding of noncompliance shall be enforced as provided in paragraph (a) of this section. (See appendix D.) (c) In the case of programs or activities funded by LEAA, NIJ, BJS, OJARS and OJJDP, the refusal to provide requested information under paragraph (a) of this section and § 42.106 will be enforced pursuant to the provisions of section 803(a) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, as amended by the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979, Public Law 96-157, 93 Stat. 1167. (d) For acts of discrimination occurring prior to the effective date of this subpart, the 180-day limitation period for filing of complaints (§ 42.107 of this title) will apply from that date. (e) The Department will investigate complaints alleging discrimination in violation of section 504 occurring prior to the effective date of this subpart where the language of the statute or HEW's interagency guidelines (43 FR 2132, January 13, 1978) implementing Executive Order 11914 (41 FR 17871, April 28, 1976) provided notice that the challenged policy or practice was unlawful.

28 C.F.R. § 42.501 Purpose.

The purpose of this subpart is to implement section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

28 C.F.R. § 42.502 Application.

This subpart applies to each recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Department of Justice and to each program or activity receiving such assistance. The requirements of this subpart do not apply to the ultimate beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance in the program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

28 C.F.R. § 42.503 Discrimination prohibited.

(a) General. No qualified handicapped person shall, solely on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. (b) Discriminatory actions prohibited. (1) A recipient may not discriminate on the basis of handicap in the following ways directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance: (i) Deny a qualified handicapped person the opportunity accorded others to participate in the program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance; (ii) Deny a qualified handicapped person an equal opportunity to achieve the same benefits that others achieve in the program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance; (iii) Provide different or separate assistance to handicapped persons or classes of handicapped persons than is provided to others unless such action is necessary to provide qualified handicapped persons or classes of handicapped persons with assistance as effective as that provided to others; (iv) Deny a qualified handicapped person an equal opportunity to participate in the program or activity by providing services to the program; (v) Deny a qualified handicapped person an opportunity to participate as a member of a planning or advisory body; (vi) Permit the participation in the program or activity of agencies, organizations or persons which discriminate against the handicapped beneficiaries in the recipient's program; (vii) Intimidate or retaliate against any individual, whether handicapped or not, for the purpose of interfering with any right secured by section 504 or this subpart. (2) A recipient may not deny a qualified handicapped person the opportunity to participate in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground that other specialized aid, benefits, or services for handicapped persons are available. (3) A recipient may not, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, utilize criteria or methods of administration that either purposely or in effect discriminate on the basis of handicap, defeat or substantially impair accomplishment of the objectives of the recipient's program or activity with respect to handicapped persons, or perpetuate the discrimination of another recipient if both recipients are subject to common administrative control or are agencies of the same State. (4) A recipient may not, in determining the location or design of a facility, make selections that either purposely or in effect discriminate on the basis of handicap or defeat or substantially impair the accomplishment of the objectives of the program or activity with respect to handicapped persons. (5) A recipient is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of handicap in aid, benefits, or services operating without Federal financial assistance where such action would discriminate against the handicapped beneficiaries or participants in any program or activity of the recipient receiving Federal financial assistance. (6) Any entity not otherwise receiving Federal financial assistance but using a facility provided with the aid of Federal financial assistance after the effective date of this subpart is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of handicap. (c) The exclusion of nonhandicapped persons or specified classes of handicapped persons from aid, benefits, or services limited by Federal statute or executive order to handicapped persons or a different class of handicapped persons is not prohibited by this subpart. (d) Recipients shall administer programs or activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified handicapped persons. (e) Recipients shall insure that communications with their applicants, employees and beneficiaries are effectively conveyed to those having impaired vision and hearing. (f) A recipient that employs fifteen or more persons shall provide appropriate auxiliary aids to qualified handicapped persons with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills where a refusal to make such provision would discriminatorily impair or exclude the participation of such persons in a program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Such auxiliary aids may include brailled and taped material, qualified interpreters, readers, and telephonic devices. Attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature are not required under this section. Departmental officials may require recipients employing fewer than fifteen persons to provide auxiliary aids when this would not significantly impair the ability of the recipient to provide its benefits or services. (g) The enumeration of specific forms of prohibited discrimination in this subpart is not exhaustive but only illustrative.

28 C.F.R. § 42.504 Assurances required.

(a) Assurances. Every application for Federal financial assistance covered by this subpart shall contain an assurance that the program or activity will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of section 504 and this subpart. Each agency within the Department that provides Federal financial assistance shall specify the form of the foregoing assurance and shall require applicants for Department financial assistance to obtain like assurances from subgrantees, contractors and subcontractors, transferees, successors in interest, and others connected with the program or activity. Each Department agency shall specify the extent to which an applicant will be required to confirm that the assurances provided by secondary recipients are being honored. Each assurance shall include provisions giving notice that the United States has a right to seek judicial enforcement of section 504 and the assurance. (b) Assurances from government agencies. Assurances from agencies of State and local governments shall extend to any other agency of the same governmental unit if the policies of the other agency will affect the program or activity for which Federal financial assistance is requested. (c) Assurances from institutions. The assurances required with respect to any institution or facility shall be applicable to the entire institution or facility. (d) Duration of obligation. Where the Federal financial assistance is to provide or is in the form of real or personal property, the assurance will obligate the recipient and any transferee for the period during which the property is being used for the purpose for which the Federal financial assistance is extended or for another purpose involving the provisions of similar benefits, or for as long as the recipient retains ownership or possession of the property, whichever is longer. In all other cases the assurance will obligate the recipient for the period during which Federal financial assistance is extended. (e) Covenants. With respect to any transfer of real property, the transfer document shall contain a covenant running with the land assuring nondiscrimination on the condition described in paragraph (d) of this section. Where the property is obtained from the Federal Government, the covenant may also include a condition coupled with a right to be reserved by the Department to revert title to the property in the event of a breach of the covenant. (f) Remedies. The failure to secure either an assurance or a sufficient assurance from a recipient shall not impair the right of the Department to enforce the requirements of section 504 and this subpart.

28 C.F.R. § 42.505 Administrative requirements for recipients.

(a) Remedial action. If the Department finds that a recipient has discriminated against persons on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 or this subpart, the recipient shall take the remedial action the Department considers necessary to overcome the effects of the discrimination. This may include remedial action with respect to handicapped persons who are no longer participants in the recipient's program or activity but who were participants in the program when such discrimination occurred, and with respect to handicapped persons who would have been participants in the program had the discrimination not occurred. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to the requirements of this subpart, to increase the participation of qualified handicapped persons in the recipient's program or activity. (c) Self-evaluation. (1) A recipient shall, within one year of the effective date of this subpart, evaluate and modify its policies and practices that do not meet the requirements of this subpart. During this process the recipient shall seek the advice and assistance of interested persons, including handicapped persons or organizations representing handicapped persons. During this period and thereafter the recipient shall take any necessary remedial steps to eliminate the effects of discrimination that resulted from adherence to these policies and practices. (2) A recipient employing fifty or more persons and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of $25,000 or more shall, for at least three years following completion of the evaluation required under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, maintain on file, make available for public inspection, and provide to the Department on request: (i) A list of the interested persons consulted, (ii) A description of areas examined and problems identified, and (iii) A description of modifications made and remedial steps taken. (d) Designation of responsible employee. A recipient employing fifty or more persons and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of $25,000 or more shall designate at least one person to coordinate compliance with this subpart. (e) Adoption of grievance procedures. A recipient employing fifty or more persons and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of $25,000 or more shall adopt grievance procedures that incorporate due process standards (e.g. adequate notice, fair hearing) and provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by this subpart. Such procedures need not be established with respect to complaints from applicants for employment. An employee may file a complaint with the Department without having first used the recipient's grievance procedures. (f) Notice. (1) A recipient employing fifty or more persons and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of more than $25,000 shall, on a continuing basis, notify participants, beneficiaries, applicants, employees and unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the recipient that it does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in violation of section 504 and this subpart. The notification shall state, where appropriate, that the recipient does not discriminate in its programs or activities with respect to access, treatment or employment. The notification shall also include identification of the person responsible for coordinating compliance with this subpart and where to file section 504 complaints with the Department and, where applicable, with the recipient. A recipient shall make the initial notification required by this paragraph within 90 days of the effective date of this subpart. Methods of initial and continuing notification may include the posting of notices, publication in newspapers and magazines, placement of notices in recipients' publication, and distribution of memoranda or other written communications. (2) Recruitment materials or publications containing general information that a recipient makes available to participants, beneficiaries, applicants, or employees shall include a policy statement of nondiscrimination on the basis of handicap. (g) The Department may require any recipient with fewer than fifty employees and receiving less than $25,000 in Federal financial assistance to comply with paragraphs (c)(2) and (d) through (f) of this section. (h) The obligation to comply with this subpart is not affected by any State or local law or requirement or limited employment opportunities for handicapped persons in any occupation or profession.

28 C.F.R. § 42.520 Discrimination prohibited.

Recipients shall insure that no qualified handicapped person is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance because the recipient's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by handicapped persons.

28 C.F.R. § 42.521 Existing facilities.

(a) Accessibility. A recipient shall operate each program or activity to which this subpart applies so that when each part is viewed in its entirety it is readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. This section does not require a recipient to make each of its existing facilities or every part of a facility accessible to and usable by handicapped persons. (b) Compliance procedures. A recipient may comply with the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section through acquisition or redesign of equipment, reassignment of services to accessible buildings, assignment of aids to beneficiaries, delivery of services at alternate accessible sites, alteration of existing facilities, or any other method that results in making its program or activity accessible to handicapped persons. A recipient is not required to make structural changes in existing facilities where other methods are effective in achieving compliance with paragraph (a) of this section. In choosing among methods for meeting the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section, a recipient shall give priority to those methods that serve handicapped persons in the most integrated setting appropriate. (c) Small providers. If a recipient with fewer than fifteen employees finds, after consultation with a handicapped person seeking its services, that there is no method of complying with § 42.521(a) other than making a significant alteration in its existing facilities, the recipient may, as an alternative, refer the handicapped person to other available providers of those services that are accessible. (d) Time period. A recipient shall comply with the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section within ninety days of the effective date of this subpart. However, where structural changes in facilities are necessary, such changes shall be made as expeditiously as possible and shall be completed no later than three years from the effective date of this subpart. If structural changes to facilities are necessary, a recipient shall, within six months of the effective date of this subpart, develop a written plan setting forth the steps that will be taken to complete the changes together with a schedule for making the changes. The plan shall be developed with the assistance of interested persons, including handicapped persons or organizations representing handicapped persons and shall be made available for public inspection. The plan shall, at a minimum: (1) Identify physical obstacles in the recipient's facilities that limit the accessibility of its program or activity to handicapped persons; (2) Describe in detail the methods that will be used to make the facilities accessible; (3) Specify the schedule for taking the steps necessary to achieve full accessibility under § 42.521(a) and, if the time period of the transition plan is longer than one year, identify the steps that will be taken during each year of the transition period; and (4) Indicate the person responsible for implementation of the plan. (e) Notice. The recipient shall adopt and implement procedures to insure that interested persons, including mentally retarded persons or persons with impaired vision or hearing, special learning problems, or other disabilities, can obtain information as to the existence and location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to and usable by handicapped persons.

28 C.F.R. § 42.522 New construction.

(a) Design and construction. Each new facility constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a recipient shall be designed and constructed in such a manner that the facility is readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons, if the construction was commenced after the effective date of this subpart. Any alterations to existing facilities shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be made in an accessible manner. Any alterations to existing facilities shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be made in an accessible manner. (b) Conformance with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. (1) Effective as of March 7, 1988, design, construction, or alteration of buildings in conformance with sections 3-8 of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) (appendix A to 41 CFR subpart 101-19.6) shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section with respect to those buildings. Departures from particular technical and scoping requirements of UFAS by the use of other methods are permitted where substantially equivalent or greater access to and usability of the building is provided. (2) For purposes of this section, section 4.1.6(1)(g) of UFAS shall be interpreted to exempt from the requirements of UFAS only mechanical rooms and other spaces that, because of their intended use, will not require accessibility to the public or beneficiaries or result in the employment or residence therein of persons with physical handicaps. (3) This section does not require recipients to make building alterations that have little likelihood of being accomplished without removing or altering a load-bearing structural member.

Starting a business? Corpus forms LLCs in all 50 states and DC.