Laserfiche WebLink
ProvidingServicestoLimitedEnglishProficiency(LEP)IndividualsInaccordancewithDOJguidancepertainingtoTitleVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964,42U.S.C.§2000d,recipientsoffederalfinancialassistancemusttakereasonablestepstoprovidemeaningfulaccesstotheirprogramsandactivitiesforpersonswithlimitedEnglishproficiency(LEP).SeeU.S.DepartmentofJustice,GuidancetoFederalFinancialAssistanceRecipientsRegardingTitleVIProhibitionAgainstNationalOriginDiscriminationAffectingLimitedEnglishProficientPersons,67Fed.Reg.41,455(2002).FormoreinformationonthecivilrightsresponsibilitiesthatrecipientshaveinprovidinglanguageservicestoLEPindividuals,pleaseseethewebsitehttp://www.lep.gov.EnsuringEqualTreatmentforFaith-BasedOrganizationsTheDOJregulation,EqualTreatmentforFaith-BasedOrganizations,28C.F.R.pt.38,requiresStateAdministeringAgencies(SAAs)totreatfaith-basedorganizationsthesameasanyotherapplicantorrecipient.TheregulationprohibitsSAAsfrommakingawardsorgrantadministrationdecisionsonthebasisofanorganization'sreligiouscharacteroraffiliation,religiousname,orthereligiouscompositionofitsboardofdirectors.Theregulationalsoprohibitsfaith-basedorganizationsfromusingfinancialassistancefromtheDOJtofundinherently(orexplicitly)religiousactivities.Whilefaith-basedorganizationscanengageinnon-fundedinherentlyreligiousactivities,theymustholdthemseparatelyfromtheprogramfundedbytheDOJ,andrecipientscannotcompelbeneficiariestoparticipateinthem.TheEqualTreatmentRegulationalsomakesclearthatorganizationsparticipatinginprogramsfundedbytheDOJarenotpermittedtodiscriminateintheprovisionofservicesonthebasisofabeneficiary'sreligion.Formoreinformationontheregulation,pleaseseetheOCR'swebsiteathttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/about/ocr/equal_fbo.htm.SAAsandfaith-basedorganizationsshouldalsonotethattheOmnibusCrimeControlandSafeStreetsAct(SafeStreetsAct)of1968,asamended,42U.S.C.§3789d(c);theVictimsofCrimeActof1984,asamended,42U.S.C.§10604(e);theJuvenileJusticeandDelinquencyPreventionActof1974,asamended,42U.S.C.§5672(b);andVAWA,Pub.L.No.113-4,sec.3(b)(4),127Stat.54,61-62(tobecodifiedat42U.S.C.§13925(b)(13))containprohibitionsagainstdiscriminationonthebasisofreligioninemployment.Despitethesenondiscriminationprovisions,theDOJhasconcludedthatitmayconstruetheReligiousFreedomRestorationAct(RFRA)onacase-by-casebasistopermitsomefaith-basedorganizationstoreceiveDOJfundswhiletakingintoaccountreligionwhenhiringstaff,evenifthestatutethatauthorizesthefundingprogramgenerallyforbidsrecipientsfromconsideringreligioninemploymentdecisions.PleaseconsultwiththeOCRifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttheregulationortheapplicationofRFRAtothestatutesthatprohibitdiscriminationinemployment.UsingArrestandConvictionRecordsinMakingEmploymentDecisionsTheOCRissuedanadvisorydocumentforrecipientsontheproperuseofarrestandconvictionrecordsinmakinghiringdecisions.SeeAdvisoryforRecipientsofFinancialAssistancefromtheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeontheU.S.EqualEmploymentOpportunityCommission'sEnforcementGuidance:ConsiderationofArrestandConvictionRecordsinEmploymentDecisionsUnderTitleVIIoftheCivilRightsActof1964(June2013),availableathttp://www.ojp.usdoj.gov//aboutlocr/pdfs/UseofConviction_Advisory.pdf.Recipientsshouldbemindfulthatthemisuseofarrestorconvictionrecordstoscreeneitherapplicantsforemploymentoremployeesforretentionorpromotionmayhaveadisparateimpactbasedonraceornationalorigin,resultinginunlawfulemploymentdiscrimination.InlightoftheAdvisory,recipientsshouldconsultlocalcounselinreviewingtheiremploymentpractices.Ifwarranted,recipientsshouldalsoincorporateananalysisoftheuseofarrestandconvictionrecordsintheirEqualEmploymentOpportunityPlans(EEOPs)(seebelow).ComplyingwiththeSafeStreetsActAnorganizationthatisarecipientoffinancialassistancesubjecttothenondiscriminationprovisionsoftheSafeStreetsAct,mustmeettwoobligations:(1)complyingwiththefederalregulationpertainingtothedevelopmentofanEEOP(see28C.F.R.pt.42,subpt.E)and(2)submittingtotheOCRfindingsofdiscrimination(see28C.F.R.§§42.204(c),.205(c)(5)).