[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14796-14797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03867]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

45 CFR Parts 1621 and 1624


Client Grievance Procedures and Prohibition Against 
Discrimination on the Basis of Disability: Request for Information

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Request for Information.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is requesting public 
input on proposed revisions to regulations related to client grievance 
procedures and prohibition of discrimination based on disability, 
respectively. LSC is considering expanding the regulations' scope to 
require grantees to establish grievance procedures for board members 
and ensure they are afforded disability protections. The main purpose 
of these proposals would be to give board members the same protections 
under the regulations as applicants for legal assistance, clients, and 
grantee employees.

DATES: Comments due May 29, 2024.
    Listening sessions, all conducted via Zoom, all times Eastern:
    1. Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
    2. Friday, March 22, 2024, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
    3. Tuesday, April 3, 2024, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
    4. Monday, April 15,2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f435c4c5d5a434a424e444641486f435c4c01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="046877677671686169656f6d6a63446877672a636b72">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``Parts 1621 & 
1624'' in the subject line of the message.

[[Page 14797]]

    <bullet> Mail: Brittany Sims Nwankwoala, Assistant General Counsel, 
Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20007; ATTN: 
Parts 1621 & 1624 Rulemaking.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery/Courier: Brittany Sims Nwankwoala, Assistant 
General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K St. NW, Washington, 
DC 20007; ATTN: Parts 1621 & 1624 Rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brittany Sims Nwankwoala, Assistant 
General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1599 (phone); or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#26485147484d5149474a4744664a554508414950"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="543a23353a3f233b35383536143827377a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Listening Session Access Information: To 
participate in the listening sessions via Zoom, please follow the link 
or use the dial-in instructions below:
    Link: https://lsc-gov.zoom.us/j/4396412186.
    Meeting ID: 439 641 2186.
    Find your local number: https://lsc-gov.zoom.us/u/kAZIVdfiA.
    Background: Consistent with Executive Orders 14058 and 13985, LSC 
reached out to the client-eligible community to seek their views on 
LSC's rulemaking priorities. LSC was particularly interested in their 
views on those rules that directly affect individuals who qualify for 
LSC- funded legal assistance. Community members asked LSC to expand 
upon parts 1621 and 1624. Part 1621 requires legal services programs 
that receive financial assistance from LSC to establish grievance 
procedures to process complaints by applicants regarding the denial of 
legal assistance and complaints by clients about the manner or quality 
of legal assistance provided. These procedures should, to the extent 
possible, result in the provision of an effective remedy in the 
resolution of complaints. The grievance procedures required by part 
1621 cover complaints by individuals denied legal assistance and by 
clients dissatisfied by the manner or quality of legal assistance 
received. No part of LSC's current regulations provides a mechanism for 
governing body members to make complaints about board malfeasance and 
obtain resolution of those complaints.
    Part 1624 requires LSC funded legal services programs to remove any 
impediments that may exist to the provision of legal assistance to 
persons with disabilities eligible for such assistance in accordance 
with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Currently, part 
1624 explicitly applies only to applicants for legal assistance, 
clients, applicants for employment, and grantee employees. Because many 
client-eligible members are persons with disabilities, the commenters 
felt expanding part 1624 to include governing body members was 
necessary to ensure that client-eligible individuals are afforded the 
same opportunities to be selected for and participate in grantee 
governing body activities as persons who do not have disabilities.
    Through this Notice, LSC is asking grantees, clients, other 
stakeholders, and interested members of the public to provide LSC with 
their views on the following questions:
    <bullet> What policies and procedures do your organizations 
currently have in place to address board member grievances? Describe 
the process.
    <bullet> Has your organization had positive or negative experiences 
with utilizing these procedures in the past?
    <bullet> What effect or impact would revising parts 1621 and 1624 
to apply to grantee governing body members have on your organization? 
Unexpected outcomes?
    <bullet> Based on previous experience, how often would your 
organization use regulations like part 1621 and part 1624?
    <bullet> Is there anything else LSC can do to help resolve 
conflicts on your organization's board?
    Interested parties may submit their comments in writing to LSC via 
email, fax, or postal mail. Additionally, LSC will hold four listening 
sessions during which interested parties may join a Zoom call with LSC 
staff to provide their comments orally. The dates and access 
information for those listening sessions are contained in the DATES 
section of this notice.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)

     Dated: February 21, 2024.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024-03867 Filed 2-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P


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