Source: https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/366-f-3d-1-594302290
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 18:04:42
Document Index: 789862110

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 111', '§ 101', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 395', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 701', '§ 107', '§ 107', '§ 551']

366 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2004), 03-1920, New Hampshire v. Ramsey - Federal Cases - Case Law - VLEX 594302290
Docket Nº: 03-1920.
Citation: 366 F.3d 1
Party Name: State of NEW HAMPSHIRE, Plaintiff, Appellant, New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services; State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation; New Hampshire State Treasurer; State of New Hampshire Department of Education, Plaintiffs, v. David RAMSEY, John Loveday, John Toomey, Melinda Conrad, Wayne Aldrich, Norman Jitras, Michael Rossi, Jo
Case Date: April 29, 2004
366 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2004)
Heard Feb. 3, 2004.
Our view of the state's Eleventh Amendment immunity from damages is different. We hold that the state has not waived immunity from damages by its litigation conduct; we also conclude that § 111(b) of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act
(STA Act), 1 23 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq., under which the Blind Vendors seek relief, does not clearly evidence an intent to subject states to such damages. We vacate the damages award and order dismissal of those claims.
In authorizing the operation of vending facilities on Federal property, priority shall be given to blind persons licensed by a State agency as provided in this chapter; and the Secretary, through the Commissioner, shall, after consultation with the Administrator of General Services and other heads of departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of Federal property, prescribe regulations designed to assure that--
The Randolph-Sheppard Act was enacted in order to provide employment opportunities for the blind. The Act grants priority to those blind persons who desire to operate vending facilities on federal property. 20 U.S.C. § 107(b). The Act divides responsibility for the blind vendor program between the state and federal agencies. The Secretary of Education is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Act's provisions, and more specifically, for designating state licensing agencies. 20 U.S.C. §§ 107a(a)(5), 107b; 34 C.F.R. §§ 395.5, 395.8. A person seeking a position as a blind vendor applies to the designated state agency and is licensed by that
agency. The state agency in turn applies to the federal government for the placement of the licensee on federal property. 20 U.S.C. § 107b. Once the state and the federal government have agreed on an appropriate location for the vending facility, the state licensing agency is responsible for equipping the facility and furnishing the initial stock and inventory. 20 U.S.C. § 107b(2). The blind vendor thereafter operates as a sole proprietor who is entitled to the profits of the vending facility and who is responsible for the facility's losses.
Tenn. Dep't of Human Servs. v. United States Dep't of Educ., 979 F.2d 1162, 1163-64 (6th Cir. 1992).
States' participation in the program is voluntary. States choose whether they wish to have their agencies apply to administer the program under the R-S Act and take on the corresponding obligations. See 20 U.S.C. § 107b. The principal benefit that a state receives for participating in the program is an opportunity to improve the lot of its blind population. A participating state also receives funds. For example, even if no blind vendor operates vending facilities on a particular federal property, the relevant SLA receives income from vending machines on that property; these proceeds can be used to fund retirement, health insurance, sick leave, and vacation time for blind vendors and to defray various costs associated with running the program. 20 U.S.C.§§ 107d-3(a), (c).
SLAs also agree to a three-step process ("R-S grievance procedures") for dealing with blind licensees who are dissatisfied with the operation of the vending program: first, a hearing at the state level before the SLA; then, an opportunity to appeal in an arbitration before a USDOE panel; and finally, judicial review of the arbitration panel's decision in the federal courts under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 701. 2 At the first stage, the SLA agrees:
20 U.S.C. § 107b(6). After the hearing before the SLA, a dissatisfied blind licensee may go to arbitration before a panel convened by the federal Secretary of Education, under 20 U.S.C. § 107d-2(b)(1). The procedures used by the panel are governed by the APA, 5 U.S.C. § 551 et...