80 FR 21692 - Use of Non-LSC Funds, Transfer of LSC Funds, Program Integrity; Subgrants and Membership Fees or Dues; Cost Standards and Procedures
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 75 (April 20, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 75 (April 20, 2015)
| Page Range | 21692-21700 | |
| FR Document | 2015-08951 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 21692-21700] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-08951] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION 45 CFR Parts 1610, 1627, and 1630 Use of Non-LSC Funds, Transfer of LSC Funds, Program Integrity; Subgrants and Membership Fees or Dues; Cost Standards and Procedures AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This proposed rule revises the Legal Services Corporation (LSC or Corporation) regulations governing transfers of LSC funds, subgrants to third parties, and cost standards and procedures. DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 20, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Email: [email protected]. Include ``Subgrant Rulemaking'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: (202) 337-6519, ATTN: Subgrant Rulemaking. Mail: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20007, ATTN: Subgrant Rulemaking. Hand Delivery/Courier: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20007, ATTN: Subgrant Rulemaking. Instructions: Electronic submissions are preferred via email with attachments in Acrobat PDF format. LSC may not consider written comments sent via any other method or received after the end of the comment period. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20007, (202) 295-1563 (phone), (202) 337-6519 (fax), [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Regulatory History A. Part 1627. LSC initially promulgated 45 CFR part 1627 in 1983 to improve its oversight of and accountability for LSC funds transferred by recipients to third parties. 48 FR 54206, 54207, Nov. 30, 1983. Prior to the issuance of part 1627, LSC did not regulate subawards of its funds. LSC intended part 1627 to apply to all transfers of LSC funds, which it described in the rule as subgrants, fees and dues, contributions, transfers to other recipients (considered a type of subgrant), training and education activities, and payments to tax- sheltered annuities, retirement accounts, and pensions on behalf of employees. Id. at 54209. LSC did not intend the rule to govern a recipient's procurement of goods and services for its own use. 48 FR 28485, June 22, 1983; 48 FR 54206, 54209, Nov. 30, 1983. In the proposed rule for part 1627, LSC defined the term subgrant as any transfer of funds received from the Corporation by a recipient to any organization for the purpose of carrying out a portion of the recipient's program under a grant or contract from the Corporation; it shall not include a contract for services to be rendered directly to the recipient, nor shall it include any contract with private attorneys or law firms for the direct provision of legal services to eligible clients. 48 FR 28485, 28486, June 22, 1983. In the final rule, LSC incorporated the quoted language into the definition of subrecipient, along with new language explaining what LSC considered activities conducted ``for the purpose of carrying out a portion of the recipient's program.'' 48 FR 54206, 54207, Nov. 30, 1983. LSC also made contracts with private attorneys or law firms for the direct provision of legal services to eligible clients subject to the subgrant rule if the contract cost exceeded $25,000. Id. LSC redefined the term subgrant as ``any transfer of Corporation funds from a recipient which qualifies the organization receiving such funds as a subrecipient under the [revised definition of subrecipient].'' Id. In part 1627, LSC established the process by which a recipient could seek approval of a proposed subgrant, the maximum duration of a subgrant, the recipient's responsibilities for ensuring compliance with LSC's fiscal and audit requirements, and the recipient's responsibility to repay any disallowed costs. 48 FR 54206, 54209, Nov. 30, 1983. LSC also asserted its own rights to oversee subgrants to ensure the subgrantees' compliance with the LSC Act and other applicable statutes, LSC's regulations, and Corporation guidelines and instructions. Id. A separate section of the rule made these requirements applicable to subgrants from one LSC recipient to another. Id. Because a subgrant of LSC funds from one LSC recipient to another is a transfer of funds granted by the same agency, LSC established reporting, accounting, and repayment rules for these types of arrangements that reflect LSC's relationship to both parties. Id. at 54210. LSC last revised part 1627 in 1996. LSC published an interim rule to reflect the complete prohibition on the use of LSC funds to pay fees or dues enacted as part of its fiscal year 1996 appropriations act (``FY96 appropriations act''). Sec. 505, Public Law 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996). [[Page 21693]] LSC also added a requirement that recipients establish adequate recordkeeping policies to document compliance with part 1627. 61 FR 45753, 45754, Aug. 29, 1996. The subgrant provisions remained unchanged, as did the provisions prohibiting contributions of LSC funds to other organizations and allowing recipients to make payments to tax- sheltered annuity funds, retirement accounts, or pension funds on behalf of its employees. Id. at 45753. The interim rule became final with only minor, non-substantive changes in 1997. 62 FR 19417, Apr. 21, 1997. B. Part 1610. Part 1610 implements the statutory restrictions on the use of non-LSC funds by LSC recipients. 45 CFR 1610.1. Originally promulgated in 1976, part 1610 has been revised relatively frequently due to changes in statutory restrictions and in LSC's policies regarding the application of those restrictions. As with part 1627, LSC amended part 1610 in 1996 and 1997 to implement new restrictions Congress placed on recipients' LSC and non-LSC funds through the FY96 appropriations act. Sec. 504, Public Law 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996). Relevantly, in the December 1996 final rule, LSC added Sec. 1610.7 to govern the application of the LSC Act restrictions and the FY96 appropriations act restrictions to recipient transfers of LSC funds and non-LSC funds to third parties. 61 FR 63749, 63752, Dec. 2, 1996. Newly added Sec. 1610.7 also established requirements for aligning a third-party's priorities for the use of transferred funds with the LSC recipient's priorities and for timekeeping on cases and matters undertaken with the transferred funds. Id. LSC issued a new interim rule in March 1997 in which it removed transfers of non-LSC funds from Sec. 1610.7. 62 FR 12101, Mar. 14, 1997. LSC made this change to part 1610 in response to an order issued by the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii preliminarily enjoining LSC from enforcing the application of some of the FY96 appropriations act restrictions to non-LSC funds. Id.; see also Legal Aid Society of Hawaii v. Legal Services Corporation, 961 F. Supp. 1402 (D. Haw. 1997). LSC made no other changes to Sec. 1610.7 as it applied to transfers of LSC funds. Section 1610.7 became final with only minor, non-substantive changes. 62 FR 27695, 27699, May 21, 1997. In 2010, LSC revised part 1610 in response to legislation that removed the FY96 appropriations act restriction on recipients' ability to claim or collect attorneys' fees. 79 FR 21506, 21508, Apr. 26, 2010. The 2010 revision did not affect Sec. 1610.7. II. History of This Rulemaking A. Office of Inspector General Audit of the Technology Initiative Grant Program. In 2010, LSC's Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the Corporation's Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) program. Among its findings was a conclusion that LSC improperly applied part 1627 to the TIG program. Audit of Legal Services Corporation's Technology Initiative Grant Program, Report No. AU-11-01, at 41-44, Dec. 2010. In support of its finding, OIG looked to the definition of the term subrecipient, particularly the portion stating that the entity receiving the award of LSC funds ``agree[s] to conduct certain activities specified by or supported by the [original] recipient related to the recipient's programmatic activities. Such activities would normally include those that might otherwise be expected to be conducted by the recipient itself[.]'' Id. at 41; see also 45 CFR 1627.2(b)(1). Based on this language, OIG found that LSC's subgrant rule applies to all payments made by TIG grantees to third parties that then carry out some or all of the activities that `might otherwise be expected to be conducted directly by the recipient' of a TIG grant made for the purposes specified in the grant documents. The TIG grants specify programmatic purposes other than the direct provision of legal services, namely the implementation of certain technological improvements. Payments by TIG grantees to third parties for services that fall within these purposes amount to subgrants within the meaning of LSC's regulations as currently written and should be administered consistent with the requirements of Part 1627. Id. at 42. OIG reached the same conclusion regarding the application of Sec. 1610.7 to third-party payments of TIG funds. Id. at 50. OIG noted in its report that the programmatic purposes of some TIG grants appeared to overlap the sort of business services that might not be treated as subgrants in other contexts. There is a degree of ambiguity in the application of LSC's subgrant rule to grants with relatively narrow, technological programmatic purposes, as was the case with some TIG grants. Part 1627 draws a distinction between payments to third parties to carry out activities `related to the [grantee's] programmatic activities,' which must be treated as subgrants, and services provided by `vendors or consultants in the normal course of business,' which need not be treated as subgrants when the services `would not be expected to be provided directly by the [grantee] itself.' The subgrant rule appears to have been written with the LSC's principal legal service grants in mind, such that ordinarily, programmatic activities consist of the provision of legal services, and business services can easily be classified as ancillary. This division is not as easy to make in the case of TIG grants, and the rule does not seem to have anticipated this problem. Id. at 42. OIG recommended that LSC Management ``initiate a process to amend LSC regulations to account for [unique features of TIG projects]. . . .'' Id. at 44. Management responded that LSC would review the subgrant rule ``to determine whether it adequately accounts for the unique features of TIGs'' and to determine whether to make recommendations for revising part 1627 to the Board of Directors. Id. Management also affirmed its reading of the subgrant rule by stating that it had consulted the Office of Legal Affairs to distinguish between ``programmatic subgrants'' and ``non-programmatic expenditures for goods and services. . . .'' Id. at 45. OIG considered Management's proposal to be responsive, but noted that its own recommendation contemplated rulemaking beyond merely making changes to part 1627. Id. OIG stated that it would leave the recommendation open until ``all actions are completed and the OIG is notified of the results.'' Id. B. 2012 Initiation of Rulemaking. Consistent with its response to OIG's recommendation, LSC Management presented a Rulemaking Options Paper (``ROP'') and Management recommendation to the Operations and Regulations Committee (``Committee'') of the LSC Board of Directors (``Board'') at its quarterly meeting on April 16, 2012. In the ROP, LSC staff discussed options for addressing two issues raised by OIG's report. The first set of options pertained to LSC's oversight of TIG subawards to third parties that were not considered subgrants. The second set of options related to OIG's recommendation to revise the regulations to account for the special features of TIGs. With respect to LSC's oversight of non-subgrant awards of TIG funds, OIG was satisfied that LSC's newly adopted TIG third-party contracting policy addressed its concerns. OIG consequently closed the related recommendations. In light of this development, Management recommended against rulemaking to respond to OIG's recommendations. The Committee voted to adopt Management's recommendation. [[Page 21694]] LSC developed three options to address OIG's concern that TIG subawards were not treated properly as subgrants. LSC first proposed that the Board could choose not to engage in rulemaking on the matter and let Management continue to apply its interpretation of the subgrant rules at part 1627 and the transfer rule at part 1610. LSC's next options each contemplated rulemaking, but in opposing directions. The second option proposed initiating rulemaking to adopt Management's interpretation of part 1627: That in order to be considered a subgrant, the award to a third party must be for carrying out the recipient's overall programmatic purpose of providing legal assistance to eligible clients. The last option was to initiate rulemaking to adopt OIG's interpretation of the rule: That a subgrant is any award to a third party to carry out the programmatic purposes of the particular grant from which the award is made. In its memo to the Committee, Management recommended that the Committee initiate rulemaking to amend parts 1610 and 1627. Management believed that both rules should be amended to reflect LSC's ``longstanding reading of these rules--that is, that both rules are designed to address legal services activities.'' Management explained that the transfer rule, which takes the definition of ``transfer'' substantially from part 1627, subjects the transferee to all of LSC's substantive restrictions on legal services activities, including the 1996 restrictions that reach the use of non-LSC funds. These restrictions involve legal services activities (such as class actions, representation of aliens, and lobbying) and legal aid program operations (such as program priorities and timekeeping for cases and matters). As with the subgrant rule, the transfer rule does not extend those restrictions to non-programmatic procurement of goods or services. Management does not believe it would be prudent grant management to extend these types of restrictions and requirements to third-party vendors that provide business services and technology services as part of TIGs. These LSC restrictions are meant to apply to entities that receive LSC funds for the provision of legal services under the LSC Act. Management further explained that its interpretation avoids absurd results in other contexts. For example, LSC makes disaster relief grants to recipients whose offices have been damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. Those grants may be used to hire contractors to rebuild the offices or purchase new office supplies. Under OIG's reading, Management said, the building contractor would become a subgrantee under part 1627 because the purpose of the emergency grant is to help the recipient rebuild. Under Management's interpretation of parts 1610 and 1627, it would not. The Committee accepted Management's recommendation. On April 16, 2012, the Chairman of the Committee presented the Committee's recommendation to initiate rulemaking on parts 1610 and 1627 to the Board of Directors for a vote. Some members of the Board raised concerns that because conflicting interpretations of parts 1610 and 1627 were the impetus for the rulemaking, rulemaking was perhaps an inefficient and inappropriate vehicle for resolving the dispute. Rather than voting on the Committee's recommendation, the Board voted to return the issue to the Committee to determine whether LSC could adopt a particular interpretation of parts 1610 and 1627 through a policy document rather than through rulemaking. In response to the Board's instruction, the Committee directed LSC and OIG staff to determine whether LSC had options other than rulemaking to resolve the ambiguity regarding which subawards were covered by part 1627. The Committee met telephonically on June 18, 2012, to discuss the results of the staff deliberations. Both OIG and Management concluded that rulemaking was necessary to ensure that part 1627 reflected Management's concept of subgrants as awards to a third party for carrying out part of an LSC recipient's grant to provide legal services to eligible clients. The Committee concurred, and voted again to recommend that the Board initiate rulemaking to revise the subgrant rule. On July 27, 2012, the Chairman of the Committee presented the Committee's recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Board accepted the recommendation and directed LSC staff to develop a draft rule for the Board's consideration, and OIG closed the related recommendation from its report. The rulemaking, however, became a lower priority on the Committee's agenda as a result of two factors. The first was the issuance of LSC's Pro Bono Task Force Report, which led to the extensive rulemaking process to revise part 1614. The second was the need to revise parts 1613 and 1626 to accommodate legislative changes to LSC's authority to provide legal assistance to individuals facing criminal charges in tribal courts and to certain non-citizen victims of violence, respectively. LSC revived the part 1627 rulemaking as a priority item on its 2015-2016 rulemaking agenda. On April 12, 2015, the Committee voted to recommend that the Board publish this NPRM in the Federal Register for notice and comment. On April 14, 2015, the Board accepted the Committee's recommendation and approved publication of the NPRM. III. Section-by-Section Analysis of Proposed Changes. As will be discussed in more detail below, LSC proposes to revise part 1627 to adopt Management's interpretation of the rule as applying only to those subgrants awarded to third parties for the purpose of carrying out legal assistance activities authorized by the recipient's LSC grant. LSC also proposes to transfer Sec. 1610.7, which governs the applicability of the restrictions placed upon acceptance of LSC funds by the LSC Act and Sec. 504 of LSC's fiscal year 1996 appropriations act, to part 1627. Finally, LSC proposes to transfer existing Sec. Sec. 1627.4, 1627.5, and 1627.7 from part 1627 to part 1630, which governs the allowability and allocability of costs to LSC grants. LSC seeks comments on each of the proposed changes. A. Proposed Changes to Part 1627 Sec. 1627.1 Purpose. LSC proposes to revise this section to state more clearly that part 1627 establishes the requirements for subgrants of LSC funds. Sec. 1627.2 Definitions. LSC proposes to alphabetize the definitions for ease of reference. Because LSC is proposing to relocate existing Sec. 1627.4 to part 1630, LSC proposes to remove the definition of membership fees or dues currently located in paragraph (c) of this section. Sec. 1627.2(a) Private attorney. LSC proposes to adopt the definition of the term private attorney established by 45 CFR part 1614. Sec. 1627.2(b) Programmatic. LSC proposes to define the term programmatic to mean ``activities or functions carried out for the purpose of providing legal assistance, as defined in Sec. 1002 of the LSC Act, 42 U.S.C. 2996a(5).'' Programmatic activities do not include the provision of goods or services by vendors or consultants that the recipient would not be expected to provide itself. LSC proposes defining programmatic to explicitly reference the definition of legal assistance provided in the LSC Act to ensure that Management's interpretation of part 1627 applies. In other words, activities are programmatic only if they are conducted in furtherance of a recipient's grant to provide legal assistance to eligible clients. Activities are not programmatic if they are technical in nature, such as [[Page 21695]] the provision of web development services. Sec. 1627.2(c) Recipient. LSC proposes to remove recipients of grants or contracts awarded under section 1006(a)(3) of the LSC Act, 42 U.S.C. 2996e(a)(3), from the definition of recipient. Section 1006(a)(3) of the LSC Act authorizes LSC ``to undertake directly, or by grant or contract, the following activities relating to the delivery of legal assistance--research . . . training and technical assistance, and [] to serve as a clearinghouse for information.'' 42 U.S.C. 2996e(a)(3). LSC proposes to remove these types of awards from the scope of part 1627 because, as Congress stated, the activities funded through these awards are related to the delivery of legal assistance, but are not themselves an integral part of a recipient's delivery of legal assistance. LSC currently does not make awards under Sec. 1006(a)(3) of the LSC Act; if LSC did, 45 CFR part 1630, LSC's cost standards and procedures, would continue to govern entities receiving such awards. Sec. 1627.2(d) Subgrant. LSC proposes to revise the definition of subgrant currently in Sec. 1627.2(b)(2). LSC proposes to adopt a definition that substantially mirrors the definition of subaward contained in the Uniform Grants Guidance (UGG), 2 CFR 200.92, which applies to Federal awards. LSC proposes to revise the definition to make clear that the purpose of the award is to carry out part of the recipient's grant to provide legal assistance and to remove the references to ``pass-through entities.'' LSC is not bound by the UGG, and does not intend, by adopting this definition, to obligate itself or its recipients to abide by the rules for pass-through entities and subgrantees established by the UGG. LSC proposes to retain the exclusion from the definition of subgrant for judicare arrangements or contracts with private attorneys for the direct delivery of legal assistance to recipients' clients. LSC also seeks comment regarding the $25,000 threshold for private attorney involvement (PAI) contracts supported with LSC funds. During the rulemaking to revise part 1614 on PAI, LSC received a comment recommending that LSC increase the threshold from $25,000 to $60,000 to account for inflation since LSC established the $25,000 threshold in 1983. 70 FR 61770, 61780, Oct. 15, 2014. After consideration, LSC determined that it would benefit from receiving additional information before making any adjustments to the threshold. For this reason, LSC specifically requests comments on whether it should amend the $25,000 threshold, on what amount LSC should set as the new threshold, and providing justification for the proposed threshold. Sec. 1627.2(e) Subrecipient. LSC proposes to simplify the existing definition of subrecipient currently located at Sec. 1627.2(b)(1). LSC proposes to move relevant portions of the current definition to the definitions of programmatic and subgrant to improve clarity. The revised definition will continue to make clear that a single entity may be a subrecipient with respect to some activities, while not being a subrecipient for other activities it conducts for a recipient. Sec. 1627.3 Characteristics of subgrants. LSC proposes to add a new Sec. 1627.3 stating the factors that recipients should consider in determining whether a potential award is a subgrant and requiring recipients to support subgrants using funds, rather than goods or services. LSC proposes to add this section to provide recipients with a framework for determining whether a proposed award to a third party is a subgrant subject to the requirements of this part. This section will make clear that subgrants are awards to third parties that support a recipient's delivery of legal assistance to eligible clients, consistent with Management's interpretation of part 1627. The first two paragraphs of proposed Sec. 1627.3 are taken substantially from the UGG, specifically 2 CFR 200.330. Paragraph (a) adopts the language at Sec. 200.330(c), which explains that the listed characteristics are indicative of a subgrant, but need not all be present in order for an award to be considered a subgrant. Paragraph (b) sets forth the characteristics of a subgrant from Sec. 200.330(a), with minor revisions to make clear that the context for subgrant activities and the performance of the subrecipient is the LSC recipient's legal services work. In considering whether an award should be a subgrant, the primary question is whether the work the subrecipient is doing essentially substitutes for the recipient's legal services work. The following examples demonstrate whether certain types of awards to third parties meet the characteristics of a subgrant. Example 1: An LSC recipient provides an award to another legal services organization to conduct telephone intake and refer cases either to private attorneys for handling or to another organization if the caller is not eligible for LSC-funded legal assistance. This award would properly be considered a subgrant because it meets all five of the characteristics. First, the subrecipient is responsible for determining who is eligible, including whether the person's case is within the recipient's priorities, for legal assistance under the recipient's LSC grant. Second, the subrecipient's performance in referring cases to private attorneys is measured in relation to the recipient's objectives for referring cases to private attorneys in order to meet the requirements of the PAI rule. Third, the subrecipient has responsibility for programmatic decisionmaking because it determines which types of cases it will refer to private attorneys and which it will refer to another provider. Fourth, as it acknowledges in the subgrant agreement, the subrecipient is responsible for adhering to applicable LSC program requirements specified in the award. Finally, the subrecipient will use the LSC funds to carry out legal assistance activities authorized by LSC's governing statutes and regulations, as opposed to providing goods or services for the benefit of the recipient. Example 2: An LSC recipient provides an award to a web designer to develop an online portal for clients and other stakeholders to obtain general legal information about particular areas of law, such as divorces and bankruptcies, as well as contact information for the legal services providers in the state. This award would not be a subgrant because it does not have most of the characteristics set forth in Sec. 1627.3(b). The web designer does not determine eligibility to receive legal assistance under the recipient's LSC grant, nor does it have responsibility for programmatic decision making. The designer does not have its performance measured in relation to whether the recipient's objectives for providing legal services are met, and it is not required to adhere to the programmatic requirements set forth in the recipient's award from LSC. With respect to the fifth characteristic--that the subrecipient uses LSC funds to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in LSC's governing statutes and regulations, rather than providing goods or services for the recipient's benefit--there is room for debate about whether the web designer's work is for the public purpose of providing legal information to eligible clients, or is instead technical services provided for the benefit of the recipient. On balance, however, this type of award appears to be considered more appropriately as a procurement contract. LSC reminds recipients that awards of LSC funds to third parties that do not meet the characteristics of subgrants, including procurements of services, must meet the applicable requirements of 45 CFR part 1630, as well as the [[Page 21696]] Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM). Proposed paragraph (c) states that any award to a third party that is determined to be a subgrant based on an analysis of the factors in paragraph (b) must be supported using LSC funds. LSC has learned that some recipients have entered into agreements with other entities in which the recipients provided goods, including office space and office supplies, in exchange for the other entities' carrying out PAI activities on behalf of the recipient. The recipients in question did not seek prior approval of these agreements because they were exchanges of goods and services, rather than funds; therefore, the recipients did not consider the arrangements to be subgrants subject to the requirements of part 1627. As an organization responsible for disbursing and ensuring accountability for the use of appropriated public funds, LSC must be able to determine that any funds it awards are spent consistent with the terms of its governing statutes and regulations. It is difficult to ensure that goods and services, which may be purchased in whole or in part with LSC funds, transferred to a third party are used in a manner consistent with LSC's governing statutes. Ensuring the accountability of LSC-supported resources is particularly crucial when the resources are provided to a third party that conducts restricted activities in addition to the activities that it is carrying out on behalf of an LSC recipient. In order to ensure the proper use of LSC funds by any entity receiving those funds or resources supported by those funds, LSC believes that any arrangement qualifying as a subgrant under Sec. 1627.3(b) must be paid for with actual funds and not with goods or services. Sec. 1627.4 Requirements for all subgrants. LSC proposes to transfer existing Sec. 1627.4, prohibiting the use of LSC funds to pay membership fees or dues, to part 1630. LSC proposes this transfer to limit the scope of part 1627 to subgrants and to move a provision pertaining to the allowability of costs to the part of LSC's regulations governing cost standards. To accommodate the inclusion of new Sec. 1627.3, LSC proposes to restructure existing Sec. 1627.3 and redesignate it as Sec. 1627.4. LSC also proposes to revise the text of certain paragraphs to reflect changes to the grant approval process and the resulting changes to the subgrant approval process. Sec. 1627.4(a) Corporation approval of subgrants. LSC proposes to revise paragraph (a) to tell recipients how to submit subgrant applications for approval. The process will vary based on the type of grant--Basic Field or special--for which the recipient seeks to award a subgrant, and the time at which the recipient is seeking approval. In paragraph (a)(1)(i), LSC proposes that recipients must submit applications for subgrants of Basic Field Grant funds at the same time as recipients submit their proposals for Basic Field Grant funding. This would consolidate the subgrant approval process with the main grant competition process. LSC also proposes to prescribe the format and substance of requests for subgrant approval annually through notice in the Federal Register. Finally, in paragraph (a)(1)(ii), LSC proposes to inform recipients of its decision to approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to the proposed subgrants prior to or at the same time as it informs recipients of its decision whether to award Basic Field Grant funding. In paragraph (a)(2), LSC proposes to formalize in regulation its current process for requesting and approving subgrants in its special grant programs. The application and award processes for special grants proceed on different schedules from the Basic Field Grant application and award process. LSC's special grant programs are all programs outside of Basic Field Grants--which include Basic Field-Migrant and Basic Field-Native American grants. TIG and the Pro Bono Innovation Fund (PBIF) grants are examples of special grants, as are disaster relief grants. As described in proposed paragraph (a)(2)(i), recipients currently submit applications for approval of subgrants in special grant programs after LSC has awarded them grants. Because the special grant programs are highly competitive, LSC structured the process this way to avoid making recipients invest significant amounts of time in developing, finalizing, and executing subgrant agreements for projects that ultimately are not funded. To allow for flexibility in the form and substance of subgrant applications for the special grant programs, LSC also proposes in this paragraph to publish the requirements for subgrant applications on its Web site and in the Federal Register on an annual basis. In paragraph (a)(2)(ii), LSC proposes to adopt existing Sec. 1627.3(a)(2) in substantial part. LSC proposes to require recipients to submit applications for subgrant approval at least 45 days prior to the start date of the subgrant. LSC will consider and make a decision to approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to applications for approval. Recipients may resubmit for approval applications to which LSC suggested modifications or that LSC has disapproved. LSC proposes to omit the sentence deeming subgrants approved if LSC fails to make a decision on the subgrant application within the specified period of time. LSC is committed to making timely decisions on recipient requests for subgrant approval and does not believe the current policy is consistent with its responsibility to ensure that recipients spend their LSC funds efficiently and effectively. Finally, LSC proposes to establish in Sec. 1627.4(a)(3) a process for the submission and approval of subgrant applications during the grant period for both Basic Field and special grants. LSC recognizes that unanticipated situations, such as the need to terminate and replace an underperforming subrecipient, may cause a recipient to need approval of a subgrant during the grant period. For mid-grant subgrant applications, LSC proposes in paragraph (a)(3)(i) that recipients should submit an application, using the format prescribed by LSC on its Web site and in the Federal Register. Finally, LSC proposes to adopt the 45-day period for submission of applications established in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section. LSC proposes conforming changes to existing Sec. 1627.3(a)(3), which will be relocated to Sec. 1627.4(a)(4). LSC proposes to remove existing Sec. 1627.3(a)(4), which authorized the extension of subgrants that were being executed at the time part 1627 became effective in 1983. This rule is obsolete and should be removed from part 1627. Finally, LSC proposes to relocate existing Sec. 1627.3(b)(3), which requires recipients to seek Corporation approval of any substantial changes in the scope, objectives, or funding amount of a subgrant, to Sec. 1627.4(a)(5) without change. LSC proposes this change to place all requirements for Corporation approval of subgrant proposals or substantial changes within the same paragraph. Sec. 1627.4(b) Duration of subgrant. LSC proposes to revise paragraph (b) to establish the maximum length of subgrant periods. For Basic Field grants, LSC proposes to limit subgrant periods to one year and to require recipients to submit a new application for each subgrant in each year of the Basic Field grant. For special grants, including TIG and PBIF grants, LSC proposes to allow the maximum subgrant period to match the period of the recipient's special grant. Recipients of Basic Field grants must either compete for new grants or apply for renewal of their current grants annually. This schedule supports a [[Page 21697]] conclusion that recipient's subgrants should likewise be reviewed annually to ensure that the subgrants comply with LSC's statutes and regulations, and that the subgrants represent an effective and efficient use of the recipient's LSC resources. By contrast, special grants are for discrete, time-limited projects that may require recipients to engage the subrecipient for the life of the project in order to secure the subrecipient's participation. Additionally, LSC requires special grant recipients to report more frequently about their progress toward meeting project milestones or objectives. This increased reporting allows LSC to assess whether a recipient's subgrants are performing effectively and efficiently throughout the grant period. Because reporting on the performance of a special grant, including the performance of subrecipients of special grant funds, occurs more frequently than once a year, it is not necessary for LSC to limit the maximum duration of a subgrant awarded as part of a special grant to one year. For similar reasons, LSC proposes to treat subgrant funds remaining at the end of the grant year differently. In paragraph (b)(1), LSC proposes to retain the existing language stating that unexpended Basic Field subgrant funds will be considered part of the recipient's available LSC funds. In paragraph (b)(2), LSC proposes to require recipients to return funds remaining on a special grant program subgrant at the end of the grant term to LSC, unless the recipient requests and receives approval from the Corporation to retain such funds. This approach is consistent with the current terms of both the TIG and PBIF grant assurances, which allow recipients to ask LSC for approval to retain any funds that were awarded by LSC to carry out the project, but that were not spent because of lower costs or increased efficiencies in the operation of the project. LSC proposes to redesignate existing Sec. 1627.3(b)(2) as Sec. 1627.4(b)(3) with revisions. The most substantive of the proposed revisions deletes the references to termination and denials of refunding as the exclusive events for which recipients should have procedures for the orderly termination of subgrants, and replaces them with general language that subgrants should terminate ``in the event that the recipient is no longer an LSC recipient.'' LSC proposes adopting the general language to reflect that a recipient's policies governing the orderly termination of subgrants should apply in any instance where the recipient ceases to be an LSC recipient, including termination by LSC, voluntary termination by the recipient, or a failure to receive funding through competition. The other changes LSC proposes are editorial. Sec. 1627.4(c) Recipient responsibilities. For ease of reference, LSC proposes to restructure and consolidate the paragraphs of existing Sec. 1627.3 governing the recipient's particular oversight and repayment obligations into a new Sec. 1627.4(c). Proposed paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) adopt the first two sentences of existing Sec. 1627.3(c) regarding recipients' duties to ensure that their subrecipients comply with LSC's financial and audit provisions and to ensure that their subrecipients properly spend, account for, and audit subgrant funds, respectively. LSC proposes to relocate existing Sec. 1627.3(d), which requires a recipient to repay LSC for any disallowed expenditures of LSC funds incurred by a subrecipient, to paragraph (c)(3). Sec. 1627.4(d) Accounting of funds. LSC proposes to restructure and consolidate the paragraphs of existing Sec. 1627.3 governing the accounting of subgrant funds into a new Sec. 1627.4(d). This paragraph states that subgrants of LSC funds are subject to the audit and financial requirements of the Audit and Accounting Guide for Recipients and Auditors. LSC proposes to delete the last two sentences in existing Sec. 1627.3(c), which authorize recipients to enter into subgrant agreements that provide for an alternate auditing method. LSC is not aware that this provision has been used and proposes to remove it as unnecessary. Sec. 1627.4(e) Oversight. LSC proposes to relocate existing Sec. 1627.3(e) to new Sec. 1627.4(e) with minor editorial changes. Sec. 1627.5 Applicability of restrictions, timekeeping, and recipient priorities; private attorney involvement subgrants. LSC proposes to transfer existing Sec. 1627.5, prohibiting the use of LSC funds to make contributions or gifts to other organizations or individuals, to part 1630. LSC proposes this transfer to limit the scope of part 1627 to subgrants and to move another provision pertaining to the allowability of costs to the part of LSC's regulations governing cost standards. Additionally, because LSC has considered subgrants and transfers as functionally the same, LSC proposes to transfer 45 CFR 1610.7, the transfer rule, to part 1627 and redesignate it as Sec. 1627.5. The restrictions listed in 45 CFR 1610.2--restrictions established by both the LSC Act and the FY96 appropriations act--will continue to apply to all subgrants. LSC proposes to make only minor edits to paragraphs (a) and (b) for clarity. Sec. 1627.5(c) Timekeeping. LSC proposes to move the timekeeping requirement to its own paragraph and revise the requirement itself. Currently, Sec. 1610.7(b)(2) requires only that recipients ``maintain records of time spent on each case or matter undertaken with the funds transferred.'' In the preamble to the 1997 final rule, LSC tied the timekeeping requirement to the language in Section 504(a)(10)(A) of the FY96 appropriations act, which prohibited LSC funds from being awarded to any person or entity unless ``prior to receiving the financial assistance, such person or entity agrees to maintain records of time spent on each case or matter with respect to which the person or entity is engaged.'' Sec. 504(a)(10)(A), Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, 1321-54. LSC stated in the preamble that the rule did not require recipients ``to keep time in accordance with the Corporation's timekeeping regulation, 45 CFR part 1635,'' but also did not provide guidance to recipients about the level of timekeeping that would be sufficient ``to ensure accountability for [the transferred] funds.'' 62 FR 27695, 27697, May 21, 1997. To further confuse matters, part 1614 states that ``[i]f any direct or indirect time of staff attorneys or paralegals is to be allocated as a cost to PAI, such costs must be documented by time sheets accounting for the time those employees have spent on PAI activities.'' 45 CFR 1614.7(a)(1). LSC considered multiple options for creating coherent timekeeping requirements for recipients and subrecipients alike. LSC considered leaving the current language in place and adding language describing the minimum requirements for subrecipient timekeeping. Doing so would allow recipients and subrecipients flexibility to develop timekeeping systems that would ensure accountability for expenditures of LSC funds, while minimizing the administrative burden to the subrecipient. LSC also considered making the part 1635 timekeeping requirements applicable to non-PAI subgrants and the part 1614 timekeeping requirements applicable to PAI subgrants. This option would be consistent with the way in which LSC's regulations direct recipients to document time spent on the recipients' non-PAI and PAI activities, respectively. LSC ultimately chose to propose a requirement that all subrecipients comply with the part 1635 timekeeping requirements for all LSC-funded subgrant activities. LSC chose this [[Page 21698]] option for three reasons. First, LSC learned that some recipients have interpreted Sec. 1610.7(b)(2) as not requiring subrecipients to keep time records. This interpretation is incorrect. Section 1610.7(b)(2) clearly states that subrecipients ``are required to maintain records of time spent on each case or matter undertaken'' with LSC funds, although LSC also stated in the preamble to the 1997 final rule for part 1610 that subrecipients did not have ``to keep time in accordance with the Corporation's timekeeping regulation, 45 CFR part 1635.'' 62 FR 27695, 27697, May 21, 1997. Second, LSC's experience overseeing subgrants over the eighteen years since LSC revised Sec. 1610.7 has given LSC reason to believe that clear timekeeping requirements for subgrants will lead to increased accountability for the use of LSC funds by subrecipients. Finally, LSC believes that having three distinct timekeeping requirements creates unnecessary confusion about which requirements apply to which uses of LSC funds. LSC's proposal will make the timekeeping provisions of parts 1627 and 1635 consistent and will reflect the methods that recipients use to document time charged to their LSC grants. LSC understands that some subrecipients may be small organizations that currently do not have, or may find it difficult to develop, the capacity to maintain timekeeping records that comply with part 1635. For that reason, LSC specifically seeks comment on the proposal to require all subrecipients to comply with the timekeeping requirements of part 1635. Sec. 1627.5(d) PAI subgrants. LSC proposes to redesignate existing Sec. 1610.7(c) as Sec. 1627.5(d) and to make editorial changes to the paragraph for clarity. LSC also proposes to adopt a new paragraph (d)(2) stating that, with respect to PAI subgrants, all funds that a recipient uses to support the subgrant are deemed to be LSC funds for purposes of the restrictions listed in 45 CFR 1610.2. LSC requires its recipients to expend an amount equal to at least 12.5% of its LSC grant to PAI activities. See 45 CFR 1614.1(a). This language gives recipients discretion about whether they spend entirely LSC funds, entirely non- LSC funds, or some combination of the two, on PAI activities. The reason for the proposed paragraph is to put in the regulation the analysis reflected in AO-2009-1004 that activities carried out as part of a recipient's PAI program, regardless of the source of funds, must be consistent with LSC's governing statutes and regulations. See Advisory Opinion AO-2009-1004, at 3-4, June 19, 2009. Sec. 1627.6 Subgrants to other recipients. LSC proposes to make only non-substantive editorial changes to this section. Sec. 1627.7 Recipient policies, procedures, and recordkeeping. LSC proposes to transfer existing Sec. 1627.7, regarding recipient payments to tax-sheltered annuities, retirement accounts, and pensions, to part 1630. LSC proposes this transfer to limit the scope of part 1627 to subgrants and to move the final provision in part 1627 pertaining to the allowability of costs to the part of LSC's regulations governing cost standards. LSC proposes to redesignate existing Sec. 1627.8 as Sec. 1627.7 without revision. B. Proposed Changes to Part 1610 Sec. 1610.2 Definitions. LSC proposes to eliminate the term transfer and replace it with the term subgrant, as defined in Sec. 1627.2(d). LSC intended the current definition of transfer to mirror the definition of subgrant, but it does not. The slight differences between the two definitions have caused confusion about whether the terms are coextensive. LSC has treated the terms as functionally equivalent since it enacted Sec. 1610.7 in 1997. LSC's proposed change will eliminate ambiguity by combining the two concepts into one term. The proposed change will not affect the current order of definitions in Sec. 1610.2. If this change becomes final, LSC will need to amend Sec. 1610.8(a)(2) to conform with the change. Sec. 1610.7 Transfers of LSC funds. As described more fully above, LSC proposes to transfer this section to part 1627 because it governs the application of the LSC Act and FY96 appropriations act restrictions listed in Sec. 1610.2 to a subrecipient's LSC and non-LSC funds. LSC believes that because Sec. 1610.7 effectively applies to subgrants, it should be located in part 1627 with the rest of the subgrant rules. Should this proposed change become final, LSC will need to redesignate existing Sec. Sec. 1610.8 and 1610.9 to reflect the removal of Sec. 1610.7. C. Proposed Changes to Part 1630 In the interest of making its regulations easier to use, LSC proposes to limit the scope of part 1627 to provisions applicable to subgrants. Three provisions of part 1627 are not related to subgrants, but instead proscribe the use of LSC funds to pay membership fees or dues (Sec. 1627.4) or to make contributions to other entities or individuals (Sec. 1627.5), or allow recipients to make certain benefits contributions on behalf of its employees (Sec. 1627.7). LSC proposes to transfer these three provisions to part 1630, which establishes LSC's cost standards. LSC proposes to redesignate these provisions as Sec. Sec. 1630.14-16. LSC does not propose to revise the text of these provisions at this time. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Legal Services Corporation proposes to amend 45 CFR chapter XVI as follows: PART 1610--USE OF NON-LSC FUNDS, TRANSFERS OF LSC FUNDS, PROGRAM INTEGRITY 0 1. The authority citation for part 1610 continues to read as follows: Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996i; Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009; Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321; Pub. L. 111-117; 123 Stat. 3034. Sec. 1610.7 [Removed] 0 2. Remove Sec. 1610.7. Sec. Sec. 1610.8 and 1610.9 [Redesignated as Sec. Sec. 1610.7 and 1610.8] 0 3. Sections 1610.8 and 1610.9 are redesignated as Sec. Sec. 1610.7 and 1610.8, respectively. PART 1630--COST STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES 0 4. The authority citation for part 1630 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 3, 42 U.S.C. 2996e, 2996f, 2996g, 2996h(c)(1); Pub. L. 105-119, 111 Stat. 2440; Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321. PART 1627--SUBGRANTS AND MEMBERSHIP FEES OR DUES 0 5. The authority citation for part 1627 is revised to read as follows: Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e). Sec. 1627.4 [Transferred to Part 1630 and Redesignated as Sec. 1630.14] 0 6. Section 1627.4 is transferred to part 1630 and redesignated as Sec. 1630.14. Sec. 1627.5 [Transferred to Part 1630 and Redesignated as Sec. 1630.15] 0 7. Section 1627.5 is transferred to part 1630 and redesignated as Sec. 1630.15. Sec. 1627.7 [Transferred to Part 1630 and Redesignated as Sec. 1630.16] 0 8. Section 1627.7 is transferred to part 1630 and redesignated as Sec. 1630.16. 0 9. Revise part 1627 to read as follows: PART 1627--SUBGRANTS Sec. 1627.1 Purpose. 1627.2 Definitions. 1627.3 Characteristics of subgrants. 1627.4 Requirements for all subgrants. [[Page 21699]] 1627.5 Applicability of restrictions, timekeeping, and recipient priorities; private attorney involvement subgrants. 1627.6 Transfers to other recipients. 1627.7 Recipient policies, procedures and recordkeeping. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e). Sec. 1627.1 Purpose. The purpose of this part is to establish the requirements for subgrants of LSC funds from recipients to third parties to assist in the recipient's provision of legal assistance to eligible clients. Sec. 1627.2 Definitions. (a) Private attorney has the meaning given that term in 45 CFR 1614.3(i). (b) Programmatic means activities or functions carried out to provide legal assistance, as defined in Sec. 1002 of the LSC Act, 42 U.S.C. 2996a(5). Programmatic activities do not include the provision of goods or services by vendors or consultants in the normal course of business that the recipient would not be expected to provide itself. (c) Recipient as used in this part means any recipient as defined in section 1002(6) of the Act and any grantee or contractor receiving funds from LSC under section 1006(a)(1)(B) of the Act. (d)(1) Subgrant means an award of LSC funds provided by a recipient to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of the recipient's programmatic activities. (2) Except for judicare arrangements and contracts with private attorneys for the direct delivery of legal assistance under 45 CFR part 1614 that exceed $25,000, subgrant does not include activities that are covered by a fee-for-service arrangement. Subrecipient means any entity receiving a subgrant. A single entity may be a subrecipient with respect to some activities it conducts for a recipient while not being a subrecipient with respect to other activities it conducts for a recipient. Sec. 1627.3 Characteristics of subgrants. (a) In determining whether an agreement between a recipient and another entity should be considered a subgrant or a procurement contract, the substance of the relationship is more important than the form of the agreement. All of the characteristics listed below may not be present in all cases, and the recipient must use judgment in classifying each agreement as a subgrant or a procurement contract. (b) An award from a recipient to another entity will be considered a subgrant when the entity: (1) Determines who is eligible to receive legal assistance under the recipient's LSC grant; (2) Has its performance measured in relation to whether programmatic objectives of the LSC grant were met; (3) Has responsibility for programmatic decisionmaking; (4) Is responsible for adherence to applicable LSC program requirements specified in the LSC grant award; and (5) In accordance with its agreement, uses the LSC funds to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in LSC's governing statutes and regulations, as opposed to providing goods or services for the benefit of the recipient. (c) Any award to a third party that is determined to be a subgrant based on an analysis of these factors must be supported using LSC funds. Recipients may not use goods and services paid for in whole or in part with LSC funds as payment for a subgrant. Sec. 1627.4 Requirements for all subgrants. (a) Corporation approval of subgrants. Recipients must submit all applications for subgrants to LSC in writing for prior written approval. (1) Basic Field Grants. (i) Recipients should submit applications for subgrants of Basic Field Grant funds along with the recipient's proposal for funding, including applications for renewals of funding. LSC will publish the requirements concerning the format and contents of the application annually in the Federal Register and on LSC's Web site. (ii) LSC will notify a recipient of its decision to approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to an application for subgrant approval prior to, or at the same time as LSC provides notice of its decision with respect to the applicant's proposal for Basic Field Grant funding. (2) Special grants. (i) Recipients of special grants (e.g., Technology Initiative Grants, Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants, disaster assistance grants), should submit their subgrant applications following notification of approval of special grant funds. LSC will publish the requirements concerning the format and contents of the application annually in the Federal Register and on LSC's Web site. (ii) A subgrant application must be submitted at least 45 days in advance of its proposed effective date. LSC will notify the recipient in writing of its decision to approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to the subgrant. A subgrant that is disapproved or to which LSC has suggested modifications may be resubmitted for approval. (3) Mid-year subgrant requests. A recipient may apply for prior approval of a subgrant outside of the periods prescribed in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section as needed. LSC will publish the requirements concerning the format and contents of the application annually in the Federal Register and on LSC's Web site. LSC will follow the time periods prescribed in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section to consider and notify a recipient of its decision to approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to the subgrant. (4) Any subgrant not approved according to paragraphs (a)(1)-(3) of this section will be subject to disallowance and recovery of all funds expended under the subgrant. (5) A recipient must obtain LSC approval of any substantial change in the scope or objectives of a subgrant or an increase or decrease in the funding amount of more than 10%. Minor changes in the scope or objectives or changes in funding of less than 10% do not require prior approval, but the recipient must notify LSC of such changes in writing. (b) Duration of subgrant. (1) For Basic Field grants, a subgrant may not be for a period longer than one year. All funds unexpended at the end of the subgrant period will be considered part of the recipient's available LSC funds. (2) For special grants (e.g., Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants, Technology Initiative Grants, disaster assistance grants), a subgrant may not be for a period longer than the term of the grant. Absent written approval from LSC, all unexpended funds must be returned to LSC at the end of the subgrant period. (3) All subgrants must contain provisions for their orderly termination in the event that the recipient is no longer an LSC recipient, and for suspension of activities if the recipient's funding is suspended. (c) Recipient responsibilities. (1) Recipients must ensure that subrecipients comply with LSC's financial and audit provisions. (2) The recipient must ensure that the subrecipient properly spends, accounts for, and audits funds received through the subgrant. (3) The recipient must repay LSC for any disallowed expenditures by a subrecipient. Repayment is required regardless of whether the recipient is able to recover such expenditures from the subrecipient. (d) Accounting of funds. Any LSC funds paid by a recipient to a subrecipient through a subgrant are subject to the audit and financial requirements of the Audit Guide for Recipients and Auditors and the [[Page 21700]] Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients. Subgranted funds may be separately disclosed and accounted for, and reported upon in the audited financial statements of a recipient; or such funds may be included in a separate audit report of the subrecipient. The relationship between the recipient and subrecipient will determine the proper method of financial reporting following generally accepted accounting principles. (e) Oversight. To ensure subrecipient compliance with the LSC Act, LSC's appropriations statutes, Congressional restrictions having the force of law, and LSC's regulations, guidelines, and instructions, agreements between a recipient and a subrecipient must provide the same oversight rights for LSC with respect to subrecipients as apply to subrecipients. Sec. 1627.5 Applicability of restrictions, timekeeping, and recipient priorities; private attorney involvement subgrants. (a) Applicability of restrictions. The prohibitions and requirements set forth in 45 CFR part 1610 apply both to the subgrant and to the subrecipient's non-LSC funds, except as modified by paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section. (b) Priorities. Subrecipients must either: (1) Use the subgrant consistent with the recipient's priorities; or (2) Establish their own priorities for the use of the subgrant consistent with 45 CFR part 1620; (c) Timekeeping. Subrecipients must comply with 45 CFR part 1635 regarding timekeeping for all LSC-funded subgrant activities. (d) PAI subgrant. (1) The prohibitions and requirements set forth in 45 CFR part 1610 apply only to the subgrant, when the subrecipient is a bar association, pro bono program, private attorney or law firm, or other entity that receives a subgrant for the sole purpose of funding private attorney involvement activities (PAI) pursuant to 45 CFR part 1614. (2) Any funds used by a recipient as payment for a PAI subgrant are deemed LSC funds for purposes of this paragraph. Sec. 1627.6 Subgrants to other recipients. (a) The requirements of Sec. 1627.4 apply to all subgrants from one recipient to another recipient. (b) The subrecipient must audit any funds provided by the recipient under a subgrant in its annual audit and supply a copy of this audit to the recipient. The recipient must either submit the relevant part of this audit with its next annual audit or, if an audit has been recently submitted, submit it as an addendum to that recently submitted audit. (c) In addition to the provisions of Sec. 1627.4(c)(3), LSC may hold the recipient responsible for any disallowed expenditures of subgrant funds. Thus, LSC may recover all of the disallowed costs from either the recipient or the subrecipient or may divide the recovery between the two. LSC's total recovery may not exceed the amount of expenditures disallowed. (d) Funds received by a recipient from other recipients in the form of fees and dues shall be accounted for and included in the annual audit of the recipient receiving these funds as LSC funds. Sec. 1627.7 Recipient policies, procedures and recordkeeping. Each recipient must adopt written policies and procedures to guide its staff in complying with this part and must maintain records sufficient to document the recipient's compliance with this part. PART 1630--COST STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES 0 10. In newly transferred and redesignated Sec. 1630.14, revise the section heading to read as follows: Sec. 1630.14 Membership fees or dues. 0 11. In newly transferred and redesignated Sec. 1630.15, revise the section heading to read as follows: Sec. 1630.15 Contributions. 0 12. In newly transferred and redesignated Sec. 1630.16, revise the section heading to read as follows: Sec. 1630.16 Tax sheltered annuities, retirement accounts, and pensions. Dated: April 14, 2015. Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2015-08951 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7050-01-P
![21692 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules
will not take further action on this LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION 54209. LSC did not intend the rule to
proposed rule govern a recipient’s procurement of
45 CFR Parts 1610, 1627, and 1630 goods and services for its own use. 48
DATES: Written comments must be FR 28485, June 22, 1983; 48 FR 54206,
received by May 20, 2015. Use of Non-LSC Funds, Transfer of 54209, Nov. 30, 1983.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, LSC Funds, Program Integrity; In the proposed rule for part 1627,
Subgrants and Membership Fees or LSC defined the term subgrant as
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R01–
Dues; Cost Standards and Procedures
RCRA–2015–0195, by mail to Sharon any transfer of funds received from the
Leitch, RCRA Waste Management and AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation. Corporation by a recipient to any
UST Section, Office of Site Remediation organization for the purpose of carrying out
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
a portion of the recipient’s program under a
and Restoration (OSRR07–1), U.S. EPA grant or contract from the Corporation; it
Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite SUMMARY: This proposed rule revises the
shall not include a contract for services to be
100, Boston, MA 02109–3912. Legal Services Corporation (LSC or rendered directly to the recipient, nor shall
Comments may also be submitted Corporation) regulations governing it include any contract with private attorneys
transfers of LSC funds, subgrants to or law firms for the direct provision of legal
electronically or thorough hand
third parties, and cost standards and services to eligible clients.
delivery/courier by following the
procedures. 48 FR 28485, 28486, June 22, 1983. In
detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES
section of the direct final rule located in DATES: Comments must be submitted by the final rule, LSC incorporated the
the rules section of this Federal May 20, 2015. quoted language into the definition of
Register. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments subrecipient, along with new language
by any of the following methods: explaining what LSC considered
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Email: SubgrantRulemaking@lsc.gov. activities conducted ‘‘for the purpose of
Sharon Leitch, RCRA Waste Include ‘‘Subgrant Rulemaking’’ in the carrying out a portion of the recipient’s
Management and UST Section, Office of subject line of the message. program.’’ 48 FR 54206, 54207, Nov. 30,
Site Remediation and Restoration Fax: (202) 337–6519, ATTN: Subgrant 1983. LSC also made contracts with
(OSRR07–1), U.S. EPA Region 1, 5 Post Rulemaking. private attorneys or law firms for the
Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA Mail: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant direct provision of legal services to
02109–3912; telephone number: (617) General Counsel, Legal Services eligible clients subject to the subgrant
918–1647; fax number: (617) 918–0647; Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., rule if the contract cost exceeded
Washington, DC 20007, ATTN: Subgrant $25,000. Id. LSC redefined the term
email address: leitch.sharon@epa.gov.
Rulemaking. subgrant as ‘‘any transfer of Corporation
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Hand Delivery/Courier: Stefanie K. funds from a recipient which qualifies
‘‘Rules and Regulations’’ section of this Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal the organization receiving such funds as
Federal Register, EPA is authorizing Services Corporation, 3333 K Street a subrecipient under the [revised
these changes by a direct final rule. EPA NW., Washington, DC 20007, ATTN: definition of subrecipient].’’ Id.
did not make a proposal prior to the Subgrant Rulemaking. In part 1627, LSC established the
direct final rule because we believe this Instructions: Electronic submissions process by which a recipient could seek
action is not controversial and do not are preferred via email with attachments approval of a proposed subgrant, the
expect adverse comments that oppose it. in Acrobat PDF format. LSC may not maximum duration of a subgrant, the
consider written comments sent via any recipient’s responsibilities for ensuring
We have explained the reasons for this
other method or received after the end compliance with LSC’s fiscal and audit
authorization in the preamble to the
of the comment period. requirements, and the recipient’s
direct final rule. Unless we receive
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: responsibility to repay any disallowed
written adverse comments which
Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General costs. 48 FR 54206, 54209, Nov. 30,
oppose this authorization during the
Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 1983. LSC also asserted its own rights to
comment period, the direct final rule
3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC oversee subgrants to ensure the
will become effective on the date it 20007, (202) 295–1563 (phone), (202) subgrantees’ compliance with the LSC
establishes, and we will not take further 337–6519 (fax), sdavis@lsc.gov. Act and other applicable statutes, LSC’s
action on this proposal. If we get regulations, and Corporation guidelines
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
comments that oppose this action, we and instructions. Id. A separate section
will withdraw the direct final rule and I. Regulatory History of the rule made these requirements
it will not take immediate effect. We A. Part 1627. LSC initially applicable to subgrants from one LSC
will then respond to public comments promulgated 45 CFR part 1627 in 1983 recipient to another. Id. Because a
in a later final rule based on this to improve its oversight of and subgrant of LSC funds from one LSC
proposal. You may not have another accountability for LSC funds transferred recipient to another is a transfer of
opportunity for comment. If you want to by recipients to third parties. 48 FR funds granted by the same agency, LSC
comment on this action, you should do 54206, 54207, Nov. 30, 1983. Prior to established reporting, accounting, and
so at this time. the issuance of part 1627, LSC did not repayment rules for these types of
Dated: March 24, 2015.
regulate subawards of its funds. LSC arrangements that reflect LSC’s
intended part 1627 to apply to all relationship to both parties. Id. at 54210.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
H. Curtis Spalding, transfers of LSC funds, which it LSC last revised part 1627 in 1996.
Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1. described in the rule as subgrants, fees LSC published an interim rule to reflect
[FR Doc. 2015–08996 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am] and dues, contributions, transfers to the complete prohibition on the use of
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P other recipients (considered a type of LSC funds to pay fees or dues enacted
subgrant), training and education as part of its fiscal year 1996
activities, and payments to tax-sheltered appropriations act (‘‘FY96
annuities, retirement accounts, and appropriations act’’). Sec. 505, Public
pensions on behalf of employees. Id. at Law 104–134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996).
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Apr 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_21767/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules 21693
LSC also added a requirement that recipients’ ability to claim or collect directly by the [grantee] itself.’ The subgrant
recipients establish adequate attorneys’ fees. 79 FR 21506, 21508, rule appears to have been written with the
recordkeeping policies to document Apr. 26, 2010. The 2010 revision did not LSC’s principal legal service grants in mind,
compliance with part 1627. 61 FR affect § 1610.7. such that ordinarily, programmatic activities
consist of the provision of legal services, and
45753, 45754, Aug. 29, 1996. The business services can easily be classified as
II. History of This Rulemaking
subgrant provisions remained ancillary. This division is not as easy to make
unchanged, as did the provisions A. Office of Inspector General Audit in the case of TIG grants, and the rule does
prohibiting contributions of LSC funds of the Technology Initiative Grant not seem to have anticipated this problem.
to other organizations and allowing Program. In 2010, LSC’s Office of
recipients to make payments to tax- Inspector General (OIG) conducted an Id. at 42.
sheltered annuity funds, retirement audit of the Corporation’s Technology OIG recommended that LSC
accounts, or pension funds on behalf of Initiative Grant (TIG) program. Among Management ‘‘initiate a process to
its employees. Id. at 45753. The interim its findings was a conclusion that LSC amend LSC regulations to account
rule became final with only minor, non- improperly applied part 1627 to the TIG for [unique features of TIG
substantive changes in 1997. 62 FR program. Audit of Legal Services projects]. . . .’’ Id. at 44. Management
19417, Apr. 21, 1997. Corporation’s Technology Initiative responded that LSC would review the
B. Part 1610. Part 1610 implements Grant Program, Report No. AU–11–01, subgrant rule ‘‘to determine whether it
the statutory restrictions on the use of at 41–44, Dec. 2010. In support of its adequately accounts for the unique
non-LSC funds by LSC recipients. 45 finding, OIG looked to the definition of features of TIGs’’ and to determine
CFR 1610.1. Originally promulgated in the term subrecipient, particularly the whether to make recommendations for
1976, part 1610 has been revised portion stating that the entity receiving revising part 1627 to the Board of
relatively frequently due to changes in the award of LSC funds ‘‘agree[s] to Directors. Id. Management also affirmed
statutory restrictions and in LSC’s conduct certain activities specified by or its reading of the subgrant rule by
policies regarding the application of supported by the [original] recipient stating that it had consulted the Office
those restrictions. As with part 1627, related to the recipient’s programmatic of Legal Affairs to distinguish between
LSC amended part 1610 in 1996 and activities. Such activities would ‘‘programmatic subgrants’’ and ‘‘non-
1997 to implement new restrictions normally include those that might programmatic expenditures for goods
Congress placed on recipients’ LSC and otherwise be expected to be conducted and services. . . .’’ Id. at 45. OIG
non-LSC funds through the FY96 by the recipient itself[.]’’ Id. at 41; see considered Management’s proposal to
appropriations act. Sec. 504, Public Law also 45 CFR 1627.2(b)(1). Based on this be responsive, but noted that its own
104–134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996). language, OIG found that recommendation contemplated
Relevantly, in the December 1996 final rulemaking beyond merely making
LSC’s subgrant rule applies to all payments
rule, LSC added § 1610.7 to govern the made by TIG grantees to third parties that changes to part 1627. Id. OIG stated that
application of the LSC Act restrictions then carry out some or all of the activities it would leave the recommendation
and the FY96 appropriations act that ‘might otherwise be expected to be open until ‘‘all actions are completed
restrictions to recipient transfers of LSC conducted directly by the recipient’ of a TIG and the OIG is notified of the results.’’
funds and non-LSC funds to third grant made for the purposes specified in the Id.
parties. 61 FR 63749, 63752, Dec. 2, grant documents. The TIG grants specify
programmatic purposes other than the direct B. 2012 Initiation of Rulemaking.
1996. Newly added § 1610.7 also
provision of legal services, namely the Consistent with its response to OIG’s
established requirements for aligning a
implementation of certain technological recommendation, LSC Management
third-party’s priorities for the use of
improvements. Payments by TIG grantees to presented a Rulemaking Options Paper
transferred funds with the LSC third parties for services that fall within these (‘‘ROP’’) and Management
recipient’s priorities and for purposes amount to subgrants within the recommendation to the Operations and
timekeeping on cases and matters meaning of LSC’s regulations as currently Regulations Committee (‘‘Committee’’)
undertaken with the transferred funds. written and should be administered
of the LSC Board of Directors (‘‘Board’’)
Id. consistent with the requirements of Part
LSC issued a new interim rule in 1627. at its quarterly meeting on April 16,
March 1997 in which it removed 2012. In the ROP, LSC staff discussed
Id. at 42. options for addressing two issues raised
transfers of non-LSC funds from OIG reached the same conclusion
§ 1610.7. 62 FR 12101, Mar. 14, 1997. by OIG’s report. The first set of options
regarding the application of § 1610.7 to pertained to LSC’s oversight of TIG
LSC made this change to part 1610 in third-party payments of TIG funds. Id. at
response to an order issued by the subawards to third parties that were not
50. considered subgrants. The second set of
United States District Court for the OIG noted in its report that
District of Hawaii preliminarily options related to OIG’s
the programmatic purposes of some TIG recommendation to revise the
enjoining LSC from enforcing the grants appeared to overlap the sort of
application of some of the FY96 regulations to account for the special
business services that might not be treated as
appropriations act restrictions to non- features of TIGs.
subgrants in other contexts. There is a degree
LSC funds. Id.; see also Legal Aid of ambiguity in the application of LSC’s With respect to LSC’s oversight of
Society of Hawaii v. Legal Services subgrant rule to grants with relatively non-subgrant awards of TIG funds, OIG
Corporation, 961 F. Supp. 1402 (D. narrow, technological programmatic was satisfied that LSC’s newly adopted
Haw. 1997). LSC made no other changes purposes, as was the case with some TIG TIG third-party contracting policy
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to § 1610.7 as it applied to transfers of grants. Part 1627 draws a distinction between addressed its concerns. OIG
LSC funds. Section 1610.7 became final payments to third parties to carry out consequently closed the related
activities ‘related to the [grantee’s] recommendations. In light of this
with only minor, non-substantive programmatic activities,’ which must be
changes. 62 FR 27695, 27699, May 21, treated as subgrants, and services provided
development, Management
1997. by ‘vendors or consultants in the normal recommended against rulemaking to
In 2010, LSC revised part 1610 in course of business,’ which need not be respond to OIG’s recommendations. The
response to legislation that removed the treated as subgrants when the services Committee voted to adopt
FY96 appropriations act restriction on ‘would not be expected to be provided Management’s recommendation.
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the provision of web development threshold, on what amount LSC should responsible for determining who is
services. set as the new threshold, and providing eligible, including whether the person’s
§ 1627.2(c) Recipient. LSC proposes to justification for the proposed threshold. case is within the recipient’s priorities,
remove recipients of grants or contracts § 1627.2(e) Subrecipient. LSC for legal assistance under the recipient’s
awarded under section 1006(a)(3) of the proposes to simplify the existing LSC grant. Second, the subrecipient’s
LSC Act, 42 U.S.C. 2996e(a)(3), from the definition of subrecipient currently performance in referring cases to private
definition of recipient. Section located at § 1627.2(b)(1). LSC proposes attorneys is measured in relation to the
1006(a)(3) of the LSC Act authorizes to move relevant portions of the current recipient’s objectives for referring cases
LSC ‘‘to undertake directly, or by grant definition to the definitions of to private attorneys in order to meet the
or contract, the following activities programmatic and subgrant to improve requirements of the PAI rule. Third, the
relating to the delivery of legal clarity. The revised definition will subrecipient has responsibility for
assistance—research . . . training and continue to make clear that a single programmatic decisionmaking because
technical assistance, and [] to serve as entity may be a subrecipient with it determines which types of cases it
a clearinghouse for information.’’ 42 respect to some activities, while not will refer to private attorneys and which
U.S.C. 2996e(a)(3). LSC proposes to being a subrecipient for other activities it will refer to another provider. Fourth,
remove these types of awards from the it conducts for a recipient. as it acknowledges in the subgrant
scope of part 1627 because, as Congress § 1627.3 Characteristics of agreement, the subrecipient is
stated, the activities funded through subgrants. LSC proposes to add a new responsible for adhering to applicable
these awards are related to the delivery § 1627.3 stating the factors that LSC program requirements specified in
of legal assistance, but are not recipients should consider in the award. Finally, the subrecipient will
themselves an integral part of a determining whether a potential award use the LSC funds to carry out legal
recipient’s delivery of legal assistance. is a subgrant and requiring recipients to assistance activities authorized by LSC’s
LSC currently does not make awards support subgrants using funds, rather governing statutes and regulations, as
under § 1006(a)(3) of the LSC Act; if LSC than goods or services. LSC proposes to opposed to providing goods or services
did, 45 CFR part 1630, LSC’s cost add this section to provide recipients for the benefit of the recipient.
standards and procedures, would with a framework for determining Example 2: An LSC recipient provides
continue to govern entities receiving whether a proposed award to a third an award to a web designer to develop
such awards. party is a subgrant subject to the an online portal for clients and other
§ 1627.2(d) Subgrant. LSC proposes to requirements of this part. This section stakeholders to obtain general legal
revise the definition of subgrant will make clear that subgrants are information about particular areas of
currently in § 1627.2(b)(2). LSC awards to third parties that support a law, such as divorces and bankruptcies,
proposes to adopt a definition that recipient’s delivery of legal assistance to as well as contact information for the
substantially mirrors the definition of eligible clients, consistent with legal services providers in the state.
subaward contained in the Uniform Management’s interpretation of part This award would not be a subgrant
Grants Guidance (UGG), 2 CFR 200.92, 1627. because it does not have most of the
which applies to Federal awards. LSC The first two paragraphs of proposed characteristics set forth in § 1627.3(b).
proposes to revise the definition to § 1627.3 are taken substantially from the The web designer does not determine
make clear that the purpose of the UGG, specifically 2 CFR 200.330. eligibility to receive legal assistance
award is to carry out part of the Paragraph (a) adopts the language at under the recipient’s LSC grant, nor
recipient’s grant to provide legal § 200.330(c), which explains that the does it have responsibility for
assistance and to remove the references listed characteristics are indicative of a programmatic decision making. The
to ‘‘pass-through entities.’’ LSC is not subgrant, but need not all be present in designer does not have its performance
bound by the UGG, and does not intend, order for an award to be considered a measured in relation to whether the
by adopting this definition, to obligate subgrant. Paragraph (b) sets forth the recipient’s objectives for providing legal
itself or its recipients to abide by the characteristics of a subgrant from services are met, and it is not required
rules for pass-through entities and § 200.330(a), with minor revisions to to adhere to the programmatic
subgrantees established by the UGG. make clear that the context for subgrant requirements set forth in the recipient’s
LSC proposes to retain the exclusion activities and the performance of the award from LSC. With respect to the
from the definition of subgrant for subrecipient is the LSC recipient’s legal fifth characteristic—that the
judicare arrangements or contracts with services work. subrecipient uses LSC funds to carry out
private attorneys for the direct delivery In considering whether an award a program for a public purpose specified
of legal assistance to recipients’ clients. should be a subgrant, the primary in LSC’s governing statutes and
LSC also seeks comment regarding the question is whether the work the regulations, rather than providing goods
$25,000 threshold for private attorney subrecipient is doing essentially or services for the recipient’s benefit—
involvement (PAI) contracts supported substitutes for the recipient’s legal there is room for debate about whether
with LSC funds. During the rulemaking services work. The following examples the web designer’s work is for the public
to revise part 1614 on PAI, LSC received demonstrate whether certain types of purpose of providing legal information
a comment recommending that LSC awards to third parties meet the to eligible clients, or is instead technical
increase the threshold from $25,000 to characteristics of a subgrant. services provided for the benefit of the
$60,000 to account for inflation since Example 1: An LSC recipient provides recipient. On balance, however, this
LSC established the $25,000 threshold an award to another legal services
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type of award appears to be considered
in 1983. 70 FR 61770, 61780, Oct. 15, organization to conduct telephone more appropriately as a procurement
2014. After consideration, LSC intake and refer cases either to private contract.
determined that it would benefit from attorneys for handling or to another LSC reminds recipients that awards of
receiving additional information before organization if the caller is not eligible LSC funds to third parties that do not
making any adjustments to the for LSC-funded legal assistance. This meet the characteristics of subgrants,
threshold. For this reason, LSC award would properly be considered a including procurements of services,
specifically requests comments on subgrant because it meets all five of the must meet the applicable requirements
whether it should amend the $25,000 characteristics. First, the subrecipient is of 45 CFR part 1630, as well as the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules 21697
conclusion that recipient’s subgrants ceases to be an LSC recipient, including apply to all subgrants. LSC proposes to
should likewise be reviewed annually to termination by LSC, voluntary make only minor edits to paragraphs (a)
ensure that the subgrants comply with termination by the recipient, or a failure and (b) for clarity.
LSC’s statutes and regulations, and that to receive funding through competition. § 1627.5(c) Timekeeping. LSC
the subgrants represent an effective and The other changes LSC proposes are proposes to move the timekeeping
efficient use of the recipient’s LSC editorial. requirement to its own paragraph and
resources. § 1627.4(c) Recipient responsibilities. revise the requirement itself. Currently,
By contrast, special grants are for For ease of reference, LSC proposes to § 1610.7(b)(2) requires only that
discrete, time-limited projects that may restructure and consolidate the recipients ‘‘maintain records of time
require recipients to engage the paragraphs of existing § 1627.3 spent on each case or matter undertaken
subrecipient for the life of the project in governing the recipient’s particular with the funds transferred.’’ In the
order to secure the subrecipient’s oversight and repayment obligations preamble to the 1997 final rule, LSC tied
participation. Additionally, LSC into a new § 1627.4(c). Proposed the timekeeping requirement to the
requires special grant recipients to paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) adopt the first language in Section 504(a)(10)(A) of the
report more frequently about their two sentences of existing § 1627.3(c) FY96 appropriations act, which
progress toward meeting project regarding recipients’ duties to ensure prohibited LSC funds from being
milestones or objectives. This increased that their subrecipients comply with awarded to any person or entity unless
reporting allows LSC to assess whether LSC’s financial and audit provisions ‘‘prior to receiving the financial
a recipient’s subgrants are performing and to ensure that their subrecipients assistance, such person or entity agrees
effectively and efficiently throughout properly spend, account for, and audit to maintain records of time spent on
the grant period. Because reporting on subgrant funds, respectively. LSC each case or matter with respect to
the performance of a special grant, proposes to relocate existing § 1627.3(d), which the person or entity is engaged.’’
including the performance of which requires a recipient to repay LSC Sec. 504(a)(10)(A), Pub. L. 104–134, 110
subrecipients of special grant funds, for any disallowed expenditures of LSC Stat. 1321, 1321–54. LSC stated in the
occurs more frequently than once a year, funds incurred by a subrecipient, to preamble that the rule did not require
it is not necessary for LSC to limit the paragraph (c)(3). recipients ‘‘to keep time in accordance
maximum duration of a subgrant § 1627.4(d) Accounting of funds. LSC with the Corporation’s timekeeping
awarded as part of a special grant to one proposes to restructure and consolidate regulation, 45 CFR part 1635,’’ but also
year. the paragraphs of existing § 1627.3 did not provide guidance to recipients
For similar reasons, LSC proposes to governing the accounting of subgrant about the level of timekeeping that
treat subgrant funds remaining at the funds into a new § 1627.4(d). This would be sufficient ‘‘to ensure
end of the grant year differently. In paragraph states that subgrants of LSC accountability for [the transferred]
paragraph (b)(1), LSC proposes to retain funds are subject to the audit and funds.’’ 62 FR 27695, 27697, May 21,
the existing language stating that financial requirements of the Audit and 1997. To further confuse matters, part
unexpended Basic Field subgrant funds Accounting Guide for Recipients and 1614 states that ‘‘[i]f any direct or
will be considered part of the recipient’s Auditors. LSC proposes to delete the indirect time of staff attorneys or
available LSC funds. In paragraph (b)(2), last two sentences in existing paralegals is to be allocated as a cost to
LSC proposes to require recipients to § 1627.3(c), which authorize recipients PAI, such costs must be documented by
return funds remaining on a special to enter into subgrant agreements that time sheets accounting for the time
grant program subgrant at the end of the provide for an alternate auditing those employees have spent on PAI
grant term to LSC, unless the recipient method. LSC is not aware that this activities.’’ 45 CFR 1614.7(a)(1).
requests and receives approval from the provision has been used and proposes to LSC considered multiple options for
Corporation to retain such funds. This remove it as unnecessary. creating coherent timekeeping
approach is consistent with the current § 1627.4(e) Oversight. LSC proposes to requirements for recipients and
terms of both the TIG and PBIF grant relocate existing § 1627.3(e) to new subrecipients alike. LSC considered
assurances, which allow recipients to § 1627.4(e) with minor editorial leaving the current language in place
ask LSC for approval to retain any funds changes. and adding language describing the
that were awarded by LSC to carry out § 1627.5 Applicability of restrictions, minimum requirements for subrecipient
the project, but that were not spent timekeeping, and recipient priorities; timekeeping. Doing so would allow
because of lower costs or increased private attorney involvement subgrants. recipients and subrecipients flexibility
efficiencies in the operation of the LSC proposes to transfer existing to develop timekeeping systems that
project. § 1627.5, prohibiting the use of LSC would ensure accountability for
LSC proposes to redesignate existing funds to make contributions or gifts to expenditures of LSC funds, while
§ 1627.3(b)(2) as § 1627.4(b)(3) with other organizations or individuals, to minimizing the administrative burden
revisions. The most substantive of the part 1630. LSC proposes this transfer to to the subrecipient. LSC also considered
proposed revisions deletes the limit the scope of part 1627 to subgrants making the part 1635 timekeeping
references to termination and denials of and to move another provision requirements applicable to non-PAI
refunding as the exclusive events for pertaining to the allowability of costs to subgrants and the part 1614 timekeeping
which recipients should have the part of LSC’s regulations governing requirements applicable to PAI
procedures for the orderly termination cost standards. subgrants. This option would be
of subgrants, and replaces them with Additionally, because LSC has consistent with the way in which LSC’s
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general language that subgrants should considered subgrants and transfers as regulations direct recipients to
terminate ‘‘in the event that the functionally the same, LSC proposes to document time spent on the recipients’
recipient is no longer an LSC recipient.’’ transfer 45 CFR 1610.7, the transfer rule, non-PAI and PAI activities, respectively.
LSC proposes adopting the general to part 1627 and redesignate it as LSC ultimately chose to propose a
language to reflect that a recipient’s § 1627.5. The restrictions listed in 45 requirement that all subrecipients
policies governing the orderly CFR 1610.2—restrictions established by comply with the part 1635 timekeeping
termination of subgrants should apply both the LSC Act and the FY96 requirements for all LSC-funded
in any instance where the recipient appropriations act—will continue to subgrant activities. LSC chose this
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![21698 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules
option for three reasons. First, LSC § 1627.6 Subgrants to other (§ 1627.7). LSC proposes to transfer
learned that some recipients have recipients. LSC proposes to make only these three provisions to part 1630,
interpreted § 1610.7(b)(2) as not non-substantive editorial changes to this which establishes LSC’s cost standards.
requiring subrecipients to keep time section. LSC proposes to redesignate these
records. This interpretation is incorrect. § 1627.7 Recipient policies, provisions as §§ 1630.14–16. LSC does
Section 1610.7(b)(2) clearly states that procedures, and recordkeeping. LSC not propose to revise the text of these
subrecipients ‘‘are required to maintain proposes to transfer existing § 1627.7, provisions at this time.
records of time spent on each case or regarding recipient payments to tax- For the reasons stated in the
matter undertaken’’ with LSC funds, sheltered annuities, retirement preamble, the Legal Services
although LSC also stated in the accounts, and pensions, to part 1630. Corporation proposes to amend 45 CFR
preamble to the 1997 final rule for part LSC proposes this transfer to limit the chapter XVI as follows:
1610 that subrecipients did not have ‘‘to scope of part 1627 to subgrants and to
keep time in accordance with the move the final provision in part 1627 PART 1610—USE OF NON-LSC
Corporation’s timekeeping regulation, pertaining to the allowability of costs to FUNDS, TRANSFERS OF LSC FUNDS,
45 CFR part 1635.’’ 62 FR 27695, 27697, the part of LSC’s regulations governing PROGRAM INTEGRITY
May 21, 1997. Second, LSC’s experience cost standards. LSC proposes to
overseeing subgrants over the eighteen redesignate existing § 1627.8 as § 1627.7 ■ 1. The authority citation for part 1610
years since LSC revised § 1610.7 has without revision. continues to read as follows:
given LSC reason to believe that clear B. Proposed Changes to Part 1610 Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996i; Pub. L. 104–
timekeeping requirements for subgrants 208, 110 Stat. 3009; Pub. L. 104–134, 110
will lead to increased accountability for § 1610.2 Definitions. LSC proposes Stat. 1321; Pub. L. 111–117; 123 Stat. 3034.
the use of LSC funds by subrecipients. to eliminate the term transfer and
Finally, LSC believes that having three replace it with the term subgrant, as § 1610.7 [Removed]
distinct timekeeping requirements defined in § 1627.2(d). LSC intended the ■ 2. Remove § 1610.7.
creates unnecessary confusion about current definition of transfer to mirror
the definition of subgrant, but it does §§ 1610.8 and 1610.9 [Redesignated as
which requirements apply to which
not. The slight differences between the §§ 1610.7 and 1610.8]
uses of LSC funds. LSC’s proposal will
make the timekeeping provisions of two definitions have caused confusion ■ 3. Sections 1610.8 and 1610.9 are
parts 1627 and 1635 consistent and will about whether the terms are redesignated as §§ 1610.7 and 1610.8,
reflect the methods that recipients use coextensive. LSC has treated the terms respectively.
to document time charged to their LSC as functionally equivalent since it
grants. enacted § 1610.7 in 1997. LSC’s PART 1630—COST STANDARDS AND
LSC understands that some proposed change will eliminate PROCEDURES
subrecipients may be small ambiguity by combining the two
■ 4. The authority citation for part 1630
organizations that currently do not have, concepts into one term. The proposed
continues to read as follows:
or may find it difficult to develop, the change will not affect the current order
capacity to maintain timekeeping of definitions in § 1610.2. If this change Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 3, 42 U.S.C.
records that comply with part 1635. For becomes final, LSC will need to amend 2996e, 2996f, 2996g, 2996h(c)(1); Pub. L.
§ 1610.8(a)(2) to conform with the 105–119, 111 Stat. 2440; Pub. L. 104–134,
that reason, LSC specifically seeks
110 Stat. 1321.
comment on the proposal to require all change.
subrecipients to comply with the § 1610.7 Transfers of LSC funds. As PART 1627—SUBGRANTS AND
timekeeping requirements of part 1635. described more fully above, LSC MEMBERSHIP FEES OR DUES
§ 1627.5(d) PAI subgrants. LSC proposes to transfer this section to part
proposes to redesignate existing 1627 because it governs the application ■ 5. The authority citation for part 1627
§ 1610.7(c) as § 1627.5(d) and to make of the LSC Act and FY96 appropriations is revised to read as follows:
editorial changes to the paragraph for act restrictions listed in § 1610.2 to a Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).
clarity. LSC also proposes to adopt a subrecipient’s LSC and non-LSC funds.
new paragraph (d)(2) stating that, with LSC believes that because § 1610.7 § 1627.4 [Transferred to Part 1630 and
respect to PAI subgrants, all funds that effectively applies to subgrants, it Redesignated as § 1630.14]
a recipient uses to support the subgrant should be located in part 1627 with the ■ 6. Section 1627.4 is transferred to part
are deemed to be LSC funds for rest of the subgrant rules. Should this 1630 and redesignated as § 1630.14.
purposes of the restrictions listed in 45 proposed change become final, LSC will
CFR 1610.2. LSC requires its recipients need to redesignate existing §§ 1610.8 § 1627.5 [Transferred to Part 1630 and
to expend an amount equal to at least and 1610.9 to reflect the removal of Redesignated as § 1630.15]
12.5% of its LSC grant to PAI activities. § 1610.7. ■ 7. Section 1627.5 is transferred to part
See 45 CFR 1614.1(a). This language 1630 and redesignated as § 1630.15.
gives recipients discretion about C. Proposed Changes to Part 1630
whether they spend entirely LSC funds, In the interest of making its § 1627.7 [Transferred to Part 1630 and
regulations easier to use, LSC proposes Redesignated as § 1630.16]
entirely non-LSC funds, or some
combination of the two, on PAI to limit the scope of part 1627 to ■ 8. Section 1627.7 is transferred to part
activities. The reason for the proposed provisions applicable to subgrants. 1630 and redesignated as § 1630.16.
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paragraph is to put in the regulation the Three provisions of part 1627 are not ■ 9. Revise part 1627 to read as follows:
analysis reflected in AO–2009–1004 that related to subgrants, but instead
activities carried out as part of a proscribe the use of LSC funds to pay PART 1627—SUBGRANTS
recipient’s PAI program, regardless of membership fees or dues (§ 1627.4) or to Sec.
the source of funds, must be consistent make contributions to other entities or 1627.1 Purpose.
with LSC’s governing statutes and individuals (§ 1627.5), or allow 1627.2 Definitions.
regulations. See Advisory Opinion AO– recipients to make certain benefits 1627.3 Characteristics of subgrants.
2009–1004, at 3–4, June 19, 2009. contributions on behalf of its employees 1627.4 Requirements for all subgrants.
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![21700 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules
Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients. annual audit or, if an audit has been to retain a fund balance in excess of
Subgranted funds may be separately recently submitted, submit it as an 25% of its annual LSC support. This
disclosed and accounted for, and addendum to that recently submitted proposed rule would also provide that
reported upon in the audited financial audit. recipients that face extraordinary and
statements of a recipient; or such funds (c) In addition to the provisions of compelling circumstances may submit a
may be included in a separate audit § 1627.4(c)(3), LSC may hold the waiver request to retain a fund balance
report of the subrecipient. The recipient responsible for any disallowed in excess of 25% of their annual LSC
relationship between the recipient and expenditures of subgrant funds. Thus, support prior to the submission of their
subrecipient will determine the proper LSC may recover all of the disallowed annual audited financial statements.
method of financial reporting following costs from either the recipient or the DATE: Comments must be submitted by
generally accepted accounting subrecipient or may divide the recovery May 20, 2015.
principles. between the two. LSC’s total recovery ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(e) Oversight. To ensure subrecipient may not exceed the amount of by any of the following methods:
compliance with the LSC Act, LSC’s expenditures disallowed. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
appropriations statutes, Congressional (d) Funds received by a recipient from www.regulations.gov. Follow the
restrictions having the force of law, and other recipients in the form of fees and instructions for submitting comments.
LSC’s regulations, guidelines, and dues shall be accounted for and • Email: 1628rulemaking@lsc.gov.
instructions, agreements between a included in the annual audit of the Include ‘‘Comments on Revisions to Part
recipient and a subrecipient must recipient receiving these funds as LSC 1628’’ in the subject line of the message.
provide the same oversight rights for funds. • Fax: (202) 337–6519, ATTN: Part
LSC with respect to subrecipients as § 1627.7 Recipient policies, procedures 1628 Rulemaking.
apply to subrecipients. and recordkeeping. • Mail: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant
Each recipient must adopt written General Counsel, Legal Services
§ 1627.5 Applicability of restrictions,
timekeeping, and recipient priorities; policies and procedures to guide its staff Corporation, 3333 K Street NW.,
private attorney involvement subgrants. in complying with this part and must Washington, DC 20007, ATTN: Part
maintain records sufficient to document 1628 Rulemaking.
(a) Applicability of restrictions. The
the recipient’s compliance with this • Hand Delivery/Courier: Stefanie K.
prohibitions and requirements set forth
part. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal
in 45 CFR part 1610 apply both to the
Services Corporation, 3333 K Street
subgrant and to the subrecipient’s non-
PART 1630—COST STANDARDS AND NW., Washington, DC 20007, ATTN:
LSC funds, except as modified by
PROCEDURES Part 1628 Rulemaking.
paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this
Instructions: Electronic submissions
section. ■ 10. In newly transferred and are preferred via email with attachments
(b) Priorities. Subrecipients must redesignated § 1630.14, revise the in Acrobat PDF format. Written
either: section heading to read as follows: comments sent to any other address or
(1) Use the subgrant consistent with
§ 1630.14 Membership fees or dues. received after the end of the comment
the recipient’s priorities; or
11. In newly transferred and period may not be considered by LSC.
(2) Establish their own priorities for ■
the use of the subgrant consistent with redesignated § 1630.15, revise the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
45 CFR part 1620; section heading to read as follows: Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General
(c) Timekeeping. Subrecipients must Counsel, Legal Services Corporation,
§ 1630.15 Contributions. 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC
comply with 45 CFR part 1635 regarding
timekeeping for all LSC-funded subgrant ■ 12. In newly transferred and 20007; (202) 295–1563 (phone), (202)
activities. redesignated § 1630.16, revise the 337–6519 (fax), or sdavis@lsc.gov.
(d) PAI subgrant. (1) The prohibitions section heading to read as follows: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and requirements set forth in 45 CFR § 1630.16 Tax sheltered annuities, I. Regulatory Background
part 1610 apply only to the subgrant, retirement accounts, and pensions.
when the subrecipient is a bar LSC issued its first instruction on
association, pro bono program, private Dated: April 14, 2015. recipient fund balances in 1983 to
attorney or law firm, or other entity that Stefanie K. Davis, implement what is now the
receives a subgrant for the sole purpose Assistant General Counsel. Corporation’s longstanding objective of
of funding private attorney involvement [FR Doc. 2015–08951 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am] ensuring the timely expenditure of LSC
activities (PAI) pursuant to 45 CFR part BILLING CODE 7050–01–P
funds for the effective and economical
1614. provision of high quality legal
(2) Any funds used by a recipient as assistance to eligible clients. 48 FR 560,
payment for a PAI subgrant are deemed LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION 561, Jan. 5, 1983. Later that year, LSC
LSC funds for purposes of this published a redrafted version titled
paragraph. 45 CFR Part 1628 Instruction 83–4, Recipient Fund
Balances (‘‘Instruction’’). 48 FR 49710,
§ 1627.6 Subgrants to other recipients. Recipient Fund Balances 49711, Oct. 27, 1983. The Instruction
(a) The requirements of § 1627.4 apply limited the ability of recipients to carry
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.
to all subgrants from one recipient to ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. over LSC funds that remained unused at
another recipient. the end of the fiscal year. Id.
(b) The subrecipient must audit any SUMMARY: This proposed rule would Specifically, the Instruction provided
funds provided by the recipient under a revise the Legal Services Corporation that, in the absence of a waiver granted
subgrant in its annual audit and supply (LSC or Corporation) regulation on by the Corporation, a recipient’s end-of-
a copy of this audit to the recipient. The recipient fund balances to provide the year fund balance in excess of 10% of
recipient must either submit the Corporation with more discretion to its total annual LSC support must be
relevant part of this audit with its next grant a recipient’s request for a waiver repaid to LSC. Id. The Instruction also
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Apr 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_21767/page/9.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:12:40
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:12:40
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of proposed rulemaking. | |
| Dates | Comments must be submitted by May 20, 2015. | |
| Contact | Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20007, (202) 295-1563 (phone), (202) 337-6519 (fax), [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 21692 | |
| CFR Citation | 45
CFR
1610 45 CFR 1627 45 CFR 1630 |
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