Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations, 47315-47326 [2015-18259]

Agencies

• Department of Justice

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47315-47326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18259]



[[Page 47315]]

Vol. 80

Thursday,

No. 151

August 6, 2015

Part XI





 Department of Justice





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





28 CFR Part 38





 Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations; 
Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 151 / Thursday, August 6, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 47316]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

28 CFR Part 38

[Docket No. OAG 149; AG Order No. 3541-2015]
RIN 1105-AB45


Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood 
Organizations

AGENCY: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The rule proposes to amend Department of Justice (Department) 
regulations on the equal treatment for faith-based or religious 
organizations and to implement Executive Order 13559 (Fundamental 
Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships With Faith-Based 
and Other Neighborhood Organizations). This rule proposes to revise 
Department regulations pertaining to prohibited religious uses of 
direct Federal financial assistance to provide clarity about the rights 
and obligations of faith-based and religious groups participating in 
Department programs and to provide protections for beneficiaries of 
those programs. The Department seeks public comments only on the 
proposed revisions that are being made to implement Executive Order 
13559.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must 
be submitted on or before October 5, 2015. Comments received by mail 
will be considered timely if they are postmarked on or before that 
date. The electronic Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) will 
accept comments until Midnight Eastern Time at the end of that day.

ADDRESSES: To ensure proper handling of comments, please reference 
[Docket No. OAG 149] on all electronic and written correspondence. The 
Department encourages the electronic submission of all comments through 
https://www.regulations.gov using the electronic comment form provided 
on that site. For easy reference, an electronic copy of this document 
is also available at that Web site. It is not necessary to submit paper 
comments that duplicate the electronic submission, as all comments 
submitted to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted for public 
review and are part of the official docket record. However, should you 
wish to submit written comments through regular or express mail, they 
should be sent to Eugene Schneeberg, Director, Center for Faith-Based & 
Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 
20531.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene Schneeberg, Director, Center 
for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of 
Justice, Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 307-0588.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Posting of Public Comments

    Please note that all comments received are considered part of the 
public record and made available for public inspection online at https://www.regulations.gov. Information made available for public inspection 
includes personal identifying information (such as your name, address, 
etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter.
    If you wish to submit personal identifying information (such as 
your name, address, etc.) as part of your comment, but do not wish it 
to be posted online, you must include the phrase ``PERSONAL IDENTIFYING 
INFORMATION'' in the first paragraph of your comment. You must also 
locate all the personal identifying information that you do not want 
posted online in the first paragraph of your comment and identify what 
information you want the agency to redact. Personal identifying 
information identified and located as set forth above will be placed in 
the agency's public docket file, but not posted online.
    If you wish to submit confidential business information as part of 
your comment but do not wish it to be posted online, you must include 
the phrase ``CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION'' in the first paragraph 
of your comment. You must also prominently identify confidential 
business information to be redacted within the comment. If a comment 
has so much confidential business information that it cannot be 
effectively redacted, the agency may choose not to post that comment 
(or to post that comment only partially) on https://www.regulations.gov. 
Confidential business information identified and located as set forth 
above will not be placed in the public docket file, nor will it be 
posted online.
    If you wish to inspect the agency's public docket file in person by 
appointment, please see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph.

II. Background

    On December 12, 2002, President Bush signed Executive Order 13279, 
Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community 
Organizations, 67 FR 77141. Executive Order 13279 set forth the 
principles and policymaking criteria to guide Federal agencies in 
formulating and developing policies with implications for faith-based 
and other community organizations, to ensure equal protection of the 
laws for faith-based and other community organizations, and to expand 
opportunities for, and strengthen the capacity of, faith-based and 
other community organizations to meet social needs in America's 
communities. In addition, Executive Order 13279 asked specified agency 
heads to review and evaluate existing policies relating to Federal 
financial assistance for social services programs and, where 
appropriate, to implement new policies that were consistent with and 
necessary to further the fundamental principles and policymaking 
criteria that have implications for faith-based and other community 
organizations.
    On January 21, 2004, the Department of Justice promulgated 28 CFR 
part 38. That rule implemented the executive branch policy that, within 
the framework of constitutional church-state guidelines, religious (or 
faith-based) organizations should be able to compete on an equal 
footing with other organizations for the Department's funding. It 
revised Department regulations to remove barriers to the participation 
of faith-based or religious organizations in Department programs and to 
ensure that these programs are consistent with the requirements of the 
Constitution, including the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment.
    Shortly after taking office, President Obama signed Executive Order 
13498, Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the 
President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood 
Partnerships, 74 FR 6533 (Feb. 5, 2009). Executive Order 13498 changed 
the name of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community 
Initiatives to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood 
Partnerships and established the President's Advisory Council for 
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (Advisory Council). The 
President created the Advisory Council to bring together experts to 
make, among other things, recommendations to the President for changes 
in policies, programs, and practices that affect the delivery of 
services by faith-based and other neighborhood organizations.
    The Advisory Council issued its recommendations in a report 
entitled A New Era of Partnerships: Report of Recommendations to the 
President in March 2010 (available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/
default/files/

[[Page 47317]]

microsites/ofbnp-council-final-report.pdf). The Advisory Council Report 
included recommendations to amend Executive Order 13279 to strengthen 
the constitutional and legal footing of partnerships and to offer a new 
set of fundamental principles to guide agency decision-making in 
administering Federal social service programs in partnership with 
faith-based and other neighborhood organizations.
    President Obama signed Executive Order 13559, Fundamental 
Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships with Faith-Based 
and Other Neighborhood Organizations, on November 17, 2010. 75 FR 
71319. Executive Order 13559 incorporated the Advisory Council's 
recommendations by amending Executive Order 13279 to, among other 
things:
     Require agencies that administer or award Federal 
financial assistance for social service programs to implement 
protections for the beneficiaries or prospective beneficiaries of those 
programs (these protections include providing referrals to alternative 
providers if the beneficiary objects to the religious character of the 
organization providing services and ensuring that written notice of 
these and other protections is provided to beneficiaries before they 
enroll in or receive services from the program);
     state that decisions about awards of Federal financial 
assistance must be free from political interference or even the 
appearance of such interference, and must be made on the basis of 
merit, not on the basis of the religious affiliation, or lack of 
affiliation, of the recipient organization;
     state that the Federal Government has an obligation to 
monitor and enforce all standards regarding the relationship between 
religion and government in ways that avoid excessive entanglement 
between religious bodies and governmental entities;
     clarify that organizations engaging in explicitly 
religious activity must (i) perform such activities and offer such 
services outside of programs that are supported with direct Federal 
financial assistance, (ii) separate these activities in time or 
location from programs supported with direct Federal financial 
assistance, and (iii) ensure that participation in any such activities 
must be voluntary for the beneficiaries of the social service program 
supported with Federal financial assistance;
     emphasize that religious providers should be eligible to 
compete for social service funding from the Government and to 
participate fully in social service programs supported with Federal 
financial assistance, and that such organizations may do so while 
maintaining their religious identities;
     require agencies that provide Federal financial assistance 
for social service programs to post online regulations, guidance 
documents, and policies that have implications for faith-based and 
other neighborhood organizations and to post online a list of entities 
receiving such assistance; and
     clarify that the principles set forth apply to subawards 
as well as prime awards.
    In addition, Executive Order 13559 created the Interagency Working 
Group on Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Partnerships (Working 
Group) to review and evaluate existing regulations, guidance documents, 
and policies, and to submit a report to the President on amendments, 
changes, or additions necessary to ensure that regulations and guidance 
documents associated with the distribution of Federal financial 
assistance for social service programs would be consistent with the 
fundamental principles set forth in the Executive Order. The Executive 
Order mandated that this report include a model set of regulations and 
guidance documents for the agencies to adopt in a number of areas, 
including, among other things, prohibited uses of direct Federal 
financial assistance and separation requirements, protections for 
religious identity, the distinction between ``direct'' and ``indirect'' 
Federal financial assistance, and protections for beneficiaries of 
social service programs.
    The Executive Order also stated that, following receipt of the 
Working Group's report, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in 
coordination with the Department of Justice, must issue guidance to 
agencies on the implementation of the order. In August 2013, OMB issued 
such guidance. In this guidance, OMB noted the Working Group's 
recommendations and instructed specified agency heads that Executive 
Order 13559 required them to amend existing agency regulations, 
guidance documents, and policies that have implications for faith-based 
and religious grounds to ensure they are consistent with the 
fundamental principles set forth in the Order. The Department is 
accordingly issuing guidance on the applicability of the Executive 
Order and this rule to particular programs.

III. Overview of Proposed Rule

    The regulation proposes to amend Part 38 to implement Executive 
Order 13559, change the title of current Part 38, and rearrange the 
current regulations to conform to the existing regulatory structure of 
the Executive Order. This restructuring sets forth some original text 
from Part 38 so that readers can understand the overall context of the 
rule, but eliminates the repetition of language under Sec.  38.1, 
Discretionary grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, and Sec.  
38.2, Formula grants, which presently have the same provisions. Among 
other things, the Department specifically proposes to amend its 
regulations to replace the term ``inherently religious activities'' 
with the term ``explicitly religious activities'' and define the latter 
term as ``including activities that involve overt religious content 
such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.'' In 
addition, the proposed rule distinguishes between ``direct'' and 
``indirect'' Federal financial assistance because the limitation on 
explicitly religious activities applies to programs that are supported 
with ``direct'' Federal financial assistance but does not apply to 
programs supported with ``indirect'' Federal financial assistance. The 
Department also proposes regulatory language to clarify the 
responsibilities of intermediaries. The proposed rule provides that 
decisions about awards of Federal financial assistance must be free 
from political interference or even the appearance of such 
interference. Finally, the proposed rule provides protections for 
beneficiaries and includes provisions for assurances and enforcement.
    Proposed amendments to Part 38.

Part 38. Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood 
Organizations

A. Prohibited Uses of Direct Federal Financial Assistance

    Part 38 of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations and 
Executive Order 13279 prohibit organizations that receive direct 
Federal financial assistance from the Department (e.g., formula or 
discretionary grants, contracts, subgrants, subcontracts, and 
cooperative agreements) from engaging in ``inherently religious 
activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization, 
as part of the programs or services funded with direct financial 
assistance from the Department.'' 28 CFR 38.1(b)(1). The term 
``inherently religious'' has proven confusing. In 2006, for example, 
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that, while all 26 of 
the religious social service providers it interviewed said they 
understood the prohibition on using direct Federal financial assistance 
for ``inherently religious activities,'' four of the providers 
described acting in

[[Page 47318]]

ways that appeared to violate that rule. GAO, Faith-Based and Community 
Initiative: Improvements in Monitoring Grantees and Measuring 
Performance Could Enhance Accountability, GAO-06-616, at 34-35 (June 
2006) (available at https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06616.pdf).
    Further, although the Supreme Court has sometimes used the term 
``inherently religious,'' it has never established it as the test for 
what the Government may not subsidize with direct Federal financial 
assistance. If the term is interpreted narrowly, it could permit 
actions that the Constitution may prohibit. For example, some might not 
consider teaching an individual to read the English language using the 
Bible or another religious text an ``inherently religious'' act. On the 
other hand, one could also argue that the term ``inherently religious'' 
is too broad. For example, some might consider the provision of a hot 
meal to a needy person to be an ``inherently religious'' act when it is 
undertaken from a sense of religious motivation or obligation, even 
though it has no overt religious content.
    The Supreme Court has determined that the Government cannot 
subsidize ``a specifically religious activity in an otherwise 
substantially secular setting.'' Hunt v. McNair, 413 U.S. 734, 743 
(1973). It has also said a direct aid program impermissibly advances 
religion when the aid results in governmental indoctrination of 
religion. See Mitchell v. Helms, 530 U.S. 793, 808 (2000) (Thomas, J., 
joined by Rehnquist, C.J., Scalia, and Kennedy, J.J., plurality); id. 
at 845 (O'Connor, J., joined by Breyer, J., concurring in the 
judgment); Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203, 223 (1997). This 
terminology is fairly interpreted to prohibit the Government from 
directly subsidizing any ``explicitly religious activity,'' including 
activities that involve overt religious content. Thus, direct Federal 
financial assistance may not be used to pay for activities such as 
religious instruction, devotional exercises, worship, proselytizing, or 
evangelism; production or dissemination of devotional guides or other 
religious materials; or counseling in which counselors introduce 
religious content. Similarly, direct Federal financial assistance may 
not be used to pay for equipment or supplies to the extent they are 
allocated to such activities. Activities that are secular in content, 
such as serving meals to the needy or using a nonreligious text to 
teach someone to read, are not considered ``explicitly religious 
activities'' merely because the provider is religiously motivated to 
provide those services. The study or acknowledgement of religion as a 
historical or cultural reality also would not be considered an 
explicitly religious activity.
    Notwithstanding the general prohibition on the use of direct 
Federal financial assistance to support explicitly religious 
activities, there are times when religious activities may be federally 
financed under the Establishment Clause and not subject to the direct 
Federal financial assistance restrictions, for example, in situations 
where Federal financial assistance is provided to chaplains to work 
with inmates in prisons or detention facilities through social service 
programs. Where there is extensive government control over the 
environment of the federally financed social service program, program 
officials may sometimes need to take affirmative steps to provide an 
opportunity for beneficiaries of the social service program to exercise 
their religion. See Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 322 n.2 (1972) (per 
curiam) (``[R]easonable opportunities must be afforded to all prisoners 
to exercise the religious freedom guaranteed by the First and 
Fourteenth Amendment without fear of penalty.''); Katcoff v. Marsh, 755 
F.2d 223, 234 (2d Cir. 1985) (finding it ``readily apparent'' that the 
Government is obligated by the First Amendment ``to make religion 
available to soldiers who have been moved by the Army to areas of the 
world where religion of their own denominations is not available to 
them''). Without such efforts, religious freedom might not exist for 
these beneficiaries. Accordingly, services such as chaplaincy services 
would not be considered explicitly religious activities that are 
subject to direct financial aid restrictions.
    Likewise, it is important to emphasize that the restrictions on 
explicitly religious content apply to content generated by the 
administrators of the program receiving direct Federal financial 
assistance, not to spontaneous comments made by individual 
beneficiaries about their personal lives in the context of these 
programs. For example, if a person administering a federally funded job 
skills program asks beneficiaries to describe how they gain the 
motivation necessary for their job searches and some beneficiaries 
refer to their faith or membership in a faith community, these kinds of 
comments do not violate the restrictions and should not be censored. In 
this context, it is clear that the administrator of the government 
program did not orchestrate or encourage such comments.
    The Department, therefore, proposes to amend its regulations to 
replace the term ``inherently religious activities'' with the term 
``explicitly religious activities'' and to define the latter term as 
``including activities that involve overt religious content such as 
worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.'' These proposed 
changes in language would provide greater clarity and more closely 
match constitutional standards as they have been developed in case law.
    These proposed restrictions would not diminish existing regulatory 
protections for the religious identity of faith-based providers. The 
proposed rule would not affect, for example, organizations' ability to 
use religious terms in their organizational names; select board members 
on a religious basis; include religious references in mission 
statements and other organizational documents; and post religious art, 
messages, scriptures, and symbols in buildings where they deliver 
federally funded services and benefits.

B. Direct and Indirect Federal Financial Assistance

    Executive Order 13559 noted that the model regulations proposed by 
the Working Group should distinguish between ``direct'' and 
``indirect'' Federal financial assistance. This distinction is vital 
because the limitation on Federal financial assistance supporting 
explicitly religious activities applies to programs that are supported 
with ``direct'' Federal financial assistance but does not apply to 
programs supported with ``indirect'' Federal financial assistance. To 
clarify this distinction, the proposed rule provides definitions of 
these terms. Under the proposed rule, programs would be understood to 
be supported with ``direct'' Federal financial assistance when either 
the Government or an intermediary (as identified in this proposed rule) 
selects a service provider and either purchases services from that 
provider (e.g., through a contract) or awards funds to that provider to 
carry out a social service (e.g., through a grant or cooperative 
agreement). Under these circumstances, there are no intervening steps 
in which the beneficiary's choice determines the provider.
    ``Indirect'' Federal financial assistance is distinguishable 
because it places the choice of service provider in the hands of the 
beneficiary before the Government pays for the cost of that service 
through a voucher, certificate, or other similar means. For example, 
the Government could allow the beneficiary to secure the needed service 
independently. Alternatively, a governmental agency, operating under a 
neutral program of aid, could present each beneficiary or prospective

[[Page 47319]]

beneficiary with a list of all qualified providers from which the 
beneficiary could obtain services using a Government-provided 
certificate. Either way, the Government empowers the beneficiaries to 
choose for themselves whether to receive the needed services, including 
those that contain explicitly religious activities, through a faith-
based or other neighborhood organization. The Government could then pay 
for the beneficiary's choice of provider by giving the beneficiary a 
voucher or similar document. Alternatively, the Government could choose 
to pay the provider directly after asking the beneficiary to indicate 
the beneficiary's choice. See Freedom From Religion Found. v. McCallum, 
324 F.3d 880, 882 (7th Cir. 2003).
    The Supreme Court has held that if a program meets certain 
criteria, the Government may fund the program if, among other things, 
it places the benefit in the hands of individuals who in turn have the 
freedom to choose the provider to which they take their benefit and 
``spend'' it, whether that provider is public or private, non-religious 
or religious. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639, 652-53 (2002). In 
these instances, the Government does not encourage or promote any 
explicitly religious programs that may be among the options available 
to beneficiaries. Notably, the voucher scheme at issue in the Zelman 
decision, which was described by the Court as one of ``true private 
choice,'' id. at 653, was also neutral toward religion and offered 
beneficiaries adequate secular options. Accordingly, these criteria 
also are included in the text of the proposed definition of ``indirect 
financial assistance.''

C. Intermediaries

    The Department also proposes regulatory language that would clarify 
the responsibilities of intermediaries. The terms ``intermediary'' and 
``pass-through entity'' may be used interchangeably. 2 CFR 200.74. An 
intermediary is an entity, including a nongovernmental organization, 
acting under a contract, grant, or other agreement with the Federal 
Government or with a State or local government, that accepts Federal 
financial assistance and distributes that assistance to other 
organizations that, in turn, provide Government-funded social services. 
Each intermediary must abide by all statutory and regulatory 
requirements by, for example, not engaging in any explicitly religious 
activities as part of the programs or services funded by direct Federal 
financial assistance. The intermediary also has the same duties as the 
Government to comply with these rules by, for example, selecting any 
providers to receive Federal financial assistance in a manner that does 
not favor or disfavor organizations on the basis of religion or 
religious belief. Although intermediaries may be used to distribute 
Federal financial assistance to other organizations in some programs, 
intermediaries remain accountable for the Federal financial assistance 
they disburse. Accordingly, intermediaries must ensure that any 
providers to which they disburse Federal financial assistance also 
comply with these rules. If the intermediary is a nongovernmental 
organization, it retains all other rights of a nongovernmental 
organization under the statutory and regulatory provisions governing 
the program.
    A State's use of intermediaries does not relieve the State of its 
traditional responsibility to monitor effectively the actions of such 
organizations. States are obligated to manage the day-to-day operations 
of grant- and subgrant-supported activities to ensure compliance with 
applicable Federal requirements and performance goals. Moreover, a 
State's use of intermediaries does not relieve the State of its 
responsibility to ensure that providers are selected, and deliver 
services, in a manner consistent with the First Amendment's 
Establishment Clause.

D. Protections for Beneficiaries

    Executive Order 13559 provides a variety of valuable protections 
for social service beneficiaries. These protections are intended to 
ensure that programs receiving direct Federal financial assistance do 
not discriminate against, coerce, or otherwise burden beneficiaries on 
the basis of their religious beliefs or practices, or lack thereof, and 
to make beneficiaries aware of their protections, through appropriate 
notice, when potentially obtaining services from providers with a 
religious affiliation.
    The Executive Order makes it clear that all organizations that 
receive Federal financial assistance for the purpose of delivering 
social welfare services are prohibited from discriminating against 
beneficiaries or potential beneficiaries of those programs on the basis 
of religion, a religious belief, refusal to hold a religious belief, or 
a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice. It also 
states that organizations offering explicitly religious activities 
(including activities that involve overt religious content such as 
worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) must not use direct 
Federal financial assistance to subsidize or support those activities, 
and that any explicitly religious activities must be offered outside of 
programs that are supported with direct Federal financial assistance 
(including through prime awards or subawards). In other words, to the 
extent that an organization provides explicitly religious activities, 
those activities must be offered separately in time or location from 
programs or services supported with direct Federal financial 
assistance. And, as noted above, participation in those religious 
activities must be completely voluntary for beneficiaries of programs 
supported by Federal financial assistance.
    Executive Order 13559 also requires faith-based or religious 
organizations administering a program that is supported by direct 
Federal financial assistance to give written notice in a manner 
prescribed by the agency to beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries 
of their right to be referred to an alternative provider when 
available. When the nature of the service provided or exigent 
circumstances makes it impracticable to provide such written notice in 
advance of the actual service (e.g., crisis intervention services by 
hotline), service providers must advise beneficiaries of their 
protections at the earliest available opportunity. If a beneficiary or 
prospective beneficiary of a social service program supported by direct 
Federal financial assistance objects to the religious character of an 
organization that provides services under the program, the organization 
must refer the beneficiary to an alternative provider when available. 
More specifically, the proposed rule states that, if a beneficiary or 
prospective beneficiary of a social service program supported by direct 
Federal financial assistance objects to the religious character of an 
organization that provides services under the program, that 
organization shall promptly undertake reasonable efforts to identify 
and refer the beneficiary to an alternative provider to which the 
prospective beneficiary has no objection. See Appendix A for the 
proposed model Written Notice of Beneficiary Protections and 
Beneficiary Referral Request.
    An organization may refer the beneficiary to another religiously 
affiliated provider if the beneficiary has no objection to that 
provider. But if the beneficiary requests a secular provider, and a 
secular provider that offers the needed services is available, then the 
organization must refer the beneficiary to that provider.

[[Page 47320]]

    The rule proposes to specify that, except for services provided by 
telephone, Internet, or similar means, the referral must be to an 
alternate provider that is in geographic proximity to the organization 
making the referral and that offers services similar in substance and 
quality to those offered by the organization. The alternative provider 
also must have the capacity to accept additional clients. Under the 
proposed rule, if a federally supported alternative provider meets 
these requirements and is acceptable to the beneficiary, a referral 
should be made to that provider. If, however, there is no federally 
supported alternative provider that meets these requirements and is 
acceptable to the beneficiary, a referral should be made to an 
alternative provider that does not receive Federal financial assistance 
but does meet these requirements and is acceptable to the beneficiary.
    If an organization is unable to identify an alternative provider, 
the organization is required under the proposed rule to notify the 
awarding entity, and the awarding entity should determine whether there 
are any other suitable alternative providers to which the beneficiary 
may be referred. Further, Executive Order 13559 requires (and the 
proposed rule so provides) the relevant awarding entity to ensure that 
appropriate and timely referrals are made to an alternative provider, 
and that referrals are made in a manner consistent with applicable 
privacy laws and regulations. In some instances the awarding entity may 
be unable to identify a suitable alternative provider.

E. Political or Religious Affiliation

    Although this proposed rule does not affect the existing 
eligibility of faith-based or religious organizations to participate in 
Department programs for which they are otherwise eligible, it provides 
that decisions about awards of Federal financial assistance must be 
free from political interference or even the appearance of such 
interference. The awarding entity is required to instruct participants 
in the awarding process to refrain from taking religious affiliation or 
non-religious affiliation into account in this process (i.e., under the 
proposed rule, an organization should not receive favorable or 
unfavorable marks merely because it is affiliated or unaffiliated with 
a religious body, or related or unrelated to a specific religion). When 
selecting peer reviewers for the review of grant applications, the 
awarding entity should never ask about religious affiliation or take 
religious affiliation into account. But it should encourage religious, 
political, and professional diversity among peer reviewers by 
advertising for these positions in a wide variety of venues.

IV. Regulatory Certifications

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) at 5 U.S.C. 603(a) requires 
agencies to prepare and make available for public comment an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities. The RFA at 5 U.S.C. 605(b) allows an 
agency not to prepare an analysis if it certifies that the proposed 
rulemaking will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. Furthermore, under the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) at section 212(a), 
an agency is required to produce compliance guidance for small entities 
if a final rule will have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. 5 U.S.C. 601 note. The RFA 
defines small entities as small business concerns, small nonprofit 
enterprises, or small governmental jurisdictions. 5 U.S.C. 601(6).
    The proposed rule requires a faith-based or religious organization 
administering a program that is supported by direct Federal financial 
assistance to give written notice to beneficiaries and prospective 
beneficiaries of their right to be referred to an alternative provider 
when available and, when requested, to refer the beneficiary to an 
alternative provider. The provider must inform the beneficiary or 
prospective beneficiary in writing and maintain a record of where the 
beneficiary is referred.
    The Department has made every effort to ensure that the disclosure 
and referral requirements of the proposed rule impose minimum burden 
and allow maximum flexibility in implementation. The proposed rule 
includes a model notice with the required language, which providers 
must give beneficiaries to inform them of their rights and protections. 
The Department estimates it will take no more than two hours for 
providers to familiarize themselves with the notice requirements and 
print and duplicate an adequate number of disclosure notices for 
potential beneficiaries. Relying upon the May 2013 Bureau of Labor 
Statistics hourly mean wage for a staff person, such as a Training and 
Development Specialist, of $22.81 per hour, the Department estimates 
that the labor cost to prepare the notice will be approximately $45.62 
per service provider. In addition, the Department estimates an upper 
limit of $100 for the annual cost of materials (paper, ink, and toner) 
to print multiple copies of the notices. Although these costs will be 
borne by faith-based or religious organizations, some of which may be 
small service providers, the Department does not believe that a 
substantial number of small entities will be affected by this 
provision. Further, the Department does not believe that a compliance 
cost of less than $200 per provider per year is a significant 
percentage of a provider's total revenue. In addition, the Department 
notes that, after the first year, the labor cost associated with 
compliance will likely decrease significantly because small service 
providers will be familiar with the requirements. Accordingly, the 
Attorney General has reviewed this regulation and by approving it 
certifies that it will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    The proposed rule requires faith-based or religious organizations 
that provide social services, at the beneficiary's request, to make 
reasonable efforts to identify and refer the beneficiary to an 
alternative provider to which the beneficiary has no objection. 
Although the Department does not have any way to determine the number 
of referrals that will occur in any one year, the Department does not 
believe that referral costs will be appreciable for small faith-based 
or religious organizations. The Department invites interested parties 
to provide data on which it can formulate better estimates of the 
compliance costs associated with the disclosure and referral 
requirements of this proposed rule.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563--Regulatory Review

    The Department has drafted and evaluated this proposed rule in 
accordance with Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 
section 1(b), The Principles of Regulation, and in accordance with 
Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, 
section 1(b), General Principles of Regulation. These Executive Orders 
direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select 
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects; distributive 
impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance 
of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing 
rules, and

[[Page 47321]]

promoting flexibility. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 defines a 
``significant regulatory action'' as an action that is likely to result 
in a rule that may (1) have an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more or adversely and materially affect a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities 
(also referred to as ``economically significant''); (2) create serious 
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by 
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impacts of 
entitlement grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and 
obligations of recipients; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues 
arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the 
principles set forth in Executive Order 12866.
    The Department believes that the only provisions of this proposed 
rule likely to impose costs on the regulated community are (1) the 
requirement that faith-based or religious recipients, which provide 
services or benefits, give beneficiaries a written notice informing 
them of their religious protections when seeking or obtaining services 
or benefits supported by direct Federal financial assistance from the 
Department; and (2) the requirement that, at the beneficiary's request, 
the recipient make reasonable efforts to refer the beneficiary to an 
alternative provider to which the beneficiary has no objection. To 
minimize compliance costs on these recipients, the proposed rule 
includes the notice language. An estimate of the cost of providing this 
notice to beneficiaries is discussed in the Paperwork Reduction Act 
section of this proposed rule.
    To estimate the cost of the referral provision, the Department 
would need to know the number of faith-based or religious organizations 
that provide social services or benefits that are funded annually by 
the Department, the number of beneficiaries who would ask for a 
referral, and the costs of making and notifying relevant parties of the 
referral. The Department estimates that there are approximately 150 
organizations that may be affected by the requirement, based on data 
maintained by two components of the Department. Unfortunately, the 
Department has limited or no data on the other variables and invites 
interested parties to provide data on which to base compliance cost 
estimates. This regulation has been drafted and reviewed in accordance 
with Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, section 
1(b), The Principles of Regulation. The Department of Justice has 
determined that this rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866, section 3(f), and accordingly this rule 
has not been reviewed by OMB.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    Section 6 of Executive Order 13132 requires Federal agencies to 
consult with State entities when a regulation or policy will have a 
substantial direct effect on the States, the relationship between the 
National Government and the States, or the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government within the 
meaning of the Executive Order. Section 3(b) of the Executive Order 
further provides that Federal agencies may implement a regulation 
limiting the policymaking discretion of the States only if 
constitutional or statutory authority permits the regulation and the 
regulation is appropriate in light of the presence of a problem of 
national significance.
    This proposed rule does not have a substantial direct effect on the 
States or the relationship between the National Government and the 
States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government, within the meaning of Executive Order 
13132. Furthermore, constitutional and statutory authority supports the 
proposed rule, and it is appropriate in light of the presence of a 
problem of national significance.

Executive Order 12988--Civil Justice Reform

    Executive Order 12988 provides that agencies shall draft 
regulations that meet applicable standards to avoid drafting errors and 
ambiguity, minimize litigation, provide clear legal standards for 
affecting conduct, and promote simplification and burden reduction. 
This proposed rule meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 
3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires that a Federal agency determine whether a regulation proposes 
a Federal mandate that would result in the increased expenditures by 
State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more in any single year. If a 
regulation would result in increased expenditures in excess of $100 
million, UMRA requires the agency to prepare a written statement 
containing, among other things, a qualitative and quantitative 
assessment of the anticipated costs and benefits of the Federal 
mandate. The Department has reviewed this proposed rule in accordance 
with UMRA and determined that the total cost to implement the proposed 
rule in any one year will not meet or exceed $100 million. This 
proposed rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result in 
increased expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments in the 
aggregate of more than $100 million, or increased expenditures by the 
private sector of more than $100 million. Accordingly, UMRA does not 
require any further action.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This proposed rule is not a major rule as defined by section 251 of 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 
U.S.C. 804. This proposed rule will not result in an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or 
prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, 
investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United 
States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in 
domestic and export markets.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 
was enacted to minimize the paperwork burden on affected entities. The 
PRA requires certain actions before an agency can adopt or revise a 
collection of information, including publishing a summary of the 
collection of information and a brief description of the need for and 
proposed use of the information. 44 U.S.C. 3507. Specifically, a 
Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless OMB approves the collection of information under the PRA, and 
the collection of information must display a currently valid OMB 
control number. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person 
will be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information if the collection of information does not display a 
currently valid OMB control number. 44 U.S.C. 3512.
    The proposed rule includes two new paperwork requirements. Section 
38.6(c) would require faith-based or religious organizations to give 
beneficiaries (or prospective beneficiaries) notice informing them of 
their rights and protections under this regulation. Section 38.6(d) 
would require faith-

[[Page 47322]]

based or religious organizations to make reasonable efforts to identify 
and refer beneficiaries requesting referrals to alternative service 
providers. The content of the notice and the actions the faith-based or 
religious organizations must take if a beneficiary objects to the 
religious character of the organization are described in the preamble. 
The burdens of providing notice to beneficiaries and identifying and 
referring a beneficiary to an alternative service provider are 
estimated in this section.
    Faith-based or religious organizations that would be subject to 
these requirements would have to keep records to show that they have 
met the referral requirements in the proposed regulations. If an 
organization provides paper notice and uses the model form in Appendix 
A, it can meet the recordkeeping requirements in these proposed 
regulations by retaining the bottom portion of the form. If an 
organization provides notice electronically, the notice would have to 
include a means for beneficiaries to request an alternative provider 
and follow-up, if desired--that is recorded, so that the organizations 
may retain evidence of compliance with these proposed regulations. The 
Department has not included an estimate of the burden of maintaining 
the records needed to demonstrate compliance with the recordkeeping 
requirements because the Department already uses information-collection 
instruments to comply with the recordkeeping requirements in existing 
Department programs. Those collection instruments are approved by OMB 
and each collection has an OMB-assigned information-collection control 
number. The burden that would be added by these proposed regulations is 
so small as to not be measurable, given all the program and 
administrative requirements and the existing program collection 
instruments. Therefore, the Department has not included any estimate of 
recordkeeping burden in this analysis.
    In calculating the burden that the notice and referral requirements 
would impose on faith-based or religious organizations, the Department 
has made several assumptions. As indicated in the discussion below, 
where there is no source for data, the Department has relied on 
conversations with other Federal agencies that have regulations 
requiring notices and referrals, for data based on their experiences. 
For example, the Department estimates that an organization would need 
approximately one minute to distribute the required notice to a 
beneficiary. This estimate assumes that there may be instances during 
which less or more time may be necessary, depending on the number of 
beneficiaries seeking the services or benefits from the organization. 
Accordingly, the Department estimates that the amount of time needed to 
give the notice (T) will be equal to one (1) minute.
    The Department acknowledges that estimating the number of faith-
based or religious organizations that provide services or benefits 
under Department programs is challenging. To obtain this estimate, the 
Department relied upon information from two of its grantmaking 
components: The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and the Office 
of Justice Programs (OJP). OVW estimates that there are approximately 
100 grantees and subgrantees that would have to provide the notice to 
beneficiaries. OJP estimates that there may be fewer than 50 grantees 
and subgrantees subject to the notice requirement, based on three years 
of information related to legal name, application for funding, and use 
of special conditions that is maintained in its Grants Management 
System. Accordingly, the Department estimates that the total number of 
organizations that must give notice (N) will be approximately 150.
    Under the proposed regulations, faith-based or religious 
organizations are required to make reasonable efforts to refer 
beneficiaries seeking a referral to an alternate provider. We are not 
aware of any instances in which a beneficiary of a program of the 
Department has objected to receiving services from a faith-based or 
religious organization. When beneficiaries start receiving notices of 
their right to request referral to an alternative service provider, 
more may raise objections. Our estimate of the number of referrals is 
based on the experience of the Department of Health and Human Services, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 
which administers beneficiary substance abuse service programs under 
titles VI and XIX of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 290aa et 
seq. and 42 U.S.C. 300x-21 et seq. These programs require faith-based 
or religious organizations that receive assistance under the Public 
Health Service Act to provide notice to beneficiaries of their right 
under statute to request an alternative service provider. 42 U.S.C. 
290kk-1(f), 300x-65(e); 42 CFR 54a.8. Recipients of assistance must 
also report all referrals to the appropriate Federal, State, or local 
government agency that administers the program. 42 CFR 54a.8(d). To 
date, SAMHSA has not received any reports of referral by recipients or 
subrecipients.
    Despite that information, the Department will err on the high side 
and estimate that the number of requests for referrals will be one per 
month for each faith-based or religious organization. Accordingly, the 
Department estimates that the number of beneficiaries or potential 
beneficiaries who request referrals (Z) will be twelve (12) per year.
    Because the Department has presumed that each faith-based or 
religious organization may receive one request per month, it must 
estimate the amount of time needed by an organization for a reasonable 
effort to identify and make a referral. Based on other Federal 
agencies' experiences, the Department estimates that the number of 
hours required for an organization to make reasonable efforts to 
identify and refer a beneficiary (R) will be two (2) hours.
    Based on the information provided, the total estimated annual 
burden hours (B) can be calculated using the following equation:

B = T x N x Z x R,
Where

T = the time needed to give the notice = 1 minute = 1/60 hour;
N = the number of faith-based or religious organizations = 150;
Z = the number of annual requests for a referral = 12 per year; and
R = the number of hours needed to identify and make a referral = 2 
hours.

Accordingly, the Department estimates that the Total Estimated Annual 
Burden Hours (B) will be 1/60 x 150 x 12 x 2, or 60 hours per year.
    The Department will submit an information-collection request (ICR) 
to OMB to obtain PRA approval for the information-collection formatting 
requirements contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 
Draft control number XXXX will be used for public comment.
    Title of Collection: Written Notice of Beneficiary Protections.
    OMB ICR Reference Number Control Number: XXXX.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, nonprofit 
organizations.
    Abstract: The recipient provider will be required to complete a 
referral form, notify the awarding entity, and maintain information 
only if a beneficiary requests a referral to an alternate provider.
    For additional information, please contact Jerri Murray, Department 
Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice Management 
Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Two Constitution

[[Page 47323]]

Square, 145 N Street NE., Suite 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 38

    Administrative practice and procedure, Grant programs, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Nonprofit organizations.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department proposes to 
revise part 38 of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read 
as follows:

PART 38--PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAITH-BASED AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD 
ORGANIZATIONS

Sec.
38.1 Purpose.
38.2 Applicability and scope.
38.3 Definitions.
38.4 Policy.
38.5 Responsibilities.
38.6 Procedures.
38.7 Assurances.
38.8 Enforcement.

    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 509; 5 U.S.C. 301; E.O. 13279, 67 FR 77141 
(Dec. 12, 2002), 3 CFR, 2002 Comp., p. 258; 18 U.S.C. 4001, 4042, 
5040; 42 U.S.C. 14045b; 21 U.S.C. 871; 25 U.S.C. 3681; Pub. L. 107-
273, 116 Stat. 1758; Public Law 109-162, 119 Stat. 2960; 42 U.S.C. 
3751, 3753, 3762b, 3782, 3796dd-1, 3796dd-7, 3796gg-1, 3796gg-0b, 
3796gg-3, 3796h, 3796ii-2, 3797u-3, 3797w, 5611, 5672, 10604; E.O. 
13559, 75 FR 71319 (Nov. 17, 2010), 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 273.


Sec.  38.1  Purpose.

    The purpose of this part is to implement Executive Order 13279 and 
Executive Order 13559.


Sec.  38.2  Applicability and scope.

    (a) A faith-based or religious organization that applies for, or 
participates in, a social service program supported with Federal 
financial assistance may retain its independence and may continue to 
carry out its mission, including the definition, development, practice, 
and expression of its religious beliefs, provided that it does not use 
direct Federal financial assistance, whether received through a prime 
award or subaward, to support or engage in any explicitly religious 
activities, including activities that involve overt religious content 
such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.
    (b) The use of indirect Federal financial assistance is not subject 
to this restriction. Religious activities that can be publicly funded 
under the Establishment Clause, such as chaplaincy services, likewise 
would not be considered ``explicitly religious activities'' that are 
subject to direct Federal financial assistance restrictions.


Sec.  38.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    (a)(1) Direct Federal financial assistance or Federal financial 
assistance provided directly refers to situations where the Government 
or an intermediary (under this part) selects the provider and either 
purchases services from that provider (e.g., via a contract) or awards 
funds to that provider to carry out a service (e.g., via a grant or 
cooperative agreement). In general, and except as provided in paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section, Federal financial assistance shall be treated 
as direct, unless it meets the definition of ``indirect Federal 
financial assistance'' or ``Federal financial assistance provided 
indirectly.''
    (2) Recipients of subgrants that receive Federal financial 
assistance through State administering agencies or State-administered 
programs are recipients of ``direct Federal financial assistance'' (or 
recipients of ``Federal funds provided directly'').
    (b) Indirect Federal financial assistance or Federal financial 
assistance provided indirectly refers to situations where the choice of 
the service provider is placed in the hands of the beneficiary, and the 
cost of that service is paid through a voucher, certificate, or other 
similar means of government-funded payment. Federal financial 
assistance provided to an organization is considered ``indirect'' when:
    (1) The government program through which the beneficiary receives 
the voucher, certificate, or other similar means of government-funded 
payment is neutral toward religion;
    (2) The organization receives the assistance as a result of a 
decision of the beneficiary, not a decision of the Government; and
    (3) The beneficiary has at least one adequate secular option for 
the use of the voucher, certificate, or other similar means of 
government-funded payment.
    (c)(1) Intermediary or pass-through entity means an entity, 
including a nonprofit or nongovernmental organization, acting under a 
contract, grant, or other agreement with the Federal Government or with 
a State or local government, such as a State administering agency, that 
accepts Federal financial assistance as a primary recipient or grantee 
and distributes that assistance to other organizations that, in turn, 
provide government-funded social services.
    (2) When an intermediary, such as a State administering agency, 
distributes Federal financial assistance to other organizations, it 
replaces the Department as the awarding entity. The intermediary 
remains accountable for the Federal financial assistance it disburses 
and, accordingly, must ensure that any providers to which it disburses 
Federal financial assistance also comply with this part.
    (d) Department program refers to a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement funded by a discretionary, formula, or block grant program 
administered by or from the Department.
    (e) Grantee includes a recipient of a grant, a signatory to a 
cooperative agreement, or a contracting party.
    (f) The Office for Civil Rights refers to the Office for Civil 
Rights in the Department's Office of Justice Programs.


Sec.  38.4  Policy.

    (a) Grants (formula and discretionary), contracts, and cooperative 
agreements. Faith-based or religious organizations are eligible, on the 
same basis as any other organization, to participate in any Department 
program for which they are otherwise eligible. Neither the Department 
nor any State or local government receiving funds under any Department 
program shall, in the selection of service providers, discriminate for 
or against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious 
character or affiliation.
    (b) Political or religious affiliation. Decisions about awards of 
Federal financial assistance must be free from political interference 
or even the appearance of such interference and must be made on the 
basis of merit, not on the basis of religion or religious belief.


Sec.  38.5  Responsibilities.

    (a)(1) Organizations that receive direct financial assistance from 
the Department may not engage in explicitly religious activities, 
including activities that involve overt religious content such as 
worship, religious instruction, or proselytization, as part of the 
programs or services funded with direct financial assistance from the 
Department. If an organization conducts such explicitly religious 
activities, the activities must be offered separately, in time or 
location, from the programs or services funded with direct financial 
assistance from the Department, and participation must be voluntary for 
beneficiaries of the programs or services funded with such assistance.
    (2) Where Department funds are provided to chaplains to work with 
inmates in prisons, detention facilities, or community correction 
centers, or where Department funds are provided to

[[Page 47324]]

religious or other organizations for programs in prisons, detention 
facilities, or community correction centers, in which such 
organizations assist chaplains in carrying out their duties, or to any 
other activity that can be publicly funded under the Establishment 
Clause, these activities would not be considered ``explicitly religious 
activities'' that are subject to direct Federal financial assistance 
restrictions.
    (b) A faith-based or religious organization that participates in 
the Department-funded programs or services will retain its independence 
from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry 
out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of 
its religious beliefs, provided that it does not use direct financial 
assistance from the Department to support any explicitly religious 
activities, including activities that involve overt religious content 
such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. Among other 
things, a faith-based or religious organization that receives financial 
assistance from the Department may use space in its facilities without 
removing scriptures or religious art, icons, messages, scriptures, or 
symbols. In addition, a faith-based or religious organization that 
receives financial assistance from the Department retains its authority 
over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its 
organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and 
include religious references in its organization's mission statements 
and other governing documents.
    (c) Any organization that participates in programs funded by direct 
financial assistance from the Department shall not, in providing 
services, discriminate against a program beneficiary or prospective 
program beneficiary on the basis of religion, religious belief, a 
refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or 
participate in a religious practice.
    (d) No grant document, agreement, covenant, memorandum of 
understanding, policy, or regulation that the Department or a State or 
local government uses in administering financial assistance from the 
Department shall require only faith-based or religious organizations to 
provide assurances that they will not use monies or property for 
explicitly religious activities. All organizations, including religious 
ones, that participate in Department programs must carry out eligible 
activities in accordance with all program requirements and other 
applicable requirements governing the conduct of Department-funded 
activities, including those prohibiting the use of direct financial 
assistance from the Department to engage in explicitly religious 
activities. No grant document, agreement, covenant, memorandum of 
understanding, policy, or regulation that is used by the Department or 
a State or local government in administering financial assistance from 
the Department shall disqualify faith-based or religious organizations 
from participating in the Department's programs because such 
organizations are motivated or influenced by religious faith to provide 
social services, or because of their religious character or 
affiliation.
    (e) Exemption from Title VII employment discrimination 
requirements. A faith-based or religious organization's exemption from 
the Federal prohibition on employment discrimination on the basis of 
religion, set forth in section 702(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 
42 U.S.C. 2000e-1(a), is not forfeited when the organization receives 
direct or indirect financial assistance from the Department. Some 
Department programs, however, contain independent statutory provisions 
requiring that all grantees agree not to discriminate in employment on 
the basis of religion. Accordingly, grantees should consult with the 
appropriate Department program office to determine the scope of any 
applicable requirements.
    (f) If an intermediary, acting under a contract, grant, or other 
agreement with the Federal Government or with a State or local 
government that is administering a program supported by Federal 
financial assistance, is given the authority under the contract, grant, 
or agreement to select organizations to provide services funded by the 
Federal Government, the intermediary must ensure the compliance of the 
recipient of a contract, grant, or agreement with the provisions of 
Executive Order 13279, as amended by Executive Order 13559, and any 
implementing rules or guidance. If the intermediary is a 
nongovernmental organization, it retains all other rights of a 
nongovernmental organization under the program's statutory and 
regulatory provisions.
    (g) In general, the Department does not require that a grantee, 
including a religious organization, obtain tax-exempt status under 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to be eligible for 
funding under Department programs. Many grant programs, however, do 
require an organization to be a ``nonprofit organization'' in order to 
be eligible for funding. Individual solicitations that require 
organizations to have nonprofit status will specifically so indicate in 
the eligibility section of a solicitation. In addition, any 
solicitation that requires an organization to maintain tax-exempt 
status will expressly state the statutory authority for requiring such 
status. Grantees should consult with the appropriate Department program 
office to determine the scope of any applicable requirements. In 
Department programs in which an applicant must show that it is a 
nonprofit organization, the applicant may do so by any of the following 
means:
    (1) Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes 
the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax 
deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
    (2) A statement from a State taxing body or the State secretary of 
state certifying that:
    (i) The organization is a nonprofit organization operating within 
the State; and
    (ii) No part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private 
shareholder or individual;
    (3) A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes the 
nonprofit status of the applicant; or
    (4) Any item described in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this 
section if that item applies to a State or national parent 
organization, together with a statement by the State or parent 
organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
    (h) Grantees should consult with the appropriate Department program 
office to determine the applicability of this part in foreign countries 
or sovereign lands.


Sec.  38.6  Procedures.

    (a) Effect on State and local funds. If a State or local government 
voluntarily contributes its own funds to supplement activities carried 
out under the applicable programs, the State or local government has 
the option to separate out the Federal funds or commingle them. If the 
funds are commingled, the provisions of this section shall apply to all 
of the commingled funds in the same manner, and to the same extent, as 
the provisions apply to the Federal funds.
    (b) To the extent otherwise permitted by Federal law, the 
restrictions on explicitly religious activities set forth in this 
section do not apply to indirect Federal financial assistance.
    (c) Beneficiary protections: Written notice. (1) Faith-based or 
religious organizations providing social services to beneficiaries 
under a program

[[Page 47325]]

supported by direct Federal financial assistance from the Department 
must give written notice to beneficiaries and prospective beneficiaries 
of certain protections. Such notice must be given in a manner 
prescribed by the Office for Civil Rights. This notice must state the 
following:
    (i) The organization may not discriminate against beneficiaries on 
the basis of religion or religious belief;
    (ii) The organization may not require beneficiaries to attend or 
participate in any explicitly religious activities that are offered by 
the organization, and any participation by beneficiaries in such 
activities must be purely voluntary;
    (iii) The organization must separate in time or location any 
privately funded explicitly religious activities from activities 
supported by direct Federal financial assistance;
    (iv) If a beneficiary objects to the religious character of the 
organization, the organization will undertake reasonable efforts to 
identify and refer the beneficiary to an alternative provider to which 
the prospective beneficiary has no objection; and
    (v) Beneficiaries may report an organization's violation of these 
protections or file a written complaint of any denials of services or 
benefits by an organization with the Office for Civil Rights or the 
intermediary that awarded funds to the organization.
    (2) This written notice must be given to beneficiaries prior to the 
time they enroll in the program or receive services from such programs. 
When the nature of the service provided or exigent circumstances make 
it impracticable to provide such written notice in advance of the 
actual service, service providers must advise beneficiaries of their 
protections at the earliest available opportunity.
    (3) The notice that a faith-based or religious organization may use 
to notify beneficiaries or prospective beneficiaries of their 
protections under paragraph (c)(1) of this section is available at 
https://ojp.gov/fbnp/index.htm.
    (d) Beneficiary protections: Referral requirements. (1) If a 
beneficiary or prospective beneficiary of a social service program 
supported by the Department objects to the religious character of an 
organization that provides services under the program, that 
organization must promptly undertake reasonable efforts to identify and 
refer the beneficiary to an alternative provider to which the 
prospective beneficiary has no objection based on the organization's 
religious character. See Written Notice of Beneficiary Protections, 
available at https://ojp.gov/fbnp/index.htm.
    (2) An organization may refer a beneficiary or prospective 
beneficiary to another faith-based or religious organization that 
provides comparable services, if the beneficiary has no objection to 
that provider. But if the beneficiary requests a secular provider, and 
a secular provider is available, then a referral must be made to that 
provider.
    (3) Except for services provided by telephone, Internet, or similar 
means, the referral must be to an alternative provider that is in 
reasonable geographic proximity to the organization making the referral 
and that offers services that are similar in substance and quality to 
those offered by the organization. The alternative provider also must 
have the capacity to accept additional clients.
    (4) When the organization makes a referral to an alternative 
provider, or when the organization determines that it is unable to 
identify an alternative provider, the organization shall notify and 
maintain a record for review by the awarding entity. If the 
organization is unable to identify an alternative provider, the 
awarding entity shall determine whether there is any other suitable 
alternative provider to which the beneficiary may be referred. An 
intermediary that receives a request for assistance in identifying an 
alternative provider may request assistance from the Department.


Sec.  38.7  Assurances.

    (a) Every application submitted to the Department for direct 
Federal financial assistance subject to this part must contain, as a 
condition of its approval and the extension of any such assistance, or 
be accompanied by, an assurance or statement that the program is or 
will be conducted in compliance with this part.
    (b) Every intermediary must provide for such methods of 
administration as are required by the Office for Civil Rights to give 
reasonable assurance that the intermediary will comply with this part 
and effectively monitor the actions of its recipients.


Sec.  38.8  Enforcement.

    (a) The Office for Civil Rights may review the practices of 
recipients of direct Federal financial assistance to determine whether 
they are in compliance with this part.
    (b) The Office for Civil Rights may investigate any allegations of 
noncompliance with this part.
    (c) Recipients of direct Federal financial assistance determined to 
be in violation of any provisions of this part are subject to the 
enforcement procedures and sanctions, up to and including suspension 
and termination of funds, authorized by applicable laws.
    (d) An allegation of any violation or discrimination by an 
organization, based on this part, may be filed with the Office for 
Civil Rights or the intermediary that awarded the funds to the 
organization.

    Dated: July 16, 2015.
Loretta E. Lynch,
Attorney General.

    Note: The following Appendix will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

APPENDIX A

WRITTEN NOTICE OF BENEFICIARY PROTECTIONS

    Name of Organization:

    Name of Program:

    Contact Information for Program Staff (name, phone number, and 
email address, if appropriate):

    Because this program is supported in whole or in part by 
financial assistance from the Federal Government, we are required to 
let you know that--

 We may not discriminate against you on the basis of 
religion or religious belief;
 We may not require you to attend or participate in any 
explicitly religious activities that we offer, and your 
participation in these activities must be purely voluntary;
 We must separate in time or location any privately funded 
explicitly religious activities from activities supported with 
direct Federal financial assistance;
 If you object to the religious character of our 
organization, we must make reasonable efforts to identify and refer 
you to an alternative provider to which you have no objection; and
 You may report violations of these protections to the U.S. 
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Civil 
Rights or to [name of agency that awarded grant].

    We must give you this written notice before you enroll in our 
program or receive services from the program.

BENEFICARY REFERRAL REQUEST

    If you object to receiving services from us based on the 
religious character of our organization, please complete this form 
and return it to the program contact identified above. If you 
object, we will make reasonable efforts to refer you to another 
service provider. We cannot guarantee, however, that in every 
instance, an alternative provider will be available. With your 
consent, we will follow up with you or the organization to which you 
were referred to determine whether you contacted that organization.

    Please check if applicable:

    ( ) I want to be referred to another service provider.


[[Page 47326]]


    If you checked above that you wish to be referred to another 
service provider, please check one of the following:

    ( ) Please follow up with me or the service provider to which I 
was referred.

    Name:

    Best way to reach me (phone/address/email):

    ( ) Please do not follow up.
[FR Doc. 2015-18259 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P