Use of Non-LSC Funds, Transfers of LSC Funds, Program Integrity; Subgrants and Membership Fees or Dues; Cost Standards and Procedures, 10273-10285 [2017-02718]

Agencies

• LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10273-10285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02718]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

45 CFR Parts 1610, 1627, and 1630


Use of Non-LSC Funds, Transfers of LSC Funds, Program Integrity; 
Subgrants and Membership Fees or Dues; Cost Standards and Procedures

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule revises the Legal Services Corporation's (LSC 
or Corporation) regulations governing subgrants. LSC published a Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on April 20, 2015, and a Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) on April 26, 2016. This final rule 
identifies the factors to consider in determining whether an award from 
an LSC recipient to another organization is a subgrant, establishes a 
dollar threshold at which recipients must seek LSC's approval to award 
a subgrant, authorizes recipients to use property or services funded in 
whole or in part with LSC funds to support a subgrant, and establishes 
new processes for seeking prior approval of subgrants.

DATES: This final rule will be effective on April 1, 2017.

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), sdavis@lsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 10274]]

I. Introduction

    LSC provided a more complete history of the impetus for this 
rulemaking in the April 20, 2015 NPRM. 80 FR 21692, Apr. 20, 2015. In 
brief, LSC initiated this rulemaking to address an issue identified by 
LSC's Office of Inspector General (OIG) through an audit of the 
Corporation's Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) program. In its audit 
report, OIG disagreed with LSC management's (Management) interpretation 
and application of the rules governing subgrants and transfers of LSC 
funds because ``[t]he 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.'' Audit of Legal Services 
Corporation's Technology Initiative Grant Program, Report No. AU-11-01, 
at 42, Dec. 2010.
    LSC initiated this rulemaking in 2012 to resolve the conflict of 
opinions. In 2015, Management proposed expanding this rulemaking to 
update these rules more comprehensively. On April 12, 2015, the 
Operations and Regulations Committee (Committee) of LSC's Board of 
Directors (Board) voted to recommend that the Board approve publication 
of an 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. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
on April 20, 2015, with a comment closing date of May 20, 2015. 80 FR 
21692, Apr. 20, 2015. After receiving a request to extend the comment 
period, LSC gave interested parties an additional 21 days to respond to 
the NPRM. 80 FR 29600, May 22, 2015.
    LSC received five comments during the comment period. One LSC 
funding recipient, Northwest Justice Project (NJP), submitted comments. 
The other four comments came from OIG; Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL), 
the pro bono program of the Denver Bar Association; the National Legal 
Aid and Defender Association, through its Civil Policy Group and its 
Regulations and Policy Committee (NLADA); and the American Bar 
Association's Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense 
(SCLAID). Collectively, the commenters identified five areas of concern 
with the NPRM: (1) An ambiguous definition of the term 
``programmatic''; (2) LSC's proposal to adopt the five characteristics 
of a subgrant from the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Uniform 
Guidance, 2 CFR part 200; (3) LSC's proposal to prohibit recipients 
from using services or property acquired in whole or in part with LSC 
funds as the basis for a subgrant; (4) LSC's proposal to remove a 
provision that deemed subgrants approved if LSC did not make a decision 
about whether to approve the subgrant within 45 days of submission; and 
(5) LSC's proposal to require subrecipients to maintain timekeeping 
records in accordance with 45 CFR part 1635. Commenters also responded 
to LSC's request for comments about whether to increase the dollar 
threshold at which fee-for-service arrangements, including judicare 
projects and contracts with private attorneys to provide legal 
assistance to eligible clients, are considered subgrants.
    LSC reviewed all comments received and determined that revisions to 
the proposed rule were appropriate. LSC proposed to make significant 
changes to five provisions of the proposed rule:
     Removing the definition of the term programmatic from 
Sec.  1627.2;
     Revising Sec.  1627.3 to allow recipients to use property 
or services acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds to support a 
subgrant;
     Revising Sec.  1627.4 to establish a $15,000 threshold at 
which recipients must seek LSC's prior written approval before awarding 
a subgrant;
     Committing LSC to publishing the time frames in which LSC 
will make decisions on requests for prior approval of subgrants in the 
Federal Register on an annual basis; and
     Revising Sec.  1627.5 to allow recipients flexibility to 
negotiate the creation and maintenance of timekeeping records with 
subrecipients.
    LSC determined that the changes were significant enough to warrant 
a second round of notice and comment rulemaking. On April 18, 2016, the 
Committee authorized publication of an FNPRM in the Federal Register. 
LSC published the FNPRM on April 26, 2016, with a 30-day comment 
period. 81 FR 24544. The comment period closed on June 10, 2016.
    On October 16, 2016, LSC staff presented a proposed final rule to 
the Committee for consideration. During the public comment period of 
the Committee meeting, the Committee received comments from Kathleen 
Schoen of the Denver Bar Association, Robin Murphy of the National 
Legal Aid and Defender Association, and Terry Brooks of the American 
Bar Association.
    The commenters remarked on two issues: Timekeeping and LSC's 
oversight of subgrants, including audit requirements. Subrecipient 
timekeeping was the subject of significant revision and public comment 
at both the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and further notice of 
proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) stages of this rulemaking. Commenters did 
not raise concerns about LSC's oversight of subgrants until the FNPRM 
stage.
    In response to the commenters' concerns, the Committee deferred 
voting on the final rule and directed LSC staff to reexamine whether 
LSC could (1) further tailor the level of detail proposed in the 
timekeeping requirement to reduce the burdens on bar associations 
receiving LSC-funded property or services to engage in pro bono 
activities while remaining sufficient to ensure compliance with LSC's 
governing statutes; and (2) reconsider the scope of the provisions 
governing oversight and auditing of subgrants as they apply to such bar 
associations.
    LSC staff conducted the requested reexamination and developed 
revised language, on which they briefed the Committee and the public at 
an interim meeting on November 22, 2016. 81 FR 80686, Nov. 6, 2016. The 
Committee again received comments from ABA and NLADA during this 
meeting. NLADA also submitted a written comment, which LSC staff took 
under advisement.
    On January 26, 2017, the Committee considered the final rule and 
voted to recommend its adoption and publication in the Federal Register 
to the Board. On January 28, 2017, the Board adopted the final rule and 
approved its publication.
    Material regarding this rulemaking is available on the Rulemaking 
page of LSC's Web site at https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/laws-regulations-guidance/rulemaking. After the effective date of this rule, 
those materials will appear on the Closed Rulemaking page of LSC's Web 
site at https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/laws-regulations-guidance/rulemaking/closed-rulemaking.

II. Section-by-Section Discussion and Analysis

A. Part 1610

    Section 1610.7 Transfers of LSC funds. In the NPRM, LSC proposed to 
transfer Sec.  1610.7 to part 1627 to consolidate all provisions 
pertaining to the use of LSC funds for subgrants into one part of LSC's 
regulations. As a result of the transfer, LSC proposed to redesignate 
Sec. Sec.  1610.8 and 1610.9 as Sec. Sec.  1610.7 and 1610.8, 
respectively. LSC

[[Page 10275]]

also proposed to delete the definition of the term transfer from Sec.  
1610.2. LSC received no comments on these proposals, and now adopts 
them in this final rule.
    LSC is making a technical amendment to newly redesignated Sec.  
1610.7(a)(2) to reflect the deletion of the term transfer from the 
definitions section of part 1610.

B. Part 1627

    Section 1627.1 Purpose. In the NPRM, LSC proposed to redefine the 
purpose of part 1627 as establishing the requirements applicable to 
subgrants of LSC funds. LSC received no comments on this proposal.
    Section 1627.2 Definitions. LSC proposed several changes to this 
section in both the NPRM and the FNPRM. LSC received no comments on the 
NPRM proposals to transfer the definition of the term membership fees 
or dues to part 1630 and to redefine the terms recipient and 
subrecipient. LSC received one comment in favor of the proposal to 
adopt the definition of the term private attorney established by 45 CFR 
part 1614.
    In the NPRM, LSC proposed 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. 80 FR 21692, 
21694, Apr. 20, 2015. As discussed more fully in the FNPRM, NLADA and 
NJP both objected to the proposed definition as ambiguous and overly 
broad. 81 FR 24544, 24545, Apr. 26, 2016. Both commenters recommended 
that LSC replace the phrase ``activities or functions carried out to 
provide legal assistance'' with ``the delivery of legal assistance to 
eligible clients.'' They both also recommended excluding ``activities 
conducted by entities not directly involved in the delivery of legal 
assistance to eligible clients'' from the definition. Finally, NLADA 
suggested that LSC expand the definition of programmatic to include 
``the provision of services under a special LSC grant project.''
    LSC agreed that its proposed definition of the term programmatic 
created more problems than it solved. Commenters identified several 
ambiguities with the proposed definition and suggested solutions, but 
LSC determined that the potential solutions themselves created 
problems. For example, both NLADA and NJP stated that LSC's proposed 
definition was too broad and unclear, so both organizations offered 
language they believe would clarify that programmatic means only the 
delivery of legal assistance to eligible clients. Both NLADA's and 
NJP's suggested language, however, would narrow the definition beyond 
what LSC intended.
    LSC found it difficult to redefine programmatic with a degree of 
precision sufficient to give grantees clear guidance about the term's 
meaning. Consequently, in the FNPRM, LSC instead proposed to remove the 
proposed definition of programmatic in Sec.  1627.2 and to remove the 
term from the list of factors in proposed Sec.  1627.3(b)(2). In its 
place, LSC proposed to define the term procurement contract in Sec.  
1627.2(b). LSC proposed to define and use this term for two reasons. 
The first was to highlight the distinction between subgrants, which 
involve provision of legal assistance, and procurement contracts, which 
are agreements to purchase property or services that a recipient needs 
to operate. The second was that LSC anticipated incorporating the 
federal government's Uniform Guidance principles applicable to 
procurement contracts into part 1630 and the Property Acquisition and 
Management Manual (PAMM) through an ongoing rulemaking. LSC received no 
comments on this proposal.
    In the FNPRM, LSC also proposed to define the term property as real 
or personal property. This proposal resulted from the decision to allow 
recipients to use property acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds 
to support subgrants. LSC received no comments on this proposal.
    Sec.  1627.2(e) Subgrant. In the NPRM, LSC proposed to redefine the 
term subgrant to substantially reflect the definition in the Uniform 
Guidance, 2 CFR 200.92. LSC proposed in the FNPRM to revise the term to 
reflect the decision to allow recipients to use property or services 
acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds to support a subgrant. LSC 
received no comments on either proposal.
    In the existing rule, LSC excludes from the definition of subgrant 
fee-for-service arrangements, such as judicare arrangements and 
contracts with private attorneys for the direct delivery of legal 
assistance to recipients' clients, when the cost of such arrangements 
does not exceed $25,000. During LSC's 2014 rulemaking to revise the 
private attorney involvement rule at 45 CFR part 1614, LSC received a 
comment recommending that LSC increase the threshold at which such 
arrangements are considered subgrants from $25,000 to $60,000. The 
commenter proposed increasing the threshold to $60,000 to account for 
inflation since LSC established the original threshold in 1983. 70 FR 
61770, 61780, Oct. 15, 2014. Consistent with that comment, LSC proposed 
to increase the threshold and sought comment on the appropriate amount 
to adopt. Commenters unanimously agreed that LSC should set the 
threshold at $60,000. LSC agrees and is therefore adopting the $60,000 
threshold in this final rule.
    Sec.  1627.2(f) Subrecipient. In the NPRM, LSC proposed to simplify 
the existing definition of subrecipient. LSC received no comments on 
this proposal.
    Sec.  1627.3 Characteristics of subgrants. In the NPRM, LSC 
proposed to create a new section describing the factors that recipients 
should evaluate when determining whether a particular third-party 
agreement is a subgrant subject to the provisions of part 1627 or a 
procurement contract subject to part 1630 and the PAMM. LSC proposed to 
adopt in substantial part language from the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 
200.330(a) and (c). These provisions explain the characteristics of a 
subgrant and state that recipients are to use judgment in evaluating 
the characteristics, all of which may not be present for any given 
subgrant. LSC made minor revisions to these provisions to make clear 
that the context for subgrant activities and the performance of the 
subrecipient is the LSC recipient's legal services work. LSC also 
provided two examples of how third-party arrangements would be 
characterized--as a subgrant or as a procurement contract--when 
analyzed using the five characteristics.
    Comment: NJP and NLADA both expressed concern about LSC's proposal 
to adopt the Uniform Guidance characteristics. NLADA objected to the 
proposal because it does not ``provide a definitive framework'' for 
determining whether a particular third-party arrangement is a subgrant. 
NJP observed that ``by authorizing recipients to `use judgment' in 
classifying each agreement as a subgrant or procurement contract, 
recipients are placed at risk of making judgments that differ from how 
LSC would judge the relationship. If this occurs, the expenditure of 
funds could be a `questioned cost' or subject to limited sanctions, 
creating disincentives for recipients to exercise any judgment.'' NJP 
further claimed that the characteristics themselves were ambiguous and 
lacked definition and clarity about how and whether LSC expected 
recipients to, for example, delegate programmatic decision-making to a 
subrecipient. NJP and NLADA both recommended that if LSC were to adopt 
the proposed language, LSC should also adopt a provision that holds 
recipients harmless for making a good faith error in judgment about 
whether a third-party agreement is a subgrant.

[[Page 10276]]

    Response: The commenters' concerns appear to be rooted in a belief 
that using the Uniform Guidance framework will result in many 
arrangements being mischaracterized and that LSC will penalize 
recipients with whom they disagree. LSC's research, however, has not 
indicated that federal grantees have had significant difficulty using 
these factors to assess their third-party agreements after years of 
applying them pursuant to OMB Circular A-133. The fact that the 
preambles to the Advance Notice of Proposed Guidance, Notice of 
Proposed Guidance, and Final Guidance for the Uniform Guidance are 
silent about the inclusion of these factors provides further evidence 
that federal grantees generally have not found them difficult to use. 
See 77 FR 11778, Feb. 28, 2012 (ANPG); 78 FR 7282, Feb. 1, 2013 (NPG); 
78 FR 78589, Dec. 26, 2013 (Final Guidance). Furthermore, neither OMB 
Circular A-133 nor the Uniform Guidance included a good faith exception 
of the type that NJP and NLADA recommended.
    LSC continues to believe that providing a framework for analyzing 
third-party agreements is an improvement over the status quo, in which 
the existing definition provides little guidance. In addition, using 
the OMB factors enables recipients who have federal grants to use 
uniform standards for evaluating their third-party agreements. For 
these reasons, LSC will retain the characteristics of a subgrant in 
Sec.  1627.3(b).
    LSC will not adopt the recommendation to provide a safe harbor for 
recipients who make a good faith determination that a subaward to a 
third party is not a subgrant when LSC applies the characteristics of a 
subgrant and reaches the opposite conclusion for two reasons. First, 
the Uniform Guidance, from which LSC is adopting the characteristics, 
does not provide a safe harbor. Second, if a recipient has questions 
about whether a particular award would constitute a subgrant under the 
characteristics in Sec.  1627.3(b), the recipient is encouraged to 
contact LSC for guidance before making the award.
    Currently, LSC evaluates third-party agreements for whether they 
meet the definition of subgrant, whether the recipient sought prior 
approval of the subaward, and whether the recipient's use of funds is 
reasonable and allocable to the grant under the cost standards of part 
1630. If LSC determines that the subaward is reasonable but the 
recipient did not seek prior approval, LSC may direct the recipient to 
submit a request for approval of a subgrant. LSC will then treat the 
award as a subgrant from the date on which LSC approves the subgrant. 
If LSC determines that the subaward does not meet the standards of part 
1630, LSC may initiate a questioned cost proceeding based on that 
finding. Whether a recipient sought prior approval of the subaward may 
be a factor in determining whether a subaward satisfies part 1630, but 
generally is not dispositive.
    In the Uniform Guidance, OMB described the characteristics of a 
procurement relationship and the characteristics of a subaward in the 
same section. 2 CFR 200.330(b). LSC compares the two sets of 
characteristics, as LSC would apply them, in the chart below.

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                      Characteristics of a Subgrant
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Third party determines who is eligible to receive legal assistance under
 the recipient's LSC grant.
Third party's performance is measured in relation to whether
 programmatic objectives of the LSC grant were met.
Third party has responsibility for programmatic decision-making
 regarding the delivery of legal assistance under the recipient's LSC
 grant.
Third party is responsible for adhering to applicable LSC program
 requirements specified in the LSC grant award.
Third party, in accordance with the subgrant agreement, uses LSC funds
 to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in LSC's
 governing statutes and regulations.
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                Characteristics of a Procurement Contract
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Third party provides the goods and services within its normal business
 operations.
Third party provides similar goods or services to many different
 purchasers.
Third party normally operates in a competitive environment.
Third party provides goods or services that are ancillary to the
 operation of the recipient's programmatic activities.
Third party is not subject to compliance requirements of LSC's governing
 statutes and regulations as a result of the contract, though similar
 requirements may apply for other reasons.
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    LSC provides this comparison to help demonstrate the differences 
between subgrants and procurement contracts. Some types of subawards, 
such as those pursuant to which the third party is providing goods or 
services that require the third party to use substantive legal 
knowledge, will involve judgment calls about whether the awards more 
closely meet the characteristics of a subgrant or those of a contract. 
In those situations, LSC encourages recipients to contact LSC to work 
through the analysis of the characteristics.
    In the NPRM, LSC published an analysis of two fact patterns to 
demonstrate how subawards of LSC funds to third parties would be 
analyzed under the subgrant characteristics. In the interest of 
providing more practical guidance about applying the characteristics of 
a subgrant, LSC is providing five additional examples.

    Example 1:  An LSC funding recipient provides an award to a bar 
association to recruit pro bono attorneys by sending out email 
blasts to the association's subscriber list announcing a recipient's 
pro bono opportunities. This award would not be a subgrant because 
all of the characteristics under Sec.  1627.3(b) are lacking. 
Sending an email message about pro bono opportunities would not make 
the association responsible for determining client eligibility under 
the LSC grant. This responsibility would remain with the recipient. 
Additionally, the bar association would not have its performance 
measured in relation to whether objectives of the recipient's Basic 
Field-General grant were met. The bar association's performance 
would not be measured by how well it achieves the objectives of the 
recipient's grant, but rather by how well it succeeds in sending an 
email to its membership. Furthermore, by sending a simple email 
blast, the bar association would have no responsibility for 
programmatic decision-making (such as setting new or different 
priorities than the priorities set by the recipient), nor would the 
bar association be responsible for adhering to applicable LSC 
program requirements specified in the LSC grant award. Finally, the 
association would be sending the email as a technical service for 
the benefit of the recipient.
    Example 2:  An LSC funding recipient gives an award to a bar 
association that (1) recruits pro bono attorneys; (2) provides 
support to recipient-sponsored trainings; and (3) refers its members 
to the recipient to take pro bono cases. Recruitment consists of 
communicating about the upcoming training and pro bono opportunities 
in the form of newsletters, email blasts, and mailings. Support for 
the training involves logistical

[[Page 10277]]

support in the form of space, audio-visual equipment, refreshments, 
and administrative processing of paperwork for continuing legal 
education credits. The bar association does not provide substantive 
input on the training. The bar association's support for the pro 
bono opportunities involves referring any of its interested members/
attorneys to the recipient to take a case or otherwise get involved. 
It makes no determinations about, nor does it get involved in, 
client eligibility or cases.
    Applying the five factors in proposed Sec.  1627.3(b), this 
award would not constitute a subgrant. As in the prior example, the 
bar association does not determine who is eligible to receive legal 
assistance under the recipient's LSC grant. Nor does it have its 
performance measured in relation to whether objectives of the LSC 
grant were met. In this case, the recipient would simply assess 
whether the bar association recruited attorneys, provided technical 
support at trainings, and referred members to the recipient to take 
pro bono cases. Because the bar association is only recruiting, 
referring, and providing technical support, it is not responsible 
for making decisions about priorities or which services to deliver 
to eligible clients. The bar association would not be responsible 
for adhering to requirements set forth in the LSC grant award. 
Finally, the services provided by the bar association primarily 
benefit the recipient because they are recruitment and 
administrative tasks that the recipient would otherwise have to do. 
Consequently, this agreement does not constitute a subgrant.
    Example 3:  An LSC recipient provides an award to a bar 
association to conduct part of its PAI program. Pursuant to the 
terms of the award, the bar association will recruit attorneys by 
sending its membership information about upcoming trainings and pro 
bono opportunities. The bar association will provide training to 
interested attorneys on substantive areas of law, will screen 
clients for eligibility, will refer cases of eligible clients to 
participating private attorneys to handle, and will supervise 
private attorneys who agree to accept cases. The bar association 
will report to the recipient about how many attorneys it recruits, 
how many cases it placed, the outcomes of those cases, the number of 
individuals who seek assistance through the award, and the number of 
eligible individuals referred to private attorneys.
    In contrast to the two previous examples, this award would be 
considered a subgrant because the majority of characteristics under 
Sec.  1627.3(b) are satisfied. First, the recipient would transfer 
screening and intake responsibilities to the bar association as part 
of the award. The bar association would be responsible for 
determining whether an applicant is eligible to receive legal 
assistance under the recipient's LSC grant. Second, the bar 
association would have its performance measured in relation to 
whether objectives--delivering legal services to eligible clients of 
the LSC grant--are met because it is referring cases to private 
attorneys and supervising their handling of clients' cases. Third, 
the bar association could have significant responsibility for 
programmatic decision-making. For example, the bar association may 
choose to set its own priorities for the types of cases the private 
attorneys it recruits will handle. Fourth, in conducting the 
program, the bar association would be responsible for adhering to 
applicable LSC program requirements specified in the LSC grant award 
(such as the restrictions, timekeeping, and recordkeeping 
requirements), but only with respect to the PAI award. Finally, this 
award would use LSC funds to carry out a public purpose described in 
the grant award and statute authorizing the grant. The more 
technical activities described in the prior examples are services 
provided to the recipient, while the bar association's conduct of a 
PAI program helps the recipient carry out a public purpose--delivery 
of legal assistance to eligible clients--specified in the LSC Act. 
Consequently, this award would constitute a subgrant.
    Example 4:  An LSC recipient pays an expert to educate the 
recipient's staff members on an area of law unfamiliar to the staff 
members. The recipient pays the expert from its Basic Field-General 
grant award. This award would not be a subgrant because it lacks 
most, if not all, of the characteristics under Sec.  1627.3(b). The 
expert would make no determinations about who is eligible to receive 
services under the recipient's grant; rather, the expert's objective 
would be to educate the recipient's staff members. The expert also 
would not have his or her performance measured in relation to the 
objectives of the Basic Field-General grant. Furthermore, the expert 
would not be responsible for programmatic decision-making (for 
example, setting new priorities or determining what services to 
provide), nor would the expert be responsible for adhering to 
applicable LSC program requirements specified in the LSC grant award 
(for example, complying with LSC's Case Service Report Handbook or 
Audit Guide). Finally, the award primarily benefits the recipient 
because it increases the recipient staff's knowledge.
    Example 5:  An LSC recipient provides an award to an expert to 
disseminate legal information to the public through an in-person 
presentation. Under the terms of the award, the expert is not 
responsible for determining who is eligible to receive legal 
assistance. The expert will not have his or her performance measured 
in relation to whether objectives of the recipient's grant are met. 
However, the expert has responsibility for programmatic decision-
making because under the award, he or she is responsible for 
deciding what legal information to convey directly to the public and 
how to convey it most effectively. Under the terms of the award, the 
expert must comply with the terms of the LSC Act, Public Law 104-134 
to the extent it is adopted in the current year's appropriations 
statute, other applicable statutes, and LSC's regulations. Finally, 
the expert is being paid to provide legal information directly to 
the public. In contrast to the preceding example, the award in this 
situation would be a subgrant because it has many of the 
characteristics under Sec.  1627.3(b).

    In the FNPRM, LSC proposed to revise the language of Sec.  1627.3 
as presented in the NPRM. First, LSC proposed to incorporate in 
paragraph (a) language from the Uniform Guidance stating that 
recipients must determine on a case-by-case basis whether each award to 
a third party is a subgrant or procurement contract. LSC also proposed 
to replace the introductory language of paragraph (b) with language 
from the Uniform Guidance stating that the list of characteristics 
support the classification of an award as a subgrant. 2 CFR 200.330(a). 
Finally, as described in the preceding discussion of Sec.  1627.2, LSC 
proposed to remove the term programmatic from paragraph (b)(2). LSC 
received no comments on these proposals. Consequently, LSC adopts them 
in this final rule.
    Sec.  1627.4 Requirements for all subgrants. In the NPRM, LSC 
proposed to transfer existing Sec.  1627.4--Membership fees or dues, to 
45 CFR part 1630 and redesignate it as Sec.  1630.14 without change. 
LSC also proposed to redesignate existing Sec.  1627.3 as Sec.  1627.4. 
LSC received no comments on these proposals.
    Changes to the subgrant approval process. The most significant 
proposal in this section was LSC's proposed changes to the subgrant 
approval process. In paragraph (a), LSC proposed to link the subgrant 
approval process for Basic Field Grants more closely to the annual 
grant competition and renewal process. LSC also proposed to formalize 
the procedures for two kinds of recipients: (1) Those seeking to make 
subgrants under LSC's special grant programs, which currently are 
limited to Technology Initiative Grants (TIG), Pro Bono Innovation Fund 
grants, and emergency relief grants; and (2) those who need to make 
subgrants in the middle of a funding period. LSC proposed to eliminate 
the provision automatically deeming a subgrant approved if LSC fails to 
act on a subgrant proposal within 45 days of submission by the 
recipient.\1\
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    \1\ Existing Sec.  1627.3(a)(2) states that if LSC fails to act 
on the subgrant proposal within 45 days of submission, the recipient 
``shall notify the Corporation of this failure'' and gives LSC 7 
additional days to respond to the proposal. The subgrant is deemed 
approved if LSC fails to respond within the additional 7 days. For 
ease of reference, we refer to the entire Sec.  1627.3(a)(2) period 
as ``the 45-day period.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NLADA objected to LSC's proposal to remove the rule deeming a 
subgrant approved if LSC did not respond within the prescribed time. 
NLADA stated that the proposal ``leaves programs in a state of fiscal 
uncertainty as to subgrant agreements'' and recommended leaving both 
provisions in the rule to ``preserve[] an important backstop for

[[Page 10278]]

recipients and subrecipients who depend on LSC-funding and who, without 
hearing in a timely fashion from LSC, may plan a budget as if the 
funding has been approved.'' NLADA further argued that ``it is 
important in keeping with LSC's focus on uniformity and consistent 
application of rules and regulations that all parties bear equitable 
burdens with regard to meeting LSC statutory and regulatory 
requirements.''
    LSC disagreed with NLADA's recommendation to leave the existing 
rule in place. NLADA's comments did not reflect the greater assurance 
of a timely response from LSC provided by the consolidation of the 
Basic Field Grant competition and subgrant approval processes. Nor did 
they acknowledge that responsible grants management practices do not 
include allowing the expenditure of a large amount of funds without the 
approval of the funding agency.
    As explained more fully in the FNPRM, LSC considered four options 
for responding to NLADA's comments. 81 FR 24544, 24548, Apr. 10, 2016. 
The first was to retain the language proposed in the NPRM. The second 
was to reinstate the existing rule in its entirety. The third was to 
reinstate the 45-day limit, but include a provision stating that if LSC 
does not respond, the subgrant is deemed denied. The last option was to 
include either a waiver provision or a notice provision similar to the 
ones provided in the Uniform Guidance. LSC chose the last, proposing to 
include in the Federal Register notices described in Sec.  
1627.4(a)(2)(i) and (a)(3) a statement that if LSC has not responded to 
a recipient's request for approval of a subgrant under paragraph (a)(2) 
or (a)(3) within the number of days specified in the notice, LSC will 
inform the recipient in writing of the date when the recipient may 
expect the decision. The notice would be given only for subgrant 
approvals requested as part of a special grant or during the mid-year 
grant process.
    Commenters again opposed LSC's proposal. NLADA reiterated its 
concern that ``LSC's proposal basically omits any time frame for LSC to 
take action on subgrants, leaving programs in a state of fiscal 
uncertainty as to subgrant agreements.'' NLADA opined that the fixed 
30-day time period for response provided in the Uniform Guidance was a 
``more equitable and workable time frame'' than the flexible, annually 
determined period LSC had proposed.
    NJP also submitted comments urging LSC to adopt the Uniform 
Guidance approach of committing to a 30-day period in which to make a 
decision on a subgrant application or to give the applicant notice of 
the date by which LSC expected to make a decision. Like NLADA, NJP 
opined that a fixed 30-day period was a reasonable time frame for LSC 
to make decisions on subgrant applications. NJP also urged LSC to adopt 
45 days, or 15 days after the initial 30-day decision period ends, as 
an outside limit for making decisions on subgrant applications. Such a 
process, NJP concluded, ``will provide recipients assurance that the 
approval process is underway and that a decision will be made in the 
very near term. This prevents uncertainty and administrative delay in 
the provision of critically needed legal help for clients.''
    LSC appreciates the commenters' views on the value of a fixed 
response date, rather than the flexible option LSC proposed in the 
FNPRM. LSC also understands the commenters' desire for a 30-day initial 
response time. LSC's staffing and operations, however, make it 
impractical to commit to a 30-day initial time frame for response. The 
staff who review and make recommendations to Management about whether 
to approve, deny, or suggest changes to a subgrant application are the 
same staff who conduct site visits and issue reports of those visits. 
Because those staff balance subgrant review with their other oversight 
responsibilities, it is necessary for the initial response period to be 
longer than the 30-day period provided in the Uniform Guidance. 
Consequently, LSC is responding to the commenters by adopting a 45-day 
period in which LSC must make a decision on an application for a 
subgrant or give the requester notice of the date by which it expects 
to make a decision. LSC believes this rule appropriately balances 
recipients' need for certainty about when a decision will be made with 
LSC's need to afford its staff adequate time to carry out their 
responsibilities.
    Prior approval threshold. Under the existing part 1627, all 
subgrants are subject to the prior approval requirement, regardless of 
cost. In calendar year 2015, recipients made 77 subgrants. The smallest 
subgrant was for $2,000, 15 of the subgrants were for less than 
$10,000, and 25 were for less than $15,000. Ten of the 77 subgrants 
originating in calendar year 2015 exceeded $100,000. LSC understands 
that recipients spend significant amounts of time and resources 
preparing applications for approval of subgrants. LSC determined that, 
on balance, the burdens of prior approval on both sides outweigh the 
benefits of the increased oversight of subgrants involving less than 
$15,000. Consequently, LSC proposed to redesignate paragraph (a) from 
the NPRM as paragraph (b) and introduce a new paragraph (a) 
establishing the thresholds for prior approval of subgrants.
    For both cash and in-kind subgrants, LSC proposed to set the prior 
approval threshold at $15,000. LSC believed this amount represents a 
significant enough investment of LSC funding or LSC-funded resources 
that LSC should have increased oversight over the award. For in-kind 
subgrants, LSC proposed to adopt language in paragraph (a)(2) that 
substantially adopts the provisions of the Uniform Guidance pertaining 
to valuation of goods and services used to satisfy a federal grantee's 
cost-sharing requirements. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), LSC proposed to 
require recipients to use the fair market value of the asset at the 
time the subgrant is made to evaluate whether the subgrant requires 
prior approval. In paragraph (a)(2)(ii), which pertains to valuations 
of leased space, LSC proposed that recipients should evaluate the fair 
rental value of the space. Finally, in paragraph (a)(2)(iii), LSC 
proposed to adopt language from the Uniform Guidance that requires 
recipients to document and support the fair rental value of the asset 
by the same methods used internally for its other in-kind valuations.
    Comment: NLADA ``strongly'' supported the proposal, noting that 
because ``grantees are required to comply with part 1630, which 
includes a requirement that all expenses be necessary and reasonable, 
additional oversight for smaller subgrants is not necessary.'' NLADA 
noted that eliminating the prior approval requirement for smaller 
subgrants ``increases efficiency for both grantees, and LSC.'' NLADA 
also recommended that LSC consider a higher threshold of $20,000.
    Response: LSC agrees with NLADA's recommendation. Upon further 
review of all subgrants undertaken during the 2015 grant year, LSC 
determined that increasing the threshold to $20,000 would have 
eliminated the prior approval requirement for a total of 30 subgrants. 
In other words, the proposed $5,000 increase would have eliminated the 
prior approval requirement for only five additional subgrants. Because 
all subgrants are subject to oversight under part 1630 regardless of 
whether recipients must seek prior approval, LSC does not believe that 
increasing the prior approval threshold to $20,000 would materially 
decrease its oversight of subgrants.
    Although subgrants for less than the threshold amount are not 
subject to the

[[Page 10279]]

prior approval requirement, they continue to be governed by part 1630 
and Sec.  1627.5. part 1630 requires that all expenditures of LSC funds 
be reasonable and necessary to carry out the grant, and that recipients 
maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate that all expenditures 
charged to the grant are allowable. 45 CFR 1630.3.
    Subgrants of property or services acquired in whole or in part with 
LSC funds. In the FNPRM, LSC proposed technical changes to Sec.  1627.4 
to reflect its decision to allow in-kind subgrants. In paragraph (b), 
LSC proposed to insert language stating that for all subgrants 
exceeding the proposed $15,000 threshold, recipients must submit 
applications to LSC for prior written approval. LSC also proposes to 
add the phrase property or services to paragraph (e)(2), which pertains 
to a recipient's responsibility to ensure its subrecipient's proper use 
of, accounting, and auditing of LSC resources. Lastly, LSC proposed to 
add a new paragraph (f) establishing the requirements for accounting 
for in-kind subgrants. LSC received no comments on these proposed 
changes.
    Revisions to accounting and auditing requirements. In response to 
the FNPRM and during the opportunity for public comment at the 
Committee's October meeting, stakeholders expressed concerns about the 
scope of LSC's oversight of subgrants to bar associations to engage in 
pro bono work. In its response to the FNPRM, the Denver Bar Association 
described LSC's oversight as ``overreaching'' and stated that ``As a 
private non-profit, the Denver Bar Association will not allow LSC the 
same oversight rights and audit requirements as it has with CLS 
[Colorado Legal Services, an LSC recipient], as set forth in 45 CFR 
1627.4.'' During the Committee's October meeting, both Ms. Schoen of 
the Denver Bar Association and Ms. Murphy of NLADA stated that the 
audit requirements of part 1627 are burdensome, particularly for bar 
associations that have their own audits done under different auditing 
standards. Ms. Murphy further stated that the current version of part 
1627 provides for very broad oversight of subrecipients, although she 
acknowledged that LSC historically has not conducted extensive 
oversight into operations of an organization that receives a subgrant.
    LSC understands from the substance of their comments that the 
commenters object to proposed Sec.  1627.4(f) and (g). Paragraph (f) 
governs accounting for funds or property or services acquired in whole 
or in part with LSC funds that are used to support a subgrant. 
Paragraph (g) requires subgrant agreements to include terms providing 
the same oversight rights for LSC with respect to subrecipients as 
apply to recipients. 80 FR 21692, 21700, Apr. 20, 2015. LSC proposed no 
substantive changes to paragraph (g) in either the NPRM or the FNPRM. 
LSC did, however, propose to make one change in the final rule intended 
to address the commenters' objections to the FNPRM.
    LSC proposed one salient change to paragraph (f) in the NPRM, which 
received no comments. 80 FR 21697. The current version of proposed 
Sec.  1627.4(f) is located at Sec.  1627.3(c). The last two sentences 
of this paragraph permit recipients and subrecipients, in lieu of 
accounting for subgranted funds in either of their audit reports, to 
negotiate a means of ensuring that subrecipients appropriately used the 
subgrants during the life of the subgrant. LSC must approve such 
alternative arrangements.
    This language has been in part 1627 since 1983. 48 FR 28485, June 
22, 1983. During the course of this rulemaking, LSC has proposed two 
substantive changes to this language. The first, explained and proposed 
in the NPRM, was to eliminate the option to enter into alternative 
auditing arrangements because, in LSC's extensive experience 
administering this rule, the option had never been used. 80 FR 21697. 
The second change, proposed in the FNPRM, was to include language 
reflecting the expansion of the rule to include in-kind subgrants. 81 
FR 24548, 24550.
    It is clear from the plain text of part 1627 that LSC does not 
require all subrecipients to submit to an audit that complies with 
LSC's Audit Guide. Since at least 1983, when this section of part 1627 
was last revised, LSC explicitly has permitted recipients and 
subrecipients to develop alternative procedures for auditing the proper 
use of subgrant funds. LSC has not proposed to change the auditing 
provisions in any significant form except to extend them to subgrants 
supported by property or services acquired in whole or in part with LSC 
funds. Although LSC believes that the language proposed in the NPRM and 
the FNPRM provides recipients with sufficient flexibility to negotiate 
the accounting and auditing responsibilities appropriate to any 
particular subgrant, LSC proposes to reinstate the language that it 
proposed to remove. LSC believes that reinstating this language will 
ensure that recipients and subrecipients, whether bar associations or 
other legal aid providers, have ample options for negotiating a 
satisfactory method of demonstrating that LSC-funded resources 
supporting a subgrant were used appropriately. LSC will also add this 
language to paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, which governs 
accounting for subgrants made using property or services purchased in 
whole or in part with LSC funds.
    LSC is making one minor modification to the reinstated language to 
direct recipients to submit alternative audit procedures to LSC, rather 
than to the Audit Division, which is no longer a functional division of 
LSC. To make clear that the flexibility provided by the reinstated 
language applies to the auditing requirements, LSC is also 
restructuring the language pertaining to the accounting requirements 
and the language governing auditing requirements into separate 
paragraphs. LSC does not intend the restructuring to have any 
substantive effect; rather, it is intended solely to distinguish 
between the accounting and auditing provisions of this section.
    LSC is making one additional change to Sec.  1627.4(f) to address 
the concerns raised by NLADA and the Denver Bar Association. LSC is 
adding paragraph (f)(2)(iii), which explicitly exempts from the 
Accounting Guide and the Audit Guide bar associations, pro bono 
programs, law firms or private attorneys who receive property or 
services acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds for the sole 
purpose of providing legal information or legal assistance on a pro 
bono or reduced fee basis to eligible clients, whether the costs 
allocated with the activity are allocated to the PAI requirement or 
not. These subrecipients must, however, have financial management 
systems in place that LSC deems sufficient to determine that any 
resources the subrecipient receives or uses under the subgrant are used 
consistent with 45 CFR part 1610.
    With respect to the general oversight provision, currently at Sec.  
1627.3(e), LSC proposed in the NPRM to relocate the provision to Sec.  
1627.4 with no changes. 80 FR 21700. The provision currently requires 
that LSC have the same oversight rights with respect to subrecipients 
as LSC has with respect to its direct recipients. Id.; see also 45 CFR 
1627.3(e).
    In response to the comments provided by the Denver Bar Association 
during the FNPRM comment period, LSC proposed to revise this language 
to clarify that its oversight rights apply to the subgrant. LSC 
proposed to revise the language to state that subgrant agreements must 
provide the same oversight rights for LSC with respect to subgrants as 
apply to recipients. In other words, LSC must be able to visit 
subrecipients and review records and practices pertinent to the 
subgrant,

[[Page 10280]]

including the financial management systems described in Sec.  
1627.4(f)(2)(iv).
    The Office of Inspector General expressed concerns that the revised 
provision could be interpreted as limiting OIG's and LSC's access to 
subrecipients' financial, accounting, and timekeeping records. The 
revised language does not limit OIG's or LSC's authority to access a 
subrecipient's records, policies, and procedures when review of those 
documents is needed to carry out their oversight responsibilities under 
the Inspector General Act and the LSC Act. OIG and LSC must be able to 
ensure that resources related to a subgrant supported with LSC funding 
are used consistent with LSC's governing statutes and regulations. For 
example, under the proposed revision to Sec.  1627.4(e), LSC and OIG 
must still have access to financial records when necessary to determine 
that a subrecipient is spending its non-LSC funds consistent with the 
restrictions or that the subrecipient is properly allocating costs 
across its sources of funding. As another example, if LSC or OIG has 
reason to believe that a subrecipient is conducting restricted 
activities in LSC-funded space, the oversight provision authorizes them 
to review the subrecipient's operations and records to determine 
whether the LSC-funded space is being used consistent with LSC's 
governing statutes and the terms of the subgrant.
    Throughout the course of this rulemaking, LSC has been sensitive to 
the fact that subgrants of LSC funds or property or services acquired 
in whole or in part with LSC funds come with obligations to comply with 
the statutes under which those funds were appropriated. LSC considered 
whether options such as a de minimis rule for relatively small 
contributions of property or services from an LSC recipient to another 
organization to carry out legal assistance activities or an exception 
to the subgrant rule for bar associations receiving only property or 
services to carry out private attorney involvement activities were 
consistent with its statutory obligations. Because several restrictions 
placed on LSC recipients by Congress extend to all of the recipients' 
operations, rather than just to their use of LSC funds, LSC determined 
that it was inappropriate to enact a rule that would allow an 
organization benefiting from the expenditure of LSC funds, either by 
receipt of such funds by the organization itself or by the recipient 
providing property or services to the organization to carry out legal 
assistance activities, to operate free of the restrictions. LSC 
continues to believe that its obligations to ensure that its resources 
are used consistent with Congress' intent are the same regardless of 
whether the item of value being exchanged is property or services 
funded with LSC funds, and regardless of the amount of funds or the 
value of the LSC-funded property or services. LSC believes that the 
additional modifications to part 1627 proposed here fulfill that 
obligation while creating flexibility for recipients and subrecipients 
to meet the requirements of the regulation.

Sec.  1627.5 Applicability of Restrictions, Recordkeeping, and 
Recipient Priorities; Private Attorney Involvement Subgrants

    In the NPRM, LSC proposed to transfer existing 45 CFR 1610.7--
Transfers of LSC funds to part 1627 and redesignate it as Sec.  1627.5. 
LSC also proposed to revise the timekeeping requirement in current 
Sec.  1610.7(c) to adopt the timekeeping standards applicable to 
recipients in part 1635. LSC received no comments on the proposal to 
transfer Sec.  1610.7.
    Timekeeping. As explained more fully in the FNPRM, NJP and NLADA 
opposed the proposal to require part 1635-compliant timekeeping for 
subgrants on three related grounds. 81 FR 24544, 24549, Apr. 10, 2016. 
The first was that private attorneys and other legal aid providers that 
recipients enter into subgrants with often have their own timekeeping 
systems, so it is inefficient and burdensome to require them to invest 
in timekeeping systems that comply with part 1635. Another reason was 
that private attorneys would be unwilling to allocate their time 
according to LSC's prescribed categories of cases, matters, and 
supporting activities and to agree to make their personal time records 
and timekeeping systems subject to examination by auditors and LSC 
representatives. Finally, they expressed concern that the costs 
associated with implementing part 1635-compliant timekeeping would be a 
disincentive for private attorneys, bar associations, and other legal 
aid providers to enter into subgrants with LSC recipients.
    LSC considered three options for responding to the comments. The 
first was to keep the proposed language without change. The second was 
to draft a rule providing minimum standards for timekeeping that LSC 
believed would provide it with the information it needed to ensure that 
subgrant funds are properly accounted for, but that would not prescribe 
how the recipient or subrecipient keeps time. The third option was to 
adopt part 1635-compliant timekeeping as the default, but allow 
recipients to seek approval from LSC for an alternate timekeeping 
method that will ensure accountability for the use of subgrant funds. 
This option was similar to language LSC proposed to delete from 
existing Sec.  1627.3(c) that authorized recipients and subrecipients 
to propose alternative auditing methods. LSC proposed deleting that 
language simply because it had never been used, rather than because it 
was ineffective.
    LSC proposed to adopt the second option in the FNPRM. LSC proposed 
that, consistent with part 1635, recipients should be able to show how 
much time subrecipient attorneys and paralegals spent on cases and 
matters and aggregate information on pending and closed cases by legal 
problem type. LSC did not, however, propose to require that the 
subrecipient collect the information or otherwise dictate how the 
recipient and subrecipient collect and maintain the information. Those 
decisions were left to the recipient and subrecipient to negotiate as 
part of the subgrant agreement.
    NLADA, NJP, and the Denver Bar Association (DBA) all submitted 
comments objecting to the revised proposal. All three commenters stated 
that the proposal did not grant recipients the flexibility LSC intended 
to grant. The comments also reflected a misunderstanding of the scope 
of the timekeeping requirement in that some of the commenters appeared 
to believe that LSC expects private attorneys, in addition to attorneys 
and paralegals working for the subrecipient, to keep time in compliance 
with part 1635.
    NJP reiterated its comment responding to the NPRM that it is 
unreasonable for LSC to expect private attorneys to ``use timekeeping 
systems that assign an LSC coded problem-type to each case handled 
under a subgrant or that their timekeeping systems are able to 
aggregate time record information by legal problem code for both closed 
and pending cases. No private attorney has any reason to assign an LSC 
problem code to a case or to aggregate time for both closed and pending 
cases.'' NJP stated that it maintains case records with assigned LSC 
problem codes for each case assigned to a private attorney through a 
subgrant, but that ``NJP does not keep track of the private attorney's 
time contemporaneously in its case management/timekeeping system.'' NJP 
recommended that LSC either ``drop the LSC specific timekeeping 
requirements for PAI subgrants or limit the requirement to the 
provisions of Part 1627.5(c)(1) and (c)(2), i.e., `the time spent on 
each case or matter by date and

[[Page 10281]]

in increments of not greater than one-quarter [an] hour,' and `the 
unique case name and identifier for each case[.]' ''
    NLADA similarly objected to LSC's proposal to require recipients to 
provide the part 1635-specific information, stating that the 
requirements ``leave little, if any, room for negotiation'' between 
recipients and subrecipients about how time spent on a subgrant will be 
kept. NLADA recommended that LSC consider implementing a requirement 
that subrecipients ``would need to establish time keeping methods that 
would account for the time spent on categories of activities. For 
example, a staff attorney employed by a bar foundation as a full-time 
pro bono coordinator responsible for making pro bono referrals could 
record her time showing 7 or 8 hours per day making referrals to pro 
bono attorneys. Likewise, a pro bono attorney could report 10 hours 
spent on negotiating a child support agreement.''
    DBA's comments expressed concerns similar to those expressed by 
NLADA, NJP, and Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) in their comments 
responding to the NPRM. DBA stated that ``[l]awyers who are giving 
their time and expertise to provide legal assistance through MVL are 
not going to comply with the timekeeping required in 45 CFR 1627.5.'' 
DBA observed that its attorneys and paralegals ``arguably would be 
subject to the same 15 minute time keeping requirements.'' DBA observed 
that ``the only way a recipient would be able to verify that time was 
kept as required by 1627.5(c) would be to insure the subgrantee 
maintains detailed timekeeping records as indicated in 1627.5(c).'' 
They recommended that LSC ``revise 1627.5(c) to allow the flexibility 
intended by its comments and, if necessary, allow CLS and MVL to 
negotiate a timekeeping arrangement to maintain accountability without 
requiring the level of detail called for by the proposed regulation.''
    In the version of the final rule presented to the Committee in 
October, LSC clarified the scope of the timekeeping requirement as 
applied to subgrants. By its terms, the requirement applies to 
attorneys and paralegals working for subrecipients of LSC funds or 
property or services acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds. The 
timekeeping requirement does not extend to private attorneys who accept 
cases on a pro bono or reduced fee basis from a subrecipient, nor does 
it apply to private attorneys who receive a subgrant from an LSC 
recipient to provide legal assistance to eligible clients on a fee-for-
service basis. Private attorneys who accept cases from subrecipients on 
a pro bono basis are not being compensated. Although an accounting of 
these hours could be useful to recipients for effective volunteer 
management, recipients need not collect hours contributed by these 
attorneys to track the expenditure of funds allocated to the PAI 
requirement. Private attorneys who accept cases on a reduced fee basis, 
either from the LSC recipient itself or from a subrecipient, must enter 
into contracts ``that set forth payment systems, hourly rates, and 
maximum allowable fees.'' 45 CFR 1614.7(a)(2). They must submit bills 
or invoices to the recipient or subrecipient demonstrating that they 
have incurred the fees before the recipient or subrecipient can pay 
them for services rendered to an eligible client. Id. To avoid 
continued confusion about the application of the timekeeping 
requirement, LSC added paragraph (d)(4), which states that the 
timekeeping requirement does not apply to private attorneys providing 
legal assistance on a pro bono or reduced fee basis.
    LSC also proposed to retain the language of the timekeeping 
requirement from the FNPRM for several reasons. Section 504(a)(10) of 
LSC's fiscal year 1996 appropriations statute prohibits LSC from making 
awards to organizations unless the organizations agree ``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), Public Law 104-
134, 110 Stat. 1321, 1321-54, incorporated annually in LSC's annual 
appropriations thereafter. LSC believed that proper accountability for 
funds requires a more rigorous level of timekeeping than the current 
rule provides. LSC's position was supported by findings reported by OIG 
in its 2015 Subgrant Capstone Report. In that report, OIG reported that 
four subrecipients used LSC funds to pay the salaries of staff who 
engaged in restricted activities. LSC Office of Inspector General, 
``Report of Investigation: Subgrant Capstone Report'' at 6, Sept. 30, 
2015, available at https://www.oig.lsc.gov/images/pdfs/Subgrant_Capstone_Report_Final.pdf. Timekeeping records that show what 
subrecipient attorneys and paralegals are working on are necessary to 
ensure that attorneys and paralegals working on the subgrant are 
working on LSC-eligible activities and being compensated from the LSC-
funded subgrant only for time spent on subgrant activities. LSC also 
proposed to allow recipients and subrecipients to negotiate an 
agreement that best enables them to use the information maintained in 
their respective systems to tell LSC how subrecipient attorneys and 
paralegals are using subgranted LSC funds or property or services 
acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds.
    LSC continues to believe that some level of recordkeeping is 
essential to show that LSC-funded resources are being used for only 
LSC-permissible activities, regardless of whether the actor is employed 
by the recipient or a subrecipient and the resources being used are LSC 
funds or property or services acquired in whole or in part with LSC 
funds.
    LSC will respond to the public comments by reframing the 
timekeeping requirement in Sec.  1627.5 as a recordkeeping requirement. 
LSC is making two main changes:

    1. Separating the timekeeping requirements for cases and for 
matters. LSC believes that separately stating this information will 
eliminate concern about the types of information LSC expects 
subrecipients to provide and the burdens associated with each.
    2. Explicitly stating what information LSC expects subrecipients 
and recipients to provide for cases and for matters. LSC proposes 
that, with respect to matters, subrecipients must maintain adequate 
records to show that attorneys and paralegals used subgrant 
resources to carry out the purposes of the subgrant consistent with 
the restrictions contained in LSC's governing statutes. This is a 
more flexible provision than Sec.  1635.3(b)(2), which requires 
recipient paralegals and attorneys to identify the category of 
action on which they spent time for each matter handled. For cases, 
LSC proposes to eliminate the requirements that subrecipients record 
time contemporaneously and in 15-minute increments. Instead, 
subrecipients must maintain records for each case that show the 
amount of time spent by an attorney or paralegal on each case by 
date, the type of activity conducted by date, and a unique client 
name or case number. LSC believes that attorneys and paralegals who 
handle cases routinely maintain these types of information on the 
cases that they handle, so any burden incurred in providing that 
information to the recipient is minimal. Subrecipients handling both 
cases and matters must provide the required information for cases 
and the required information for matters.

    LSC will continue to allow recipients and subrecipients to 
negotiate which party will maintain records for each case that show the 
problem type and closing code for the case. This provision will allow 
recipients to maintain that information for subgrants to subrecipients 
whose case management systems do not keep track of the same types of 
information that LSC recipients' systems do. It will also allow 
recipients and subrecipients who both receive LSC funds to track and 
provide this

[[Page 10282]]

information in a way that is most efficient for both parties. This 
requirement does not apply to subrecipients described in Sec.  
1627.5(d)(2)(ii), described in more detail below, who do not handle 
cases as part of the recipient's PAI program.
    Subgrants for engaging private attorneys. In the FNPRM, LSC 
proposed one technical change to the NPRM version of Sec.  1627.5(d). 
To reflect LSC's decision to allow in-kind subgrants, LSC proposed to 
include language stating that the prohibitions and requirements of part 
1610 apply only to the subgranted funds, goods, or services when the 
subgrant is for the sole purpose of funding private attorney 
involvement activities.
    NLADA and DBA submitted written comments responding to the FNPRM 
and participated in the public comment portion of the October Committee 
meeting. DBA expressed concern that because Colorado Legal Services 
(CLS) does not allocate any of the costs CLS incurs in providing office 
space to DBA's pro bono program, MVL, this proposed change to the rule 
would prohibit DBA itself from engaging in restricted activities. DBA 
stated that ``all the [Access to Justice] committee clinics and other 
projects would have to comply with LSC regulations and subject other 
DBA programs to LSC timekeeping and audit requirements. This would 
severely limit the assistance the DBA provides, outside of CLS offices, 
by requiring additional administration and limiting the types of cases 
that can be handled and the populations that can be served.'' DBA 
further expressed concern that it would be prohibited from engaging in 
lobbying and other activities that LSC's governing statutes prohibit 
LSC funding recipients from undertaking. DBA recommended that LSC 
``carve out a cooperative agreement exception for bar associations, 
clearly indicating that . . . a bar association program that receives 
no direct LSC funding, whose cases are screened in compliance with LSC 
regulations, and is not counted towards recipients' private attorney 
involvement requirements, would not be a subgrant and would not be 
subject to the requirements of a subrecipient.''
    NLADA concurred with DBA's comments on this proposal. NLADA stated 
that it had learned through discussions with LSC recipients that 
``there are private attorneys and local bar associations willing to 
offer pro bono services to eligible clients who do not want to be bound 
by the administrative requirements in LSC's subgrant regulation.'' 
NLADA recommended that LSC adopt a second exception to the definition 
of subgrant for bar associations that ``would set out criteria so that 
a recipient's agreement, with a bar association, pro bono program, or 
law firm, to provide pro bono services to LSC-eligible clients would be 
exempted from the subgrant regulatory requirements.''
    NLADA again proposed an exception to part 1627 at the November 22, 
2016 Committee meeting and in a subsequent letter to LSC. NLADA 
proposed rule text that would require a recipient and a bar association 
or pro bono program, in lieu of being subject to part 1627, to enter 
into an agreement that would (1) bind the subrecipient to comply with 
the recipient's policies and client acceptance rules and regulations 
and to refrain from engaging in restricted activities when using the 
LSC-funded property or services; (2) require the subrecipient to 
maintain the records described in LSC's revised proposal for each case 
and matter handled by its attorneys and paralegals; (3) allow LSC to 
access ``records for all matters and cases handled at the location''; 
and (4) grant the recipient and LSC ``access to the state or local bar 
association or pro bono organization's annual audit.''
    LSC understood the concerns raised by DBA and NLADA in response to 
the NPRM. As proposed, Sec.  1627.5(d)(2) stated that the LSC 
restrictions listed in 45 CFR part 1610 apply ``only to the subgranted 
funds or property or services'' that a recipient provides to a 
subrecipient for the sole purpose of carrying out private attorney 
involvement (PAI) activities. If CLS were to allocate the costs 
associated with housing MVL to its PAI requirement, the prohibitions in 
part 1610 would only affect MVL--not DBA as a whole--because only MVL 
uses the space and resources provided by CLS.
    Although LSC encourages recipients to allocate all costs they 
expend on engaging private attorneys to provide legal information and 
legal assistance to eligible clients to the PAI requirement, LSC 
understands that some recipients choose not to do so. LSC does not see 
a reason to treat subgrant activities that would constitute permissible 
PAI activities under 45 CFR part 1614 if a recipient chose to consider 
them part of the recipient's PAI program differently for purposes of 
applying the restrictions. LSC did not create a wholesale exception to 
the definition of subgrant for these types of arrangements. LSC did, 
however, extend the ``PAI exception'' to the application of the 
restrictions to projects like MVL.
    LSC understands that subrecipients who are receiving only space and 
overhead from an LSC funding recipient to provide pro bono assistance 
do not want to be bound by the same restrictions and requirements 
applicable to subrecipients who are receiving LSC funds. LSC is also 
aware from its experience administering subgrants that subawards to 
organizations to provide pro bono assistance take many forms. An 
arrangement like the one MVL has with CLS, in which resources acquired 
in whole or in part with LSC funds are used on an ongoing basis to 
support another organization, is one that requires more oversight by 
LSC to ensure that the resources are being used consistent with LSC's 
governing statutes and regulations. For this reason, LSC believes that 
limiting the application of part 1627 and the restrictions in Sec.  
1627.5 to activities carried out using those resources is a more 
appropriate way to address the concerns raised by MVL than a blanket 
exception to the application of the subgrant rule as a whole.

Sec.  1627.6 Subgrants to Other Recipients

    LSC proposed only non-substantive editorial changes to this section 
in the NPRM. In the FNPRM, LSC proposed to include language in 
paragraph (b) stating that subrecipients must audit any funds, or 
property or services acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds, that 
a recipient provides as a subgrant in the subrecipient's annual audit. 
LSC made this change to reflect its decision to permit recipients to 
make in-kind subgrants. LSC received no comments on those changes.

Sec.  1627.7 Recipient Policies, Procedures, and Recordkeeping

    In the NPRM, LSC proposed to redesignate existing Sec.  1627.8 as 
Sec.  1627.7 without revision. LSC received no comments on this 
proposal.
    In the NPRM, LSC proposed to redesignate existing Sec.  1627.7 
regarding recipient payments to tax-sheltered annuities, retirement 
accounts, and pensions, to part 1630. LSC also proposed to redesignate 
existing Sec.  1627.8 as Sec.  1627.7 without revision. LSC received no 
comments on this proposal.

C. Part 1630

    In the NPRM, LSC proposed to move three sections of part 1627 to 
part 1630: Sec. Sec.  1627.4--Membership fees or dues, 1627.5--
Contributions, and 1627.7--Tax sheltered annuities, retirement accounts 
and pensions. LSC proposed to relocate these provisions to part 1630, 
which governs cost allocation. Through this transfer, LSC proposed to 
limit part 1627 to governing subgrants. LSC received no comments on 
this proposal.

[[Page 10283]]

List of Subjects

45 CFR Parts 1610 and 1627

    Grant programs--law, Legal services.

45 CFR Part 1630

    Accounting, Government contracts, Grant programs--law, Hearing and 
appeal procedures, Legal services, Questioned costs.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Legal Services 
Corporation amends 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 is revised to read as follows:

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


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.

0
4. Revise newly redesignated Sec.  1610.7(a)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  1610.7  Program integrity of recipient.

    (a) * * *
    (2) The other organization receives no LSC funds from the 
recipient, and LSC funds do not subsidize restricted activities; and
* * * * *

PART 1630--COST STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

0
5. The authority citation for part 1630 is revised 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
6. The authority citation for part 1627 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 2996e(b)(1), 2996f(a), and 2996g(e); Pub. 
L. 104-208, 110 Stat 3009; Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat 1321.


Sec.  1627.4   [Transferred to Part 1630 and Redesignated as Sec.  
1630.14]

0
7. 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
8. 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
9. Section 1627.7 is transferred to part 1630 and redesignated as Sec.  
1630.16.

0
10. 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.
1627.5 Applicability of restrictions, recordkeeping, 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) Procurement contract means an agreement between a recipient and 
a third party under which the recipient purchases property or services 
that does not qualify as a subgrant as defined in paragraph (e)(1) of 
this section.
    (c) Property means real estate or personal property.
    (d) 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.
    (e) Subgrant. (1) Subgrant means an award of LSC funds or property 
or services purchased in whole or in part with LSC funds from a 
recipient to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of 
the recipient's legal assistance activities. A subgrant has the 
characteristics set forth in Sec.  1627.3(b).
    (2) Subgrant includes fee-for-service arrangements, such as those 
provided by a private law firm or attorney representing a recipient's 
clients on a contract or judicare basis, only when the cost of such 
arrangements exceed $60,000.
    (f) 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 in paragraph 
(b) of this section may not be present in all cases, and the recipient 
must use judgment in classifying each agreement as a subgrant or a 
procurement contract. The recipient must make case-by-case 
determinations whether each agreement that it makes with another entity 
constitutes a subgrant or a procurement contract.
    (b) Characteristics that support the classification of the 
agreement as a subgrant include when the other 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 objectives 
of the LSC grant were met;
    (3) Has responsibility for programmatic decision-making regarding 
the delivery of legal assistance under the recipient's LSC grant;
    (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 or 
property or services acquired in whole or in part with 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.


Sec.  1627.4  Requirements for all subgrants.

    (a) Threshold. (1) A recipient must obtain LSC's written approval 
prior to making a subgrant when the cost of the subgrant is $20,000 of 
LSC funds or greater.
    (2) Valuation of in-kind subgrants. (i) If either the actual cost 
to the recipient of the subgranted property or service or the fair 
market value of the subgranted property or service exceeds $20,000 of 
LSC funds, the recipient must seek written approval from LSC prior to 
making a subgrant.
    (ii) The valuation of the subgrant, either by fair market value or 
actual cost to the recipient of property or services, must be 
documented and to the extent feasible supported by the same methods 
used internally by the recipient.
    (b) Corporation approval of subgrants. Recipients must submit all 
applications for subgrants exceeding the $20,000 threshold to LSC in 
writing for prior written approval. LSC will publish notice of the 
requirements concerning the format and contents of the

[[Page 10284]]

application annually in the Federal Register and on LSC's Web site.
    (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 renewal of funding.
    (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, 
emergency relief grants), should submit their subgrant applications 
following notification of approval of special grant funds.
    (ii) A subgrant application must be submitted at least 45 days in 
advance of its proposed effective date. Within 45 days of the date of 
receipt, LSC will notify the recipient in writing of its decision to 
approve, disapprove, or suggest modifications to the subgrant; or, if 
LSC has not made a decision, the date by which LSC expects to make a 
decision. 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 (2) of this section as needed. 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) Failure to comply. Any subgrant not approved according to 
paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) of this section will be subject to 
disallowance and recovery of all funds expended under the subgrant.
    (5) Changes to subgrants requiring prior approval. (i) If a 
recipient needs to make substantial changes to the scope or objectives, 
or increase or decrease the amount of funding of more than 10%, of a 
subgrant approved under paragraph (b) of this section, the recipient 
must obtain LSC's prior written approval. Minor changes in the scope or 
objectives or changes in support of less than 10% do not require prior 
approval, but the recipient must notify LSC of such changes in writing.
    (ii) If a subgrant did not require prior approval, and the 
recipient proposes a change that will cause the total value of the 
subgrant to exceed the threshold for prior approval, the recipient must 
obtain LSC's prior written approval before making the change.
    (c) 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, emergency relief 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.
    (d) Provisions for termination and suspension of subgrants. 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.
    (e) Recipient responsibilities. (1) Recipients must ensure that 
subrecipients comply with LSC's financial and audit provisions to the 
extent required by this part.
    (2) The recipient must ensure that the subrecipient properly 
spends, accounts for, and audits funds or property or services acquired 
in whole or in part with LSC 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.
    (f) Accounting and auditing requirements--(1) Subgrants of funds. 
(i) 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 Accounting Guide for 
LSC Recipients. The relationship between the recipient and subrecipient 
will determine the proper method of financial reporting following 
generally accepted accounting principles.
    (ii) 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. A subgrant agreement may provide for alternative 
means of assuring the propriety of subrecipient expenditures, 
especially in instances where an organization receives a small 
subgrant. Any request to use an alternative means of assuring propriety 
of subrecipient funds must be submitted to LSC for consideration as 
part of the subgrant approval process. If LSC approves a request to use 
an alternative means, the information provided thereby shall satisfy 
the recipient's annual audit requirement with regard to the subgrant 
funds.
    (2) In-kind subgrants. (i) The value of property or services funded 
in whole or in part with LSC funds provided by a recipient to a 
subrecipient through a subgrant is subject to the audit and financial 
requirements of the Audit Guide for Recipients and Auditors and the 
Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients. The relationship between the 
recipient and subrecipient will determine the proper method of 
financial reporting following generally accepted accounting principles.
    (ii) Subgrants involving in-kind exchanges of property or services 
may be separately disclosed and accounted for, and reported upon in the 
audited financial statements of a recipient. A subgrant agreement may 
provide for alternative means of assuring the propriety of subrecipient 
expenditures and use of property or services acquired in whole or in 
part with LSC funds, especially in instances where an organization 
receives a small subgrant. Any request to use an alternative means of 
assuring propriety of subrecipient funds must be submitted to LSC for 
consideration as part of the subgrant approval process. If LSC approves 
a request to use an alternative means, the information provided thereby 
shall satisfy the recipient's annual audit requirement with regard to 
the subgrant funds.
    (iii) If accounting for in-kind subgrants is not practicable, a 
recipient may convert the subgrant to a cash payment and follow the 
accounting procedures in paragraph (f)(1) of this section.
    (iv) Subrecipients described in Sec.  1627.5(d)(2) are not subject 
to the audit and financial requirements of the Audit Guide for 
Recipients and Auditors and the Accounting Guide for LSC Recipients. 
Such subrecipients must have financial management systems in place that 
would allow the recipient and LSC to determine that any resources the 
subrecipient receives or uses under the subgrant are used consistent 
with 45 CFR part 1610.
    (g) 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 subgrants as apply to 
recipients.

[[Page 10285]]

Sec.  1627.5  Applicability of restrictions, recordkeeping, 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) Recordkeeping. A recipient must be able to account for how its 
subrecipients spend LSC funds or use property or services funded in 
whole or in part with LSC funds. A subrecipient must provide to the 
recipient records as described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this 
section.
    (1) A subrecipient that handles matters as defined at 45 CFR 
1635.2(b) must maintain adequate records to demonstrate that its 
attorneys and paralegals used the LSC funds or property or services 
funded in whole or in part with LSC funds:
    (i) To carry out the activities described in the subgrant 
agreement; and
    (ii) Consistent with the restrictions set forth at 45 CFR part 
1610.
    (2) A subrecipient that handles cases as defined at 45 CFR 
1635.2(a):
    (i) Must require its attorneys and paralegals to maintain records 
for each case that show the amount of time spent on the case and the 
activity conducted by date, and a unique client name or case number; 
and
    (ii) Either the subrecipient or the recipient must maintain records 
for each case that show the problem type and the closing code for the 
case.
    (iii) This requirement does not apply to subrecipients described in 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (3) A subrecipient who handles both cases and matters must maintain 
the types of records described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2).
    (d) Subgrants for engaging private attorneys--(1) Subgrants of 
funds. The prohibitions and requirements set forth in 45 CFR part 1610 
apply only to the subgranted funds 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) In-kind subgrants. The prohibitions and requirements set forth 
in 45 CFR part 1610 apply only to the subgranted property or services 
acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds 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:
    (i) Conducting private attorney involvement activities (PAI) 
pursuant to 45 CFR part 1614; or
    (ii) Providing legal information or legal assistance on a pro bono 
or reduced fee basis to individuals who have been screened and found 
eligible to receive legal assistance from an LSC recipient.
    (3) Treatment of non-LSC funds. Any funds or property or services 
acquired in whole or in part with LSC funds and used by a recipient as 
payment for a PAI subgrant are deemed LSC funds for purposes of this 
paragraph (d).
    (4) Recordkeeping exception. The recordkeeping requirement in 
paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to private attorneys 
providing legal assistance on a pro bono or reduced fee basis.


Sec.  1627.6  Transfers to other recipients.

    (a) The requirements of this part apply to all subgrants from one 
recipient to another recipient.
    (b) The subrecipient must audit any funds or property or services 
acquired in whole or in part with LSC 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.


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
11. 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: February 6, 2017.
Stefanie K. Davis,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-02718 Filed 2-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7050-01-P