Legal Services Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is conducting two Rulemaking Workshops (Workshops), as noticed at 78 FR 27339 (May 10, 2013), and is requesting public comments on revising LSC's Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) rule to respond to Recommendation 2 of LSC's Pro Bono Task Force (PBTF) Report. The discussions in the Workshops and the other comments received will be considered in connection with rulemaking by LSC. On July 23, 2013, LSC hosted the first of the two Workshops. LSC solicits expression of interest in participating as a panelist in the second Workshop on September 17, 2013, from the recipient community, the organized bar, pro bono organizations, and other interested parties. In preparation for that workshop, LSC is publishing the additional questions below. Additionally, LSC is extending the deadline for comments and expressions of interest for that Workshop. The new deadline is August 28 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The final deadline for all comments in this stage of rulemaking remains October 17, 2013, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is developing its FY 2015 appropriations request to Congress and is seeking public comment and testimony on what the amount of its request should be.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the national organization charged with administering federal funds provided for civil legal services to low-income people. This Request for Applications (RFA) announces the availability of grant funds and is soliciting grant applications from current LSC recipients that provide legal services in service areas that have been federally-declared as disaster areas resulting from Hurricane Sandy. The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013, Public Law 113-2, 127 Stat. 4, includes $1 million for LSC to provide assistance to low- income people in areas significantly affected by Hurricane Sandy. The amount of the appropriation has been reduced by $50,000 because of sequestration. LSC anticipates providing the full $950,000 through grants awarded pursuant to this process. The funds must be expended by grantees within twenty-four (24) months following the obligation of the funds.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is requesting public comments on issues associated with amending its regulations to align with the statutory authority granted to LSC under the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010 (the IACAA). The IACAA amended the LSC Act to provide authority for LSC funds to be used by grantees to represent eligible persons in any and all criminal proceedings in tribal courts. Previously, the LSC Act and related regulations permitted representation only in criminal matters involving misdemeanors or lesser offenses in tribal courts. The information received as a result of this request will be considered in rulemaking undertaken by LSC.

The Legal Services Corporation (``LSC'') intends to revise the LSC Grant Assurances for calendar year 2014 funding since the last publication of the LSC Grant Assurances for 2013 funding and is soliciting public comment on the proposed changes. The proposed revisions affect Grant Assurances 13 and 17. The proposed LSC grant assurances for calendar year 2014 funding, in redline format indicating the proposed changes to the current ``LSC 2013 Grant Assurances,'' are at https://grants.lsc.gov/sites/default/files/Grants/ReferenceMat erials/ 2014-GrantAssurances-Proposed.pdf.

This final rule amends the Legal Services Corporation's regulations on enforcement procedures through the addition of options for limited reductions of funding, expansion of non-audit based suspensions for up to ninety days, and immediate special grant conditions for compliance issues. The final rule provides updates and enhancements to the rules regarding enforcement generally, terminations, debarments, and suspensions. It also provides a technical conforming update to a cross-reference in the private attorney involvement regulation.

The Legal Services Corporation (``Corporation'') is required by law to establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. This document updates the specified income levels to reflect the annual amendments to the Federal Poverty Guidelines as issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.

This Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) proposes modifications to the January 31, 2012, NPRM regarding amendments to the Legal Services Corporation's regulations on termination procedures, enforcement, and suspension procedures. LSC seeks comments limited to the substantively new materials as indicated by the questions in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the national organization charged with administering Federal funds provided for civil legal services to low-income people. LSC hereby announces the availability of competitive grant funds and is soliciting grant proposals from interested parties who are qualified to provide effective, efficient and high quality civil legal services to eligible clients in the service area(s) of the states and territories identified below. The exact amount of congressionally appropriated funds and the date, terms, and conditions of their availability for calendar year 2013 have not been determined.