Legal Services Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 2008 have not been determined.

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.

On August 21, 2006, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to amend LSC's regulation on client grievance procedures. The comment period closed on September 20, 2006. LSC is reopening the comment period to allow additional time for interested parties to comment on the proposed changes.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to amend the Legal Services Corporation's regulation on client grievance procedures. These proposed changes are intended to improve the utility of the regulation for grantees and their clients and applicants for service in the current operating environment. In particular, LSC is proposing changes to clarify what procedures are available to clients and applicants, to emphasize the importance of the grievance procedure for clients and applicants and to add clarity and flexibility in the application of the requirements for hotline and other programs serving large and widely dispersed geographic areas.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to amend the Legal Services Corporation's regulation on prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of disability. These proposed changes are intended to improve the utility of the regulation for LSC, its grantees and other interested persons, by updating the terminology used throughout the regulation, by adding a reference to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and by adding language to the enforcement provision setting forth LSC policy regarding investigation of complaints of violation of this regulation.

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 2007 have not been determined.

This final rule deletes in its entirety the Legal Services Corporation's regulation at 45 CFR part 1631, Expenditure of Grant Funds. The deletion is warranted because the statutory authority for part 1631 is no longer the prevailing rule of law.

LSC is in the process of developing Strategic Directions for the years 2006-2010. Toward that end, the Legal Services Corporation is soliciting comments on a Draft Strategic Directions 2006-2010 document.

LSC is conducting a Rulemaking Workshop in connection with its rulemaking to consider revisions to its regulations on prohibition on discrimination on the basis of handicap at 45 CFR part 1624. LSC hereby solicits expressions of interest in participation in the Workshop from the regulated community, its clients, advocates, the organized bar, the disability rights community and other interested parties.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to delete in its entirety of the Legal Services Corporation's regulation at 45 CFR part 1631, Expenditure of Grant Funds. The proposed deletion is warranted because the statutory authority for part 1631 is no longer the prevailing rule of law.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) hereby announces its intention to award grants and contracts to provide economical and effective delivery of high quality civil legal services to eligible low-income clients, beginning January 1, 2006.

The Legal Services Corporation (``LSC'' or ``Corporation'') is amending its regulations relating to financial eligibility for LSC- funded legal services and client retainer agreements. The revisions are intended to reorganize the regulation to make it easier to read and follow; simplify and streamline the requirements of the rule to ease administrative burdens faced by LSC recipients in implementing the regulation and to aid LSC in enforcement of the regulation; and to clarify the focus of the regulation on the financial eligibility of applicants for LSC-funded legal services.

The Legal Services Corporation (``LSC'' or ``Corporation'') is republishing for additional comment previously proposed amendments (with certain additional revisions) to its regulations relating to financial eligibility for LSC-funded legal services. The proposed revisions are intended to reorganize the regulation to make it easier to read and follow; simplify and streamline the requirements of the rule to ease administrative burdens faced by LSC recipients in implementing the regulation and to aid LSC in enforcement of the regulation; and to clarify the focus of the regulation on the financial eligibility of applicants for LSC-funded legal services.

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the administration of regulatory programs and requirements, Legal Services Corporation is soliciting suggestions for the possible clarification, modification, revision or deletion of existing LSC regulations, looking toward the development of a regulatory agenda and priorities for the years 2005- 2006.