Legal Services Corporation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 11, 2016, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) published a notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 70136) titled ``Board of Directors and its Six Committees will meet on October 16-18, 2016, Mountain Standard Time (MST)''. The Board of Directors (Closed Session) is scheduled to meet on October 18, 2016, to approved the Board of Directors Closed Session minutes from July 17, 2016. A correction to change the date on item #2 on the Board of Directors Closed Session Agenda to July 19, 2016; all other items remain consecutively the same. The Federal Register Notice Foot Note stating all meeting times are Eastern Standard Time. A correction to change all meeting times to Mountain Standard Time.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announces implementation of new population estimates of agricultural workers that LSC will use for distribution of funds among grants for providing civil legal services to those workers and their dependents (Agricultural Worker Grants, formerly referred to as Migrant Grants). LSC will phase in application of these updated estimates over two years. For all Agricultural Worker Grant service areas, one half of the transition will occur in 2017 and the full changes will occur in 2018. This action takes into consideration public comments received as a result of three notices for public comment LSC published in the Federal Register. 80 FR 5791 (February 3, 2015); 81 FR 6295 (February 5, 2016); and 81 FR 19245 (April 4, 2016). LSC will also obtain updated population estimates of agricultural workers every three years for recalculation on the same statutory cycle as LSC obtains updated poverty-population data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the distribution of LSC's Basic Field Programs appropriation. Future changes in Agricultural Worker Grants based on updated population estimates will be implemented in a single year and not phased in, consistent with how LSC implements changes in the distribution of Basic Field grants. This notice summarizes LSC's development of the final estimates and discusses the revisions LSC made in response to public comment.

On July 12, 2016, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) published a notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 45177) titled ``Board of Directors and its Six Committees will meet on July 17-19, 2016, EDT''. The Governance and Performance Review Committee scheduled to meet on July 18, 2016 at 4:00 p.m., EDT, has added another item to the agenda as line item #6; all other items remain consecutively the same. This document changes the notice by revising the Governance and Performance Review Committee agenda by adding another item as line item #6. Changes in the meeting: Governance and Performance Review Committee agenda revised to add the following.

The Legal Services Corporation is publishing for public comment a proposed program letter addressing standards for automated systems that LSC grantees might use to gather financial-eligibility information from applicants for legal services and to make financial- eligibility decisions for those applicants.

On June 16, 2016, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) published a notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 39278) titled ``Finance Committee Telephonic Meeting on June 22, 2016 at 3:30 p.m., EDT.'' The meeting has been postponed, and the agenda will be covered at a later date. This document announces the postponement of the meeting. Changes in the Meeting: Postponed.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, that the Operations and Regulations Committee (Committee) of the Board of Directors for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) will hold its second Rulemaking Workshop (Workshop) to solicit public input on revisions to LSC's Cost Standards and Procedures and the Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM).

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC or Corporation) proposes to revise its regulations governing subgrants to third parties. LSC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on April 20, 2015, 80 FR 21692. In response to the NPRM, LSC received comments from five organizations. The commenters requested that LSC reconsider some of the proposed changes to the regulations. LSC has considered the comments and now proposes additional revisions to the rules. In this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), LSC seeks comments on five proposed revisions to the NPRM.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, that the Operations and Regulations Committee (Committee) of the Board of Directors for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) will hold a Rulemaking Workshop (Workshop) to solicit public input on revisions to LSC's Cost Standards and Procedures and the Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM).

The Legal Services Corporation (``LSC'') intends to revise the LSC Grant Assurances for calendar year 2017 Basic Field Grants and is soliciting public comment on the proposed changes. The proposed revisions affect Grant Assurances 7, 15, 20, and 22. The proposed LSC Grant Assurances for calendar year 2017 Basic Field Grants, in redline format indicating the proposed changes to the current ``LSC 2016 Grant Assurances,'' are available at https://grants.lsc.gov/sites/default/ files/Grants/ReferenceMaterials/2017-GrantAssurances-Proposed .pdf.

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 funds for calendar year 2017 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 2017 have not been determined.

On March 17, 2016, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) published a notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 14487) titled ``Institutional Advancement Committee Telephonic Meeting on March 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m., EDT.'' The meeting commencement time is incorrect. This document corrects the notice by changing the commencement time to 10:00 a.m., EDT.''

The Operations and Regulations Committee (Committee) of the Board of Directors for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is conducting three rulemaking workshops (Workshops) and is requesting public comments on revising LSC's Cost Standards and Procedures rule, 45 CFR part 1630, and LSC's Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM). The discussions in the Workshops and the other comments received will be considered in connection with rulemaking by LSC. LSC is soliciting expressions of interest in participating as a panelist in the Workshops from LSC grantees and other interested stakeholders with relevant experience, such as other funders of civil legal aid programs.

On February 3, 2015, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) published a notice in the Federal Register requesting comment on a proposal to update the agricultural worker population estimates used for determining the amount of Basic Field funds that LSC will distribute through Basic FieldMigrant grants. 80 FR 5791. Based on comments received in response to this notice, LSC has identified three areas for further public input. Specifically, LSC seeks (1) comments on the methodology and data used for estimating the agricultural worker population by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Training Administration (ETA) considering the additional ETA materials published with this notice; (2) comments on a new estimate of aliens within the agricultural worker population who are eligible for services from LSC grantees based on sexual abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, or other abusive or criminal activities; and (3) submission of available and reliable state- or region-specific, data-based estimates of the population of agricultural workers eligible for LSC-funded services to augment the ETA estimates in individual states or regions. LSC will accept such estimates only if they include the data and methodologies used, including authorship and other relevant information.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) issues this Notice describing the conditions under which Letters of Intent to Apply for 2016 funding will be received for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund. On December 18, 2015, Congress provided $4 million for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund through the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2016.

The Legal Services Corporation Office of Inspector General (``LSC OIG'') issued a notice requesting comments on proposed changes to the Compliance Supplement for Audits of LSC Recipients in the Federal Register of December 4, 2015 [FR Doc. 2015-30643]. LSC OIG requested comments within 30 days of the date of publication, or by January 4, 2016. This notice extends the comment period to January 15, 2016.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) hereby announces its intention to award grants to provide economical and effective delivery of high quality civil legal services to eligible low-income clients in southeastern Michigan in February 2016.

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, 2016.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC or the Corporation) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to request comment on the Corporation's considerations for revising 45 CFR part 1630 and the Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM). The Corporation has chosen to address both part 1630 and the PAMM in a single rulemaking due to the level of similarity and overlap between them, particularly with regard to the provisions governing real and personal property acquisition and prior approval procedures. This ANPRM seeks input and recommendations on how to address most effectively those provisions of part 1630 and the PAMM that impact LSC's ability to promote clarity, efficiency, and accountability in its grant-making and grants oversight practices.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the national organization charged with administering federal funds provided for civil legal services to low-income people. LSC is reopening the competitive bidding process for FY 2016 funding for service area MI-13 in Michigan. Service area MI-13 is comprised of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties in Michigan. LSC is soliciting grant proposals from interested parties who are qualified to provide effective, efficient, and high quality civil legal services to the eligible client population in service area MI-13. While the exact amount of congressionally appropriated funds and the date and terms of availability for calendar year 2016 are not known yet, LSC anticipates that the funding amount will be similar to calendar year 2015 funding, which is $4,368,810.