24 C.F.R. § 115.203 Performance standards.
Title 24 - Housing and Urban Development
A state or local fair housing enforcement agency must meet all of the performance standards listed in this section in order to obtain or maintain certification. (a) Engage in timely, comprehensive and thorough fair housing complaint investigation, conciliation and enforcement activities. The performance assessment will consider the following to determine the effectiveness of an agency's fair housing complaint processing, consistent with such guidance as may be issued by HUD: (1) The agency's case processing procedures; (2) The thoroughness of the agency's case processing; (3) A review of cause and no cause determinations for quality of investigations and consistency with appropriate standards; (4) A review of conciliation agreements and other settlements; (5) A review of the agency's administrative closures; and (6) A review of the agency's enforcement procedures. (b)(1) Commence proceedings with respect to a complaint: (i) Before the end of the 30th day after receipt; (ii) Carry forward such proceedings with reasonable promptness; (iii) Make final administrative disposition within one year; and (iv) Within 100 days of receipt of the complaint complete the identified proceedings. (2) To meet this standard, the performance assessment will consider the timeliness of the agency's actions with respect to its complaint processing, including, but not limited to: (i) Whether the agency began its processing of fair housing complaints within 30 days of receipt; (ii) Whether the agency completes the investigative activities with respect to a complaint within 100 days from the date of receipt or, if it is impracticable to do so, notifies the parties in writing of the reason(s) for the delay; (iii) Whether the agency administratively disposes of a complaint within one year from the date of receipt or, if it is impracticable to do so, notifies the parties in writing of the reasons for the delay; and (iv) Whether the agency completed the investigation of the complaint and prepared a complete final investigative report. (3) The performance assessment will also consider documented conciliation attempts and activities and a review of the bases for administrative disposition of complaints. (c) Conduct compliance reviews of settlements, conciliation agreements and orders issued by or entered into to resolve discriminatory housing practices. The performance assessment will include, but not be limited to: (1) An assessment of the agency's procedures for conducting compliance reviews; (2) Terms and conditions of agreements and orders issued; (3) Application of its authority to seek actual damages, as appropriate; and (4) Application of its authority to seek and assess civil penalties or punitive damages. (d) Consistently and affirmatively seek and obtain the type of relief designed to prevent recurrences of such practices. The performance assessment will include, but not be limited to: (1) An assessment of the types of relief sought and obtained by the agency with consideration of the inclusion of affirmative provisions designed to protect the public interest; (2) The adequacy of the disposition of the complaint; (3) The relief sought and awarded; (4) The number of complaints closed with relief and the number closed without relief; and (5) Whether all the issues and bases were investigated adequately and appropriately disposed of. (e) Consistently and affirmatively seek the elimination of all prohibited practices under its fair housing law. An assessment under this standard will include, but not be limited to: (1) A discussion and confirmation of the law or ordinance administered by the agency; (2) The identification of any amendments, court decisions or other rulings or documentation that may affect the agency's ability to carry out provisions of its fair housing law or ordinance; (3) Identification of the education and outreach efforts of the agency; and (4) Identification and discussion of any special requirements of the fair housing law or ordinance.
Title 24: Housing and Urban Development
PART 115—CERTIFICATION AND FUNDING OF STATE AND LOCAL FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Subpart B—Certification of Substantially Equivalent Agencies
§ 115.203 Performance standards.
