45 C.F.R. PART 1386—FORMULA GRANT PROGRAMS


Title 45 - Public Welfare


Title 45: Public Welfare

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PART 1386—FORMULA GRANT PROGRAMS

Section Contents

Subpart A—Basic Requirements

§ 1386.1   General.
§ 1386.2   Obligation of funds.
§ 1386.3   Liquidation of obligations.
§ 1386.4   [Reserved]

Subpart B—State System for Protection and Advocacy of the Rights of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

§ 1386.19   Definitions.
§ 1386.20   Designated State Protection and Advocacy agency.
§ 1386.21   Requirements and authority of the Protection and Advocacy System.
§ 1386.22   Access to records, facilities and individuals with developmental disabilities.
§ 1386.23   Periodic reports: Protection and Advocacy System.
§ 1386.24   Non-allowable costs for the Protection and Advocacy System.
§ 1386.25   Allowable litigation costs.

Subpart C—Federal Assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils

§ 1386.30   State plan requirements.
§ 1386.31   State Plan submittal and approval.
§ 1386.32   Periodic reports: Federal assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils.
§ 1386.33   Protection of employee's interests.
§ 1386.34   Designated State Agency.
§ 1386.35   Allowable and non-allowable costs for Federal Assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils.
§ 1386.36   Final disapproval of the State plan or plan amendments.

Subpart D—Practice and Procedure for Hearings Pertaining to States' Conformity and Compliance With Developmental Disabilities State Plans, Reports and Federal Requirements


General

§ 1386.80   Definitions.
§ 1386.81   Scope of rules.
§ 1386.82   Records to be public.
§ 1386.83   Use of gender and number.
§ 1386.84   Suspension of rules.
§ 1386.85   Filing and service of papers.

Preliminary Matters—Notice and Parties

§ 1386.90   Notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing.
§ 1386.91   Time of hearing.
§ 1386.92   Place.
§ 1386.93   Issues at hearing.
§ 1386.94   Request to participate in hearing.

Hearing Procedures

§ 1386.100   Who presides.
§ 1386.101   Authority of presiding officer.
§ 1386.102   Rights of parties.
§ 1386.103   Discovery.
§ 1386.104   Evidentiary purpose.
§ 1386.105   Evidence.
§ 1386.106   Exclusion from hearing for misconduct.
§ 1386.107   Unsponsored written material.
§ 1386.108   Official transcript.
§ 1386.109   Record for decision.

Posthearing Procedures, Decisions

§ 1386.110   Posthearing briefs.
§ 1386.111   Decisions following hearing.
§ 1386.112   Effective date of decision by the Assistant Secretary.


Authority:  42 U.S.C. 6000 et. seq.

Source:  49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—Basic Requirements
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§ 1386.1   General.
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All rules under this subpart are applicable to both the State Developmental Disabilities Councils and the Protection and Advocacy Agencies.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51155, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.2   Obligation of funds.
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(a) Funds which the Federal Government allots under this Part during a Federal fiscal year are available for obligation by States for a two year period beginning with the first day of the Federal fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.

(b) (1) A State incurs an obligation for acquisition of personal property or for the performance of work on the date it makes a binding, legally enforceable, written commitment, or when the State Developmental Disabilities Council enters into an Interagency Agreement with an agency of State government for acquisition of personal property or for the performance of work.

(2) A State incurs an obligation for personal services, for services performed by public utilities, for travel or for rental of real or personal property on the date it receives the services, its personnel takes the travel, or it uses the rented property.

(c) (1) The Protection and Advocacy System may elect to treat entry of an appearance in judicial and administrative proceedings on behalf of an individual with a developmental disability as a basis for obligating funds for the litigation costs. The amount of the funds obligated must not exceed a reasonable estimate of the costs, and the way the estimate was calculated must be documented.

(2) For the purpose of this paragraph, litigation costs mean expenses for court costs, depositions, expert witness fees, travel in connection with a case and similar costs and costs resulting from litigation in which the agency has represented an individual with developmental disabilities (e.g. monitoring court orders, consent decrees), but not for salaries of employees of the Protection and Advocacy agency. All funds made available for Federal Assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils and to the Protection and Advocacy System obligated under this paragraph are subject to the requirement of paragraph (a) of this section. These funds, if reobligated, may be reobligated only within a two year period beginning with the first day of the Federal fiscal year in which the funds were originally awarded.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 54 FR 47985, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 51155, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.3   Liquidation of obligations.
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(a) All obligations incurred pursuant to a grant made under the Act for a specific Federal fiscal year, must be liquidated within two years of the close of the Federal fiscal year in which the grant was awarded.

(b) The Commissioner may waive the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section when State law impedes implementation or the amount of obligated funds to be liquidated is in dispute.

(c) Funds attributable to obligations which are not liquidated in accordance with the provisions of this section revert to the Federal Government.

§ 1386.4   [Reserved]
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Subpart B—State System for Protection and Advocacy of the Rights of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
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§ 1386.19   Definitions.
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As used in §§1386.20, 1386.21, 1386.22 and 1386.25 of this part the following definitions apply:

Abuse means any act or failure to act which was performed, or which was failed to be performed, knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally, and which caused, or may have caused, injury or death to an individual with developmental disabilities, and includes such acts as: Verbal, nonverbal, mental and emotional harassment; rape or sexual assault; striking; the use of excessive force when placing such an individual in bodily restraints; the use of bodily or chemical restraints which is not in compliance with Federal and State laws and regulations or any other practice which is likely to cause immediate physical or psychological harm or result in long term harm if such practices continue.

Complaint includes, but is not limited to any report or communication, whether formal or informal, written or oral, received by the system including media accounts, newspaper articles, telephone calls (including anonymous calls), from any source alleging abuse or neglect of an individual with a developmental disability.

Designating Official means the Governor or other State official, who is empowered by the Governor or State legislature to designate the State official or public or private agency to be accountable for the proper use of funds by and conduct of the State Protection and Advocacy agency.

Facility includes any setting that provides care, treatment, services and habilitation, even if only “as needed” or under a contractual arrangement. Facilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Community living arrangements (e.g., group homes, board and care homes, individual residences and apartments), day programs, juvenile detention centers, hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, jails and prisons.

Full Investigation means access to facilities, clients and records authorized under these regulations, that is necessary for a protection and advocacy (P&A) system to make a determination about whether alleged or suspected instances of abuse and neglect are taking place or have taken place. Full investigations may be conducted independently or in cooperation with other agencies authorized to conduct similar investigations.

Legal Guardian, conservator and legal representative all mean an individual appointed and regularly reviewed by a State court or agency empowered under State law to appoint and review such officers and having authority to make all decisions on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities. It does not include persons acting only as a representative payee, person acting only to handle financial payments, attorneys or other persons acting on behalf of an individual with developmental disabilities only in individual legal matters, or officials responsible for the provision of treatment or habilitation services to an individual with developmental disabilities or their designees.

Neglect means a negligent act or omission by an individual responsible for providing treatment or habilitation services which caused or may have caused injury or death to an individual with developmental disabilities or which placed an individual with developmental disabilities at risk of injury or death, and includes acts or omissions such as failure to: establish or carry out an appropriate individual program plan or treatment plan (including a discharge plan); provide adequate nutrition, clothing, or health care to an individual with developmental disabilities; provide a safe environment which also includes failure to maintain adequate numbers of trained staff.

Probable cause means a reasonable ground for belief that an individual with developmental disabilities has been, or may be, subject to abuse or neglect. The individual making such determination may base the decision on reasonable inferences drawn from his or her experience or training regarding similar incidents, conditions or problems that are usually associated with abuse or neglect.

[61 FR 51155, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.20   Designated State Protection and Advocacy agency.
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(a) The designating official must designate the State official or public or private agency to be accountable for proper use of funds and conduct of the Protection and Advocacy agency.

(b) An agency of the State or private agency providing direct services, including guardianship services may not be designated as a Protection and Advocacy agency.

(c) In the event that an entity outside of the State government is designated to carry out the program, the designating official or entity must assign a responsible State official to receive, on behalf of the State, notices of disallowances and compliance actions as the State is accountable for the proper and appropriate expenditure of Federal funds.

(d) (1) Prior to any redesignation of the agency which administers and operates the State Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System, the designating official must give written notice of the intention to make the redesignation to the agency currently administering and operating the State Protection and Advocacy System by registered or certified mail. The notice must indicate that the proposed redesignation is being made for good cause. The designating official must also publish a public notice of the proposed action. The agency and the public shall have a reasonable period of time, but not less than 45 days to respond to the notice.

(2) The public notice must include:

(i) The Federal requirements for the Protection and Advocacy system for individuals with developmental disabilities (section 142 of the Act); and, where applicable, the requirements of other Federal advocacy programs administered by the State Protection and Advocacy System.

(ii) The goals and function of the State's Protection and Advocacy System including the current Statement of Objectives and Priorities;

(iii) The name and address of the agency currently designated to administer and operate the Protection and Advocacy system; and an indication of whether the agency also operates other Federal advocacy programs;

(iv) A description of the current Protection and Advocacy agency and the system it administers and operates including, as applicable, descriptions of other Federal advocacy programs it operates;

(v) A clear and detailed explanation of the good cause for the proposed redesignation;

(vi) A statement suggesting that interested persons may wish to write the current State Protection and Advocacy agency at the address provided in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section to obtain a copy of its response to the notice required by paragraph (d)(1)of this section. Copies shall be provided in accessible formats to individuals with disabilities upon request;

(vii) The name of the new agency proposed to administer and operate the Protection and Advocacy System under the Developmental Disabilities program. This agency will be eligible to administer other Federal advocacy programs;

(viii) A description of the system which the new agency would administer and operate, including a description of all other Federal advocacy programs the agency would operate;

(ix) The timetable for assumption of operations by the new agency and the estimated costs of any transfer and start-up operations; and

(x) A statement of assurance that the proposed new designated State P&A System will continue to serve existing clients and cases of the current P&A system or refer them to other sources of legal advocacy as appropriate, without disruption.

(3) The public notice as required by paragraph (d)(1) of this section, must be in a format accessible to individuals with developmental disabilities or their representatives, e.g., tape, diskette. The designating official must provide for publication of the notice of the proposed redesignation using the State register, State-wide newspapers, public service announcements on radio and television, or any other legally equivalent process. Copies of the notice must be made generally available to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness who live in residential facilities through posting or some other means.

(4) After the expiration of the public comment period required in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the designating official must conduct a public hearing on the redesignation proposal. After consideration of all public and agency comments, the designating official must give notice of the final decision to the currently designated agency and the public through the same means used under paragraph (d)(3) of this section. This notice must include a clear and detailed explanation of the good cause finding. If the notice to the currently designated agency states that the redesignation will take place, it also must inform the agency of its right to appeal this decision to the Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families and provide a summary of the public comments received in regard to the notice of intent to redesignate and the results of the public hearing and its responses to those comments. The redesignation shall not be effective until 10 working days after notifying the current Protection and Advocacy agency or, if the agency appeals, until the Assistant Secretary has considered the appeal.

(e) (1) Following notification pursuant to paragraph (d)(4) of this section, the Protection and Advocacy agency which is the subject of such action, may appeal the redesignation to the Assistant Secretary. To do so, the Protection and Advocacy agency must submit an appeal in writing to the Assistant Secretary within 20 days of receiving official notification under paragraph (d)(4) of this section, with a separate copy sent by registered or certified mail to the designating official who made the decision concerning redesignation.

(2) In the event that the agency subject to redesignation does exercise its right to appeal under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the designating official must give public notice of the Assistant Secretary's final decision regarding the appeal through the same means utilized under paragraph (d)(3) of this section within 10 working days of receipt of the Assistant Secretary's final decision under paragraph (e)(6) of this section.

(3) The designating official within 10 working days from the receipt of a copy of the appeal must provide written comments to the Assistant Secretary (with a copy sent by registered or certified mail to the Protection and Advocacy agency appealing under paragraph (e)(1) of this section), or withdraw the redesignation. The comments must include a summary of the public comments received in regard to the notice of intent to redesignate and the results of the public hearing and its responses to those comments.

(4) In the event that the designating official withdraws the redesignation while under appeal pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the designating official must notify the Assistant Secretary, and the current agency, and must give public notice of his or her decision through the same means utilized under paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

(5) As part of their submission under paragraph (e)(1) or (e)(3) of this section, either party may request, and the Assistant Secretary may grant, an opportunity for an informal meeting with the Assistant Secretary at which representatives of both parties will present their views on the issues in the appeal. The meeting will be held within 20 working days of the submission of written comments by the designating official under paragraph (e)(2) of this section. The Assistant Secretary will promptly notify the parties of the date and place of the meeting.

(6) Within 30 days of the informal meeting under paragraph (e)(5) of this section, or, if there is no informal meeting under paragraph (e)(5) of this section, within 30 days of the submission under paragraph (e)(3) of this section, the Assistant Secretary will issue to the parties a final written decision on whether the redesignation was for good cause as defined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section. The Assistant Secretary will consult with Federal advocacy programs that will be directly affected by the proposed redesignation in making a final decision on the appeal.

(f) (1) Within 30 days after the redesignation becomes effective under paragraph (d)(4) of this section, the designating official must submit an assurance to the Assistant Secretary that the newly designated Protection and Advocacy agency meets the requirements of the statute and the regulations.

(2) In the event that the Protection and Advocacy agency subject to redesignation does not exercise its rights to appeal within the period provided under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the designating official must provide to the Assistant Secretary documentation that the agency was redesignated for good cause. Such documentation must clearly demonstrate that the Protection and Advocacy agency subject to redesignation was not redesignated for any actions or activities which were carried out under section 142 of the Act, these regulations or any other Federal advocacy program's legislation or regulations.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44846, Nov. 20, 1987; 61 FR 51156, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.21   Requirements and authority of the Protection and Advocacy System.
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(a) In order for a State to receive Federal financial participation for Protection and Advocacy activities under this subpart, as well as the State Developmental Disabilities Council activities (subpart C of this part), the Protection and Advocacy System must meet the requirements of section 142 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6042) and that system must be operational.

(b) Allotments must be used to supplement and not to supplant the level of non-federal funds available in the State for activities under the Act, which shall include activities on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities to remedy abuse, neglect and violations of rights as well and information and referral activities.

(c) A Protection and Advocacy System shall not implement a policy or practice restricting the remedies which may be sought on the behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities or compromising the authority of the Protection and Advocacy System (P&A) to pursue such remedies through litigation, legal action or other forms of advocacy. However, the above requirement does not prevent the P&A from developing case or client acceptance criteria as part of the annual priorities identified by the P&A system as described in §1386.23(c) of this part. Clients must be informed at the time they apply for services of such criteria.

(d) A P&A system shall be free from hiring freezes, reductions in force, prohibitions on staff travel, or other policies, imposed by the State, to the extent that such policies would impact system program staff or functions funded with Federal funds and would prevent the system from carrying out its mandates under the Act.

(e) A Protection and Advocacy System shall have sufficient staff, qualified by training and experience, to carry out the responsibilities of the system in accordance with the priorities of the system and requirements of the Act, including the investigation of allegations of abuse, neglect and representations of individuals with developmental disabilities regarding rights violations.

(f) A Protection and Advocacy System may exercise its authority under State law where the authority exceeds the authority required by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, as amended. However, State law must not diminish the required authority of the Protection and Advocacy System.

(g) Each P&A system that is a public system without a multimember governing or advisory board must establish an advisory council in order to provide a voice for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Advisory Council shall advise the P&A on program policies and priorities and shall be comprised of a majority of individuals with developmental disabilities who are eligible for services, or have received or are receiving services or parents or family members, (including those representing individuals with developmental disabilities who live in institutions and home and community based settings), guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives of such individuals.

(h) Prior to any Federal review of the State program, a 30 day notice and an opportunity for public comment must be provided. Reasonable effort shall be made by the appropriate Regional Office to seek comments through notification to major disability advocacy groups, the State Bar, other disability law resources, the State Developmental Disabilities Council and the University Affiliated Program, for example, through newsletters and publications of those organizations. The findings of public comments may be consolidated if sufficiently similar issues are raised and they shall be included in the report of the onsite visit.

(i) Before the P&A system releases information to individuals not otherwise authorized to receive it, the P&A must obtain written consent from the client requesting assistance, if competent, or his or her guardian.

[61 FR 51157, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.22   Access to records, facilities and individuals with developmental disabilities.
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(a) Access to records—A protection and advocacy (P&A) system shall have access to the records of any of the following individuals with developmental disabilities:

(1) An individual who is a client of the system, including any person who has requested assistance from the system, if authorized by that individual or their legal guardian, conservator or other legal representative.

(2) An individual, including an individual who has died or whose whereabouts is unknown, to whom all of the following conditions apply:

(i) The individual, due to his or her mental or physical condition is unable to authorize the system to have access;

(ii) The individual does not have a legal guardian, conservator or other legal representative, or the individual's guardian is the State (or one of its political subdivisions); and

(iii) With respect to whom a complaint has been received by the system or the system has probable cause (which can be the result of monitoring or other activities including media reports and newspaper articles) to believe that such individual has been subject to abuse or neglect.

(3) An individual who has a legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative, with respect to whom a complaint has been received by the system or with respect to whom the system has determined that there is probable cause to believe that the health or safety of the individual is in serious and immediate jeopardy, whenever all the following conditions exist:

(i) The system has made a good faith effort to contact the representative upon receipt of the representative's name and address;

(ii) The system has offered assistance to the representative to resolve the situation; and

(iii) The representative has failed or refused to act on behalf of the individual.

(b) Individual records to which P&A systems must have access under section 142(A)(2)(I) (whether written or in another medium, draft or final, including handwritten notes, electronic files, photographs or video or audio tape records) shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) Records prepared or received in the course of providing intake, assessment, evaluation, education, training and other supportive services, including medical records, financial records, and monitoring and other reports prepared or received by a member of the staff of a facility that is providing care or treatment;

(2) Reports prepared by an agency charged with investigating incidents of abuse or neglect, injury or death occurring at a facility or while the individual with a developmental disability is under the care of a member of the staff of a facility, or by or for such facility, that describe any or all of the following:

(i) Abuse, neglect, injury, death;

(ii) The steps taken to investigate the incidents;

(iii) Reports and records, including personnel records, prepared or maintained by the facility in connection with such reports of incidents; or,

(iv) Supporting information that was relied upon in creating a report, including all information and records which describe persons who were interviewed, physical and documentary evidence that was reviewed, and the related investigative findings; and

(3) Discharge planning records.

(c) Information in the possession of a facility which must be available to P&A systems in investigating instances of abuse and neglect under section 142(a)(2)(B) (whether written or in another medium, draft or final, including hand written notes, electronic files, photographs or video or audio tape records) shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Information in reports prepared by individuals and entities performing certification or licensure reviews, or by professional accreditation organizations, as well as related assessments prepared for a facility by its staff, contractors or related entities, except that nothing in this section is intended to preempt State law protection records produced by medical care evaluation or peer review committees.

(2) Information in professional, performance, building or other safety standards, demographic and statistical information relating to a facility.

(d) A system shall be permitted to inspect and copy information and records, subject to a reasonable charge to offset duplicating costs.

(e) The client's record is the property of the Protection and Advocacy System which must protect it from loss, damage, tampering, or use by unauthorized individuals. The Protection and Advocacy System must:

(1) Keep confidential all information contained in a client's records, which includes, but is not limited to, information contained in an automated data bank. This regulation does not limit access by parents or legal guardians of minors unless prohibited by State or Federal law, court order or the rules of attorney-client privilege;

(2) Have written policies governing access to, storage of, duplication of, and release of information from the client's record; and

(3) Be authorized to keep confidential the names and identity of individuals who report incidents of abuse and neglect and individuls who furnish information that forms the basis for a determination that probable cause exists.

(f) Access to Facilities and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities—A system shall have reasonable unaccompanied access to public and private facilities which provide services, supports, and other assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State when necessary to conduct a full investigation of an incident of abuse or neglect under section 142(a)(2)(B) of the Act. This authority shall include the opportunity: to interview any facility service recipient, employee, or other person, including the person thought to be the victim of such abuse, who might be reasonably believed by the system to have knowledge of the incident under investigation; and to inspect, view and photograph all areas of the facility's premises that might be reasonably believed by the system to have been connected with the incident under investigation.

(g) Under section 142(a)(2)(H) of the Act, the system and all of its authorized agents shall have unaccompanied access to all residents of a facility at reasonable times, which at a minimum shall include normal working hours and visiting hours, for the purpose of:

(1) Providing information and training on, and referral to, programs addressing the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, and the protection and advocacy services available from the system, including the name, address, and telephone number of the system and other information and training about individual rights; and

(2) Monitoring compliance with respect to the rights and safety of service recipients.

(h) Unaccompanied access to residents of a facility shall include the opportunity to meet and communicate privately with such individuals regularly, both formally and informally, by telephone, mail and in person.

(i) If a system is denied access to facilities and its programs, individuals with developmental disabilities, or records covered by the Act it shall be provided promptly with a written statement of reasons, including, in the case of a denial for alleged lack of authorization, the name and address of the legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative of an individual with developmental disabilities.

[61 FR 51158, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.23   Periodic reports: Protection and Advocacy System.
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(a) By January 1 of each year the Protection and Advocacy System shall submit an Annual Program Performance Report as required in section 107(b) of the Act, in a format designated by the Secretary.

(b) Financial status reports must be submitted by the Protection and Advocacy Agency according to a frequency interval specified by the Administration for Children and Families. In no case will such reports be required more frequently than quarterly.

(c) By January 1 of each year, the Protection and Advocacy System shall submit an Annual Statement of Objectives and Priorities, (SOP) for the coming fiscal year as required under section 142(a)(2)(C) of the Act.

(1) The SOP is a description and explanation of the priorities and selection criteria for the system's individual advocacy caseload; systemic advocacy work and training activities, and the outcomes which it strives to accomplish.

(2) Where applicable, the SOP must include a description of how the Protection and Advocacy System operates and how it coordinates the Protection and Advocacy program for individuals with developmental disabilities with other Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs administered by the State Protection and Advocacy System. This description must address the System's intake process, internal and external referrals of eligible clients, duplication and overlap of services and eligibility, streamlining of advocacy services, collaboration and sharing of information on service needs and development of Statements of Objectives and Priorities for the various advocacy programs.

(3) Priorities as established through the SOP serve as the basis for P&As to determine which cases are selected in a given fiscal year. P&As have the authority to turn down a request for assistance when it is outside the scope of the SOP but they must inform individuals that this is the basis for turning them down.

(d) Each fiscal year, the Protection and Advocacy Agency shall:

(1) Obtain formal public input on its Statement of Objectives and Priorities;

(2) At a minimum, provide for a broad distribution of the proposed Statement of Objectives and Priorities for the next fiscal year in a manner accessible to individuals with developmental disabilities and their representatives, allowing at least 45 days from the date of distribution for comment;

(3) Provide to the State Developmental Disabilities Council and the University Affiliated Program a copy of the proposed Statement of Objectives and Priorities for comments concurrently with the public notice;

(4) Incorporate or address any comments received through the public input and any input received from the State Developmental Disabilities Council and the University Affiliated Program in the final Statement submitted to the Department; and

(5) Address how the Protection and Advocacy System; State Developmental Disabilities Council; and the University Affiliated Program will collaborate with each other and with other public and private entities.

(The requirements under paragraph (b) are approved under control number 0348–0039 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Information collection requirements contained in paragraph (c) are approved under OMB control number 0970–0132 pursuant to sections 142(a)(2) (C) and (D) and section 107(b) of the Act.)

[61 FR 51159, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.24   Non-allowable costs for the Protection and Advocacy System.
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(a) Federal financial participation is not allowable for:

(1) Costs incurred for activities on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities to solve problems not directly related to their disabilities and which are faced by the general populace. Such activities include but are not limited to: Preparation of wills, divorce decrees, and real estate proceedings. Allowable costs in such cases would include the Protection and Advocacy System providing disability related technical assistance information and referral to appropriate programs and services; and

(2) Costs not allowed under other applicable statutes. Departmental regulations and issuances of the Office of Management and Budget.

(b) Attorneys fees are considered program income pursuant to Part 74–Administration of Grants and Part 92–Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments and must be added to the funds committed to the program and used to further the objectives of the program. This requirement shall apply to all attorneys fees, including those earned by contractors and those received after the project period in which they were earned.

[52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987; 61 FR 51159, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.25   Allowable litigation costs.
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Allotments may be used to pay the otherwise allowable costs incurred by a Protection and Advocacy System in bringing lawsuits in its own right to redress incidents of abuse or neglect, discrimination and other rights violations impacting on individuals with developmental disabilities to obtain access to records and when it appears on behalf of named plaintiffs or a class of plaintiff for such purposes.

[61 FR 51159, Sept. 30, 1996]

Subpart C—Federal Assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils
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§ 1386.30   State plan requirements.
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(a) In order to receive Federal financial assistance under this subpart, each State Developmental Disabilities Council must prepare and submit to the Secretary, and have in effect, a State Plan which meets the requirements of sections 122 and 124 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6022 and 6024) and these regulations. Development of the State Plan and applicable annual amendments are responsibilities of the State Developmental Disabilities Council. The Council will provide opportunities for public input during the planning and development of the State Plan and will consult with the Designated State Agency to determine that the plan is not in conflict with applicable State laws and to obtain appropriate State Plan assurances.

(b) Failure to comply with State plan requirements may result in loss of Federal funds as described in section 127 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6027).

(c) The State plan may be submitted in any format the State selects as long as the items contained in the Act are addressed. The plan must:

(1) Identify the program unit(s) within the Designated State Agency responsible for helping the Council to obtain assurances and fiscal and other support services.

(2) Identify the priority areas selected by the Council and by the State in which 65% of Federal allotment will be expended.

(3) Where applicable, describe activities in which the State's Developmental Disabilities Council, Protection and Advocacy System agency, and University Affiliated Program(s) collaborate to remove barriers or address critical issues within the State and bring about broad systems changes to benefit individuals with developmental disabilities and, as appropriate, individuals with other disabilities.

(d) The State plan must be reviewed at least once every three years.

(e) (1) The State Plan may provide for funding projects to demonstrate new approaches to direct services which enhance the independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion into the community of individuals with developmental disabilities. Direct service demonstrations must be short-term and include a strategy to locate on-going funding from other sources. For each demonstration funded, the State Plan must include an estimated period of the project's duration and a brief description of how the services will be continued without Federal developmental disabilities program funds. Council funds may not be used to fund on-going services which should be paid for by the State or other sources.

(2) The State plan may provide for funding of other projects or activities, including but not limited to, studies, evaluation, outreach, advocacy, self-advocacy, training, community supports, public education, and prevention. Where extended periods of time are needed to achieve desired results, these projects and activities need not be time-limited.

(f) The State Plan must contain assurances that:

(1) The State will comply with all applicable Federal statutes and regulations in effect during the time that the State is receiving formula grant funding;

(2) The human rights of individuals with developmental disabilities will be protected consistent with section 110 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6009).

(3) Buildings used in connection with activities assisted under the Plan must meet all applicable provisions of Federal and State laws pertaining to accessibility, fire, health and safety standards.

(4) The State Developmental Disabilities Council shall follow the requirements of section 124(c) (8), (9) and (10) of the Act regarding budgeting, staff hiring and supervision and staff assignment. Budget expenditures must be consistent with applicable State laws and policies regarding grants and contracts and proper accounting and bookkeeping practices and procedures. In relation to staff hiring, the clause “consistent with State law” in section 124(c)(9) means that the hiring of State Developmental Disabilities Council staff must be done in accordance with State personnel policies and procedures except that a State shall not apply hiring freezes, reductions in force, prohibitions on staff travel, or other policies, to the extent that such policies would impact staff or functions funded with Federal funds and would prevent the Council from carrying out its functions under the Act.

(Information collection requirements contained in paragraph (c) under control number 0980–0162 and paragraph (e) under control number 0980–0139 are approved by the Office of Management and Budget)

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987; 54 FR 47985, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 51159, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.31   State Plan submittal and approval.
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(a) The Council shall issue a public notice about the availability of the proposed State Plan or State Plan amendment(s) for comment. The Notice shall be published in formats accessible to individuals with developmental disabilities and the general public (e.g., tape, diskette, public forums, newspapers) and shall provide a 45 day period for public review and comment. The Council shall take into account comments submitted within that period and respond in the State Plan to significant comments and suggestions. A summary of the Council's response to State Plan comments shall be submitted with the State Plan and made available for public review. This document shall be made available in accessible formats upon request.

(b) The State plan must be submitted to the appropriate Regional Office of the Department 45 days prior to the fiscal year for which it is applicable. Unless State law provides differently, the State plan and amendments or related documents must be approved by the Governor or the Governor's designee as may be required by any applicable Federal issuances.

(c) Failure to submit an approvable State plan or amendment prior to the Federal fiscal years for which it is applicable may result in the loss of Federal financial participation. Costs resulting from obligations incurred during the period of the fiscal year for which an approved plan is not in effect are not eligible for Federal financial participation.

(d) The Commissioner must approve any State plan or plan amendment provided it meets the requirements of the Act and these regulations.

(e) Amendments to the State plan are required when substantive changes are contemplated in plan content.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51160, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.32   Periodic reports: Federal assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils.
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(a) The Governor or appropriate State financial officer must submit financial status reports on the programs funded under this subpart according to a frequency interval which will be specified by the Administration for Children and Families. In no case will such reports be required more frequently than quarterly.

(b) Pursuant to section 107(a) of the Act (U.S.C. 6006a), the State Developmental Disabilities Council shall submit an Annual Program Performance Report in a form that facilitates Council reporting of results of activities required under sections 122 and 124 of the Act. The report shall be submitted to the appropriate Regional ACF office, by January 1 of each year.

[61 FR 51160, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.33   Protection of employee's interests.
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(a) Based on section 122(c)(5)(K) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6022(c)(5)(K), the State plan must assure fair and equitable arrangements to protect the interest of all institutional employees affected by actions under the plan to provide community living activities. Specific arrangements for the protection of affected employees must be developed through negotiations between the appropriate State authorities and employees or their representatives. Fair and equitable arrangements must include procedures that provide for the impartial resolution of disputes between the State and an employee concerning the interpretation, application, and enforcement of protection arrangements. The State must inform employees of the State's decision to provide for community living activities.

(b) To the maximum extent practicable, fair and equitable arrangements must include provisions for:

(1) The preservation of rights and benefits;

(2) Guaranteeing employment to employees affected by action under the plan to provide alternative community living arrangements; and

(3) Employee training and retraining programs.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0980–0162)

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987; 54 FR 47985, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 51160, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.34   Designated State Agency.
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(a) The Designated State Agency shall provide the required assurances and other support services as requested by and negotiated with the Council. These include:

(1) Provision of financial reporting and other services as provided under section 124(d)(3)(C) of the Act; and

(2) Information and direction, as appropriate, on procedures on the hiring, supervision and assignment of staff in accordance with State law.

(b) If the State Developmental Disabilities Council requests a review by the Governor (or legislature) of the Designated State Agency, the Council must provide documentation of the reason for change and recommend a preferred Designated State Agency.

(c) After the review is completed, a majority of the non-State agency members of the Council may appeal to the Assistant Secretary for a review of the designation of the designated State agency if the Council's independence as an advocate is not assured because of the actions or inactions of the designated State agency.

(d) The following steps apply to the appeal of the Governor's (or legislature's) designation of the Designated State Agency.

(1) Prior to an appeal to the Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, the State Developmental Disabilities Council, must give a 30 day written notice, by certified mail, to the Governor (or legislature) of the majority of non-State members' intention to appeal the designation of the Designated State Agency.

(2) The appeal must clearly identify the grounds for the claim that the Council's independence as an advocate is not assured because of the actions or inactions of the designated State agency.

(3) Upon receipt of the appeal from the State Developmental Disabilities Council, the Assistant Secretary will notify the State Developmental Disabilities Council and the Governor (or legislature), by certified mail, that the appeal has been received and will be acted upon within 60 days. The Governor (or legislature) shall within 10 working days from the receipt of the Assistant Secretary's notification provide written comments to the Assistant Secretary (with a copy sent by registered or certified mail to the Council) on the claims in the Council's appeal. Either party may request, and the Assistant Secretary may grant, an opportunity for an informal meeting with the Assistant Secretary at which representatives of both parties will present their views on the issues in the appeal. The meeting will be held within 20 working days of the submission of written comments by the Governor (or legislature). The Assistant Secretary will promptly notify the parties of the date and place of the meeting.

(4) The Assistant Secretary will review the issue(s) and provide a final written decision within 60 days following receipt of the State Developmental Disabilities Council's appeal. If the determination is made that the Designated State Agency should be redesignated, the Governor (or legislature) must provide written assurance of compliance within 45 days from receipt of the decision.

(5) During any time of this appeals process the State Developmental Disabilities Council may withdraw such request if resolution has been reached with the Governor (or legislature) on the designation of the Designated State Agency. The Governor (or legislature) must notify the Assistant Secretary in writing of such an occurrence.

(e) The designated State agency may authorize the Council use or contract with State agencies other than the designated State agency to perform functions of the designated State agency.

[61 FR 51160, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.35   Allowable and non-allowable costs for Federal Assistance to State Developmental Disabilities Councils.
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(a) Under this subpart, Federal financial participation is available in costs resulting from obligations incurred under the approved State plan for the necessary expenses of the approved State plan for the necessary expenses of the State Council, the administration and operation of the State plan, and training of personnel.

(b) Expenditures which are not allowable for Federal financial participation are:

(1) Costs incurred by institutions or other residential or non-residential programs which do not comply with the Congressional findings with respect to the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities in section 110 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6009).

(2) Costs incurred for activities not provided for in the approved State plan; and

(3) Costs not allowed under other applicable statutes. Departmental regulations or issuances of the Office of Management and Budget.

(c) Expenditure of funds which supplant State and local funds will be disallowed. Supplanting occurs when State or local funds previously used to fund activities in the developmental disabilities State Plan are replaced by Federal funds which are then used for the same purpose. However, supplanting does not occur if State or local funds are replaced with Federal funds for a particular activity or purpose in the approved State Plan if the State or local funds are then used for other activities or purposes in the approved State Plan.

(d) For purposes of determining aggregate minimum State share of expenditures, there are three categories of expenditures:

(1) Expenditures for projects or activities carried out directly by the Council and Council staff, as described in section 125A(a)(2) of the Act, require no non-Federal aggregate participation.

(2) Expenditures for projects with activities or products targeted to urban or rural poverty areas but not carried out directly by the Council and Council staff, as described in section 125A(a)(2) of the Act, shall have non-Federal participation of at least 10% in the aggregate.

(3) All other activities not directly carried out by the Council and Council staff, shall have non-Federal participation of at least 25% in the aggregate.

(e) The Council may vary the non-Federal participation required on a project by project, activity by activity basis (both poverty and non-poverty activities), including requiring no non-Federal participation from particular projects or activities as the Council deems appropriate so long as the requirement for aggregate non-Federal participation is met.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987; 54 FR 47985, Nov. 20, 1989; 61 FR 51161, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.36   Final disapproval of the State plan or plan amendments.
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The Department will disapprove any State plan or plan amendment only after the following procedures have been complied with:

(a) The State plan has been submitted to the appropriate HHS Regional Office, and the Regional Office and State have been unable to resolve their differences.

(b) The Regional Office has prepared a detailed written analysis of its reasons for recommending disapproval and has transmitted its analyses and all other relevant material to the Commissioner, and has provided the State Council and State agency with copies of the material.

(c) The Commissioner, after review of the records and the recommendation of the Regional Office, has determined whether the State plan, in whole or in part, is not approvable. Notice of this determination has been sent to the State and contains appropriate references to the records, provisions of the statute and regulations, and all relevant interpretations of applicable laws and regulations. The notification of the decision must inform the State of its right to appeal in accordance with 45 CFR part 1386, subpart D.

(d) The Commissioner's decision has been forwarded to the State Council and agency by certified mail with a return receipt requested.

(e) A State has filed its request for a hearing with the Assistant Secretary within 21 days of the receipt of the decision. The request for a hearing must be sent by certified mail to the Assistant Secretary. The date of mailing the request is considered the date of filing if it is supported by independent evidence of mailing, otherwise the date of receipt shall be considered the date of filing.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51161, Sept. 30, 1996]

Subpart D—Practice and Procedure for Hearings Pertaining to States' Conformity and Compliance With Developmental Disabilities State Plans, Reports and Federal Requirements
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General
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§ 1386.80   Definitions.
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For purposes of this subpart:

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families (ACF).

ADD means Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families.

Presiding officer means anyone designated by the Assistant Secretary to conduct any hearing held under this subpart. The term includes the Assistant Secretary if the Assistant Secretary presides over the hearing.

Payment or Allotment means an amount provided under Part B or C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. This term includes Federal funds provided under the Act irrespective of whether the State must match the Federal portion of the expenditure. This term shall include funds previously covered by the terms “Federal financial participation,” “the State's total allotment,” “further payments,” “payments,” “allotment” and “Federal funds.”

[61 FR 51161, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.81   Scope of rules.
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(a) The rules of procedures in this subpart govern the practice for hearings afforded by the Department to States pursuant to sections 122, 127 and 142 of the Act. (42 U.S.C. 6022, 6027 and 6042).

(b) Nothing in this part is intended to preclude or limit negotiations between the Department and the State, whether before, during, or after the hearing to resolve the issues which are, or otherwise would be, considered at the hearing. Negotiations, and resolution of issues are not part of the hearing, and are not governed by the rules in this subpart, except as otherwise provided in this subpart.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987]

§ 1386.82   Records to be public.
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All pleadings, correspondence, exhibits, transcripts of testimony, exceptions, briefs, decisions, and other documents filed in the docket in any proceeding are subject to public inspection.

§ 1386.83   Use of gender and number.
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As used in this subpart, words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things, and vice versa. Words importing either gender may be applied to the other gender or to organizations.

§ 1386.84   Suspension of rules.
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Upon notice to all parties, the Assistant Secretary may modify or waive any rule in this subpart, unless otherwise expressly provided, upon determination that no party will be unduly prejudiced and justice will be served.

§ 1386.85   Filing and service of papers.
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(a) All papers in the proceedings must be filed with the designated individual in an original and two copies. Only the originals of exhibits and transcripts of testimony need be filed.

(b) Copies of papers in the proceedings must be served on all parties by personal delivery or by mail. Service on the party's designated representative is deemed service upon the party.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51161, Sept. 30, 1996]

Preliminary Matters—Notice and Parties
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§ 1386.90   Notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing.
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Proceedings are commenced by mailing a notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing from the Assistant Secretary to the State Developmental Disabilities Council and the Designated State Agency, or to the State Protection and Advocacy System or designating official. The notice must state the time and place for the hearing, and the issues which will be considered. The notice must be published in the Federal Register.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51161, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.91   Time of hearing.
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The hearing must be scheduled not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date notice of the hearing is mailed to the State.

§ 1386.92   Place.
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The hearing must be held on a date and at a time and place determined by the Assistant Secretary with due regard for convenience, and necessity of the parties or their representatives. The site of the hearing shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

[61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.93   Issues at hearing.
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(a) Prior to a hearing, the Assistant Secretary may notify the State in writing of additional issues which will be considered at the hearing. That notice must be published in the Federal Register. If that notice is mailed to the State less than 20 days before the date of the hearing, the State or any other party, at its request, must be granted a postponement of the hearing to a date 20 days after the notice was mailed, or such later date as may be agreed to by the Assistant Secretary.

(b) If any issue is resolved in whole or in part, but new or modified issues are presented, the hearing must proceed on the new or modified issues.

(c)(1) If at any time, whether prior to, during, or after the hearing, the Assistant Secretary finds that the State has come into compliance with Federal requirements on any issue in whole or in part, he or she must remove the issue from the proceedings in whole or in part as may be appropriate. If all issues are removed the Assistant Secretary must terminate the hearing.

(2) Prior to the removal of an issue, in whole or in part, from a hearing involving issues relating to the conformity with Federal requirements under Part B of the Act, of the State plan or the activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System, the Assistant Secretary must provide all parties other than the Department and the State (see §1386.94(b)) with the statement of his or her intention to remove an issue from the hearings and the reasons for that decision. A copy of the proposed State plan provision or document explaining changes in the activities of the State's protection and advocacy system on which the State and the Assistant Secretary have settled must be sent to the parties. The parties must have an opportunity to submit in writing within 15 days their views as to, or any information bearing upon, the merits of the proposed provision and the merits of the reasons for removing the issue from the hearing.

(d) In hearings involving questions of noncompliance of a State's operation of its program under Part B of the Act with the State plan or with Federal requirements or compliance of the State's Protection and Advocacy System with Federal requirements, the same procedure set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section must be followed with respect to any report or evidence resulting in a conclusion by the Assistant Secretary that a State has achieved compliance.

(e) The issues considered at the hearing must be limited to those issues of which the State is notified as provided in §1386.90 and paragraph (a) of this section, and new or modified issues described in paragraph (b) of this section, and may not include issues or parts of issues removed from the proceedings pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.94   Request to participate in hearing.
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(a) The Department, the State, the State Developmental Disabilities Council, the Designated State Agency, and the State Protection and Advocacy System, as appropriate, are parties to the hearing without making a specific request to participate.

(b)(1) Other individuals or groups may be recognized as parties if the issues to be considered at the hearing have caused them injury and their interests are relevant to the issues in the hearing.

(2) Any individual or group wishing to participate as a party must file a petition with the designated individual within 15 days after notice of the hearing has been published in the Federal Register, and must serve a copy on each party of record at that time in accordance with §1386.85(b). The petition must concisely state:

(i) Petitioner's interest in the proceeding;

(ii) Who will appear for petitioner;

(iii) The issues the petitioner wishes to address; and

(iv) Whether the petitioner intends to present witnesses.

(c) (1) Any interested person or organization wishing to participate as amicus curiae must file a petition with the designated individual before the commencement of the hearing. The petition must concisely state:

(i) The petitioner's interest in the hearing;

(ii) Who will represent the petitioner, and

(iii) The issues on which the petitioner intends to present argument.

(2) The presiding officer may grant the petition if he or she finds that the petitioner has a legitimate interest in the proceedings, that such participation will not unduly delay the outcome and may contribute materially to the proper disposition of the issues.

(3) An amicus curiae may present a brief oral statement at the hearing at the point in the proceedings specified by the presiding officer. It may submit a written statement of position to the presiding officer prior to the beginning of a hearing and must serve a copy on each party. It also may submit a brief or written statement at such time as the parties submit briefs and must serve a copy on each party.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

Hearing Procedures
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§ 1386.100   Who presides.
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(a) The presiding officer at a hearing must be the Assistant Secretary or

someone designated by the Assistant Secretary.

(b) The designation of a presiding officer must be in writing. A copy of the designation must be served on all parties and amici curiae.

§ 1386.101   Authority of presiding officer.
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(a) The presiding officer has the duty to conduct a fair hearing, avoid delay, maintain order, and make a record of the proceedings. The presiding officer has all powers necessary to accomplish these ends, including, but not limited to, the power to:

(1) Change the date, time, and place of the hearing, upon notice to the parties. This includes the power to continue the hearing in whole or in part;

(2) Hold conferences to settle or simplify the issues in a proceeding, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the proceedings;

(3) Regulate participation of parties and amici curiae and require parties and amici curiae to state their positions with respect to the issues in the proceeding;

(4) Administer oaths and affirmations,

(5) Rule on motions and other procedural items on matters pending before him or her, including issuance of protective orders or other relief to a party against whom discovery is sought;

(6) Regulate the course of the hearing and conduct of counsel therein;

(7) Examine witnesses;

(8) Receive, rule on, exclude, or limit evidence or discovery;

(9) Fix for the time for filing motions, petitions, briefs, or other items in matters pending before him or her,

(10) If the presiding officer is the Assistant Secretary, make a final decision;

(11) If the presiding officer is a person other than the Assistant Secretary, he or she shall certify the entire record, including recommended findings and proposed decision, to the Assistant Secretary;

(12) Take any action authorized by the rules in the subpart or 5 U.S.C. 551–559; and

(b) The presiding officer does not have authority to compel the production of witnesses, papers, or other evidence by subpoena.

(c) If the presiding officer is a person other than the Assistant Secretary, his or her authority is to render a recommended decision with respect to program requirements which are to be considered at the hearing. In case of any noncompliance, he or she shall recommend whether payments or allotments should be withheld with respect to the entire State plan or the activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System, or whether the payments or allotments should be withheld only with respect to those parts of the program affected by such noncompliance.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.102   Rights of parties.
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All parties may:

(a) Appear by counsel, or other authorized representative, in all hearing proceedings;

(b) Participate in any prehearing conference held by the presiding officer,

(c) Agree to stipulations of facts which will be made a part of the record;

(d) Make opening statements at the hearing;

(e) Present relevant evidence on the issues at the hearing;

(f) Present witnesses who then must be available for cross-examination by all other parties;

(g) Present oral arguments at the hearing;

(h) Submit written briefs, proposed findings of fact, and proposed conclusions of law, after the hearing.

§ 1386.103   Discovery.
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The Department and any party named in the Notice issued pursuant to §1386.90 has the right to conduct discovery (including depositions) against opposing parties as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. There is no fixed rule on priority of discovery. Upon written motion, the presiding officer must promptly rule upon any objection to discovery action. The presiding officer also has the power to grant a protective order or relief to any party against whom discovery is sought and to restrict or control discovery so as to prevent undue delay in the conduct of the hearing. Upon the failure of any party to make discovery, the presiding officer may issue any order and impose any sanction other than contempt orders authorized by Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

§ 1386.104   Evidentiary purpose.
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The hearing is directed to receiving factual evidence and expert opinion testimony related to the issues in the proceeding. Argument will not be received in evidence; rather, it must be presented in statements, memoranda, or briefs, as directed by the presiding officer. Brief opening statements, which shall be limited to a statement of the party's position and what it intends to prove, may be made at hearings.

§ 1386.105   Evidence.
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(a) Testimony. Testimony by witnesses at the hearing is given orally under oath or affirmation. Witnesses must be available at the hearing for cross-examination by all parties.

(b) Stipulations and exhibits. Two or more parties may agree to stipulations of fact. Such stipulations, or any exhibit proposed by any party, must be exchanged at the prehearing conference or at a different time prior to the hearing if the presiding officer requires it.

(c) Rules of evidence. Technical rules of evidence do not apply to hearings conducted pursuant to this subpart, but rules or principles designed to assure production of the most credible evidence available and to subject testimony to test by cross-examination are applied where reasonably necessary by the presiding officer. A witness may be cross-examined on any matter material to the proceeding without regard to the scope of his or her direct examination. The presiding officer may exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence. All documents and other evidence offered or taken for the record is open to examination by the parties and opportunity must be given to refute facts and arguments advanced on either side of the issues.

§ 1386.106   Exclusion from hearing for misconduct.
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Disrespectful, disorderly, or contumacious language or contemptuous conduct, refusal to comply with directions, or continued use of dilatory tactics by any person at the hearing before a presiding officer shall constitute grounds for immediate exclusion of such person from the hearing by the presiding officer.

§ 1386.107   Unsponsored written material.
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Letters expressing views or urging action and other unsponsored written material regarding matters in issue in a hearing is placed in the correspondence section of the docket of the proceeding. This material is not deemed part of the evidence or record in the hearing.

§ 1386.108   Official transcript.
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The Department will designate the official reporter for all hearings. The official transcript of testimony taken, together with any stipulations, exhibits, briefs, or memoranda of law filed with them is filed with the Department Transcripts of testimony in hearings may be obtained from the official reporter by the parties and the public at rates not to exceed the maximum rates fixed by the contract between the Department and the reporter. Upon notice to all parties, the presiding officer may authorize corrections to the transcript which involve matters of substance. Transcripts must be taken by stenotype machine and not be voice recording devices, unless otherwise agreed by all of the parties and the presiding officer.

§ 1386.109   Record for decision.
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The transcript of testimony, exhibits, and all papers and requests filed in the proceedings, except the correspondence section of the docket, including rulings and any recommended or initial decision, constitute the exclusive record for decision.

Posthearing Procedures, Decisions
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§ 1386.110   Posthearing briefs.
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The presiding officer must fix the time for filing posthearing briefs. This time may not exceed 30 days after termination of the hearing and receipt of the transcript. Briefs may contain proposed fundings of fact and conclusions of law. If permitted, reply briefs may be filed no later than 15 days after filing of the posthearing briefs.

§ 1386.111   Decisions following hearing.
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(a) If the Assistant Secretary is the presiding officer, he or she must issue a decision within 60 days after the time for submission of posthearing briefs has expired.

(b)(1) If the presiding officer is a person designated by the Assistant Secretary, he or she must, within 30 days after the time for submission of posthearing briefs has expired, certify the entire record to the Assistant Secretary including recommended findings and proposed decision. The Assistant Secretary must serve a copy of the recommended findings and proposed decision upon all parties and amici.

(2) Any party may, within 20 days, file exceptions to the recommended findings and proposed decision and supporting brief or statement with the Assistant Secretary.

(3) The Assistant Secretary must review the recommended decision and, within 60 days of its issuance, issue his or her own decision.

(c) If the Assistant Secretary concludes:

(1) In the case of a hearing pursuant to sections 122, 127, or 142 of the Act, that a State plan or the activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System does not comply with Federal requirements, he or she shall also specify whether the State's payment or allotment for the fiscal year will not be authorized for the State or whether, in the exercise of his or her discretion, the payment or allotment will be limited to the parts of the State plan or the activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System not affected by the noncompliance.

(2) In the case of a hearing pursuant to section 127 of the Act that the State is not complying with the requirements of the State plan, he or she must also specify whether the State's payment or allotment will not be made available to the State or whether, in the exercise of his or her discretion, the payment or allotment will be limited to the parts of the State plan not affected by such noncompliance. The Assistant Secretary may ask the parties for recommendations or briefs or may hold conferences of the parties on these questions.

(d) The decision of the Assistant Secretary under this section is the final decision of the Secretary and constitutes “final agency action” within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 704 and the “Secretary's action” within the meaning of Section 129 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6029). The Assistant Secretary's decision must be promptly served on all parties and amici.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended at 52 FR 44847, Nov. 20, 1987; 61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

§ 1386.112   Effective date of decision by the Assistant Secretary.
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(a) If, in the case of a hearing pursuant to section 122 of the Act, the Assistant Secretary concludes that a State plan does not comply with Federal requirements, and the decision provides that the payment or allotment will be authorized but limited to parts of the State plan not affected by such noncompliance, the decision must specify the effective date for the authorization of the payment or allotment.

(b) In the case of a hearing pursuant to sections 127 or 142 of the Act, if the Assistant Secretary concludes that the State is not complying with the requirements of the State plan or the activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System do not comply with Federal requirements, the decision that further payments or allotments will not be made to the State, or will be limited to the parts of the State plan or activities of the State's Protection and Advocacy System not affected, must specify the effective date for withholding payments of allotments.

(c) The effective date may not be earlier than the date of the decision of the Assistant Secretary and may not be later than the first day of the next calendar quarter.

(d) The provision of this section may not be waived pursuant to §1386.84.

[49 FR 11779, Mar. 27, 1984, as amended 61 FR 51162, Sept. 30, 1996]

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