NCJ Number
67999
Date Published
1980
Length
104 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DISCUSSES WHAT FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE DONE TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE TITLE VI OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND HOW THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS AIDED THESE EFFORTS.
Abstract
TITLE VI PROVIDES THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN UNDER ANY FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. RESPONDING TO A CONGRESSIONAL REQUEST, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REVIEWED FEDERAL AGENCIES' COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO OVER 300 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS AND AGENCIES. RESPONDENTS WERE SURVEYED ABOUT TYPES OF ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES, THEIR ADMINISTRATION, AND RELEVANCE TO TITLE VI. A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED HOW THEY PERCEIVED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER TITLE VI AND WHAT METHODS WERE USED TO TEST COMPLIANCE. FOSTER CHILD CARE AND HEALTH PLANNING PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE (DHEW) UNDER TITLE VI COVERAGE WERE ALSO REVIEWED. RESPONSES INDICATED THAT MANY AGENCIES' PERSONNEL WERE NOT CERTAIN WHICH PROGRAMS WERE SUBJECT TO TITLE VI, AND THAT SOME BELIEVED EXEMPT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GUARANTEED OR INSURED LOANS WERE COVERED BY THE LAW. TO RESOLVE THESE UNCERTAINTIES, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CLARIFY RULES SPECIFYING WHICH PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO TITLE VI AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AGENCIES IN DETERMINING APPLICABILITY. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ALSO IMPROVE ITS COORDINATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ASSESS ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND STRENGTHEN ITS MONITORING PROGRAMS. IN THE DHEW PROGRAMS REVIEWED BY GAO, THE AGENCY DID NOT KNOW AND GAO COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THEY WERE ADMINISTERED FAIRLY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DHEW TO CORRECT THE SITUATION ARE PROVIDED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LIST OF PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO TITLE VI, THE GAO QUESTIONNAIRE, DETAILED DATA FROM QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES, AND GAO CORRESPONDENCE.