[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41965-41966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20417]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
45 CFR Part 1633


Restriction on Representation in Certain Eviction Proceedings

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim rule revises the Legal Services Corporation's 
(``LSC'' or ``Corporation'') regulation that prohibits recipients from 
using LSC funds to provide representation in public housing eviction 
proceedings of persons engaged in certain illegal drug activity. The 
revisions are intended to extend the prohibition to a recipient's non-
LSC funds. Although this rule is effective upon publication, the 
Corporation also solicits public comment in anticipation of adoption of 
a final rule at a later time.

DATES: This interim rule is effective on August 13, 1996. Comments must 
be submitted on or before September 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to the Office of the General 
Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 750 First Street, NE, 11th Floor, 
Washington, DC 20002-4250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor M. Fortuno, General Counsel, at 
(202) 336-8910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Legal Services Corporation's (``LSC'' or 
``Corporation'') regulation, 45 CFR Part 1633, which is revised by this 
interim rule, prohibited involvement by

[[Page 41966]]

recipients in certain eviction proceedings but only applied when the 
prohibited activity was supported with LSC funds. Section 504(a)(17) of 
the Corporation's Fiscal Year 1996 appropriations act, Public Law 104-
134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996), extends the prohibition to a recipient's 
non-LSC funds. Accordingly, the purpose and prohibition sections of the 
prior rule have been revised in this interim rule to implement the new 
statutory restriction. However, the entire rule is reprinted as 
revised. For discussion of those provisions of the rule that have not 
been revised, see 60 FR 48950 (September 21, 1995).
    On May 19, 1996, the Operations and Regulations Committee 
(``Committee'') of the LSC Board of Directors (``Board'') requested LSC 
staff to prepare an interim rule to implement the new restriction. The 
Committee held hearings on staff proposals on July 9 and 19, and the 
Board adopted this interim rule on July 20 for publication in the 
Federal Register. The Committee recommended and the Board agreed to 
publish this rule as an interim rule. An interim rule is necessary in 
order to provide prompt and critically necessary guidance to LSC 
recipients on legislation which is already effective and which carries 
strong penalties for noncompliance. Because of the great need for 
guidance on how to comply with substantially revised legislative 
requirements, prior notice and public comment are impracticable, 
unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. See 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3). Accordingly, this rule is effective upon 
publication.
    However, the Corporation also solicits public comment on the rule 
for review and consideration by the Committee and Board. The Committee 
intends to hold public hearings to discuss written comments received by 
the Corporation and to hear oral comments. It is anticipated that a 
final rule will be issued which will supersede this interim rule.
    After the LSC Board initially adopted part 1633, the United States 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (``HUD'') announced, in 
March 1996, its ``One Strike and You're Out'' policy for public 
housing. Several elements of that policy affect drug-related evictions 
from public housing and bear consideration by recipients. One element 
of the policy requires public housing authorities (PHAs) to include in 
each tenant's lease provisions holding the leaseholder responsible for 
the actions of all members of the household and guests. Another 
authorizes eviction for all drug-related activity whether on or off 
premises. Section 504 (a)(17) of Public Law 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, 
the Corporation's FY 1996 appropriations act, expressly prohibits 
representation by LSC recipients in any eviction proceeding on behalf 
of a person charged with the illegal sale or distribution of a 
controlled substance, and then only if the illegal drug activity 
threatens the health or safety of another tenant or employee of the 
public housing agency. This interim rule generally adheres to the 
specific provisions of the appropriations act, but LSC particularly 
solicits comments on the proper role for recipients in light of the 
somewhat differing policy position of HUD.
    In general, the revisions to part 1633 implement section 504(a)(17) 
of the Corporation's appropriations act which prohibits the Corporation 
from providing funds to recipients that defend, in public housing 
eviction proceedings, persons who have been charged with the illegal 
sale or distribution of a controlled substance, regardless of the 
source of the funds used to pay for the representation. Accordingly, 
revisions have been made to the rule's ``purpose'' and ``prohibition'' 
sections. The entire rule is reprinted as revised.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR part 1633

    Grant programs-law, Legal services.
    For reasons set forth in the preamble, 45 CFR part 1633 is revised 
to read as follows:

PART 1633--RESTRICTION ON REPRESENTATION IN CERTAIN EVICTION 
PROCEEDINGS

Sec.
1633.1  Purpose.
1633.2  Definitions.
1633.3  Prohibition.
1633.4  Recipient policies, procedures and recordkeeping.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C.Secs. 2996e(a), 2996e(b)(1)(A), 
2996f(a)(2)(C), 2996f(a)(3), 2996g(e); 110 Stat. 1321 (1996).


Sec. 1633.1  Purpose.

    This part is designed to ensure that in certain public housing 
eviction proceedings recipients refrain from defending persons charged 
with or convicted of illegal drug activities.


Sec. 1633.2  Definitions.

    (a) Controlled substance has the meaning given that term in 
Sec. 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802);
    (b) Public housing project and public housing agency have the 
meanings given those terms in Sec. 3 of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a);
    (c) A person has been charged with engaging in illegal drug 
activities if a criminal proceeding has been instituted against such 
person by a governmental entity with authority to initiate such 
proceeding and such proceeding is pending.


Sec. 1633.3  Prohibition.

    Recipients are prohibited from defending any person in a proceeding 
to evict that person from a public housing project if:
    (a) The person has been charged with or, within one year prior to 
the date when services are requested from a recipient, has been 
convicted of the illegal sale or distribution of a controlled 
substance; and
    (b) The eviction proceeding is brought by a public housing agency 
on the basis that the illegal drug activity for which the person has 
been charged or for which the person has been convicted did or does now 
threaten the health or safety of other tenants residing in the public 
housing project or employees of the public housing agency.


Sec. 1633.4  Recipient policies, procedures and recordkeeping.

    Each recipient shall adopt written policies and procedures to guide 
its staff in complying with this part and shall maintain records 
sufficient to document the recipient's compliance with this part.

    Dated: August 6, 1996.
Victor M. Fortuno,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 96-20417 Filed 8-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P