[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32220-32221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15326]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Arbitration Panel Decision Under the Randolph-Sheppard Act
AGENCY: Department of Education
ACTION: Notice of arbitration panel decision under the Randolph-
Sheppard Act
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that on July 31, 1998, an arbitration
panel rendered a decision in the matter of Brent Davidson v. Texas
Commission for the Blind (Docket No. R-S/97-15). This panel was
convened by the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to 20 U.S.C.
107d-1(a), upon receipt of a complaint filed by petitioner, Brent
Davidson.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A copy of the full text of the arbitration
panel decision may be obtained from George F. Arsnow, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3230, Mary E. Switzer
Building, Washington DC 20202-2738. Telephone: (202) 205-9317.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-8298.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
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area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal
[[Page 32221]]
Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the
Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on
GPO Access at:
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20
U.S.C. 107d-2(c)), the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a
synopsis of each arbitration panel decision affecting the
administration of vending facilities on Federal and other property.
Background
This dispute concerns the alleged improper suspension by the Texas
Commission for the Blind, the State licensing agency (SLA), of Brent
Davidson's vendor's license for 90 days. A summary of the facts is as
follows: Complainant Brent Davidson signed an agreement to operate a
vending facility located at the Texas Department of Transportation
(TDOT) on October 17, 1996. The facility opened for business on October
21, 1996. Problems arose from almost the moment the facility opened.
Those problems were: (1) Sales at this facility were only half the
anticipated level on the first day and never improved. (2) The TDOT
never enforced a coffee agreement and, therefore, complainant's
facility never benefitted from the anticipated coffee revenue. (3) The
complainant and the SLA disagreed about pricing, equipment, the type of
food offered, the number of employees, complainant's attendance, and
the hours of operation.
The SLA alleged that Mr. Davidson did not comply with the
operator's agreement he signed on October 17, 1996, and the Business
Enterprise Program Manual. The SLA alleged further that complainant
continued to operate the vending facility in non-compliance with the
operator's agreement, the manual, and the State rules and regulations
governing the Texas vending facility program. In January 1997, the SLA
placed Mr. Davidson on probation for a period of 90 days for violation
of the operator's agreement and the manual.
Mr. Davidson requested and received a State evidentiary fair
hearing on May 20, 1997. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in her
decision dated May 27, 1997, affirmed the SLA's decision to place Mr.
Davidson's license on probationary status for 90 days. The SLA adopted
the ALJ's decision as final agency action, and it is this decision that
Mr. Davidson sought to have reviewed by a Federal arbitration panel. A
Federal arbitration hearing of this matter was held on April 3, 1998.
Arbitration Panel Decision
The issue before the arbitration panel was whether the Texas
Commission for the Blind acted properly and within the scope of its
authority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and implementing regulations
in placing Brent Davidson on probation for a period of 90 days.
Because of the illness and non-attendance at the hearing of the
panel member appointed by Mr. Davidson, the parties stipulated that the
decision and award would be made solely by the neutral Panel Chair.
The Panel Chair concluded that the evidence presented fully
supported the decision of the SLA to place Mr. Davidson on probation
for 90 days. Specifically, the Panel Chair noted a letter dated January
29, 1997, sent to complainant by the director of the Texas Business
Enterprise Program placing Mr. Davidson on probation for 90 days and
outlining the areas of non-compliance with the operator's agreement,
the manual, and the State rules and regulations. The Panel Chair
further noted from the record complainant's acknowledgment of his
actions as well as his receipt of the January 29th letter from the SLA
and the fact that Mr. Davidson made no attempt to take corrective
action.
The Panel Chair ruled that the SLA's decision to place
complainant's license on a 90-day probationary status was the most
lenient of any alternative available to the SLA. If Mr. Davidson had
chosen to comply, the decision provided ample opportunity for
complainant to correct by agreement the matters concerning non-
compliance of which the SLA complained.
The views and opinions expressed by the panel do not necessarily
represent the views and opinions of the U.S. Department of Education.
Dated: June 10, 1999.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 99-15326 Filed 6-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P