[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 44523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19189]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of Administration

[Docket No.: 020125021-3179-02]


Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients on the Title 
VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited 
English Proficient Persons

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) publishes this notice to 
announce the adoption of its policy guidance entitled Guidance to 
Federal Financial Assistance Recipients on Title VI Prohibition Against 
National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient 
Persons.

DATES: Commerce adopts the guidance as of March 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: For a copy of the policy guidance, please mail requests to 
Theresa C. Counce, Office of Civil Rights, Room 6003, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. 
Requests may also be submitted by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa C. Counce, Office of Civil 
Rights, telephone: 202-482-8187, TDD: 202-482-2030. Arrangements to 
receive the policy in an alternate format may be made by contacting the 
named individual.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 24, 2003, Commerce published and 
requested comments on a policy guidance notice entitled Guidance to 
Federal Financial Assistance Recipients of the Title VI Prohibition 
Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English 
Proficient Persons (68 FR 14180, March 24, 2003). Limited English 
proficient (LEP) persons are those having limited ability to read, 
write, speak, or understand English. Executive Order (EO) 13166 (August 
16, 2000) directs each Federal agency that extends assistance subject 
to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as 
amended, publish such guidance. The Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) issued a report on March 14, 2002 recommending that Federal 
agencies issue uniform guidance for recipients, and the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) published model guidance 67 FR 41455 (June 18, 2002) for 
agencies to follow when developing agency-specific guidance. Commerce's 
guidance, published on March 24, 2003, adheres to DOJ's model guidance.
    Commerce received only one comment in response to the March 24, 
2003 notice. The organization ProEnglish, of Arlington, VA submitted 7 
pages in opposition to the guidance and EO 13166. Commerce acknowledges 
ProEnglish's opposition to the Executive Order and to Commerce's 
guidance, however Commerce has been directed by the Executive Order to 
develop and publish its guidance. As such, the guidance published on 
March 24, 2003.
    By this notice, Commerce is adopting the proposed system as final 
without changes on July 29, 2003.
    Although the March 24, 2003 notice indicated that the guidance was 
effective on March 24, 2003, Commerce clarifies that the March 24, 2003 
date was the date when Commerce would begin accepting comments. There 
is no effective date of this guidance, as it is policy guidance.

    Dated: July 23, 2003.
Suzan J. Aramaki,
Director, Office of Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 03-19189 Filed 7-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-BP-P