[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16610-16611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6980]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Instructions

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of disaster relief emergency grant 
instructions.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has been able, on 
occasion, to obtain special funding to meet the emergency needs of 
programs in a disaster area. This notice sets forth instructions for 
current LSC grant recipients who have experienced needs due to a 
disaster in a federally-declared disaster area to apply for disaster 
relief funding, when such funds are available. This information is also 
posted to the LSC Web site at www.lsc.gov.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These instructions are effective as of April 29, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Heron, Program Analyst III,

[[Page 16611]]

Office of Compliance and Enforcement, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 
K St., NW., Washington, DC, 20007, (202) 295-1520 (phone); (202) 337-
1254 (fax); [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Instructions for Applying for Disaster Relief

Eligibility

    The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has been able, on occasion, to 
obtain special funding to meet the emergency needs of programs in a 
disaster area. When funding is available, only current LSC recipients 
in a federally-declared disaster area are eligible to apply for such 
emergency funds.

Disaster Relief Grant Application Instructions

    To obtain emergency funding from the LSC, a recipient shall submit 
an application in writing to the President, Legal Services Corporation. 
The application must be signed by the executive director and the chair 
of the board of directors of the recipient. Nevertheless, if an 
emergency is such as to preclude the submission of a written 
application (such as when the office building has been destroyed as a 
result of the disaster or there is no electricity in the office) the 
recipient may make a verbal application for initial processing, by 
telephoning the Disaster Relief Desk (DRD), Kimberly Heron at (202) 
295-1521. An initial verbal request must be followed by a written 
request as soon as possible.
    The following information must be included in the application:
(1) Resources, Need and Objectives
    (a) The recipient's name and number;
    (b) A description of the damage sustained by recipient and the 
surge in demand for services as a result of the disaster;
    (c) An estimate, in dollars, of lost property, including records, 
and equipment;
    (d) The amount of emergency funds requested;
    (e) A brief narrative stating the purpose of the requested funds;
    (f) The recipient's current annual budget of revenue and expenses 
(LSC and non-LSC);
    (g) The recipient's fiscal year.
(2) Operational Procedures
    Describe the operational procedures for the disaster relief 
project(s) including the following items where applicable:
    (a) The anticipated length of time to restore operations from 
emergency status to normal;
    (b) The anticipated term of the emergency grant (i.e., proposed 
beginning and termination dates), not to exceed twelve months;
    (c) A description of the project, including criteria to be used for 
determining successful completion;
(3) Grant Assurances
    (a) An assurance that recipient will comply with all of the grant 
assurances applicable to its basic field grant (which are herein 
incorporated by reference) in the expenditure of the emergency funds; 
and
    (e) An assurance that the recipient will follow the special LSC 
accounting and reporting requirements for the emergency funds (i.e., 
separate reporting by natural line item in the annual audit, separate 
case reporting in the CSR report, and if requested, periodic progress 
reports to the LSC) specified below.
(4) Budget
    Provide a detailed budget of expenses for the emergency need, 
including the following information:
    (a) The amount of emergency funds requested from LSC;
    (b) Projected funding from other (non-LSC) sources, including 
insurance proceeds;
    (c) Any in-kind contributions;
    (d) Expenses by natural line item; and
    (e) Any anticipated purchases in excess of $10,000.

Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Approval Criteria

    Given the nature of emergency situations arising from natural 
disasters, requests for assistance will be processed on a priority 
basis. The primary emphasis will be on restoring, as quickly as 
possible, the program's capacity to serve eligible clients.

Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Extensions

    To obtain approval for an extension of the grant term, a recipient 
must submit a request in writing no later than 60 days prior to the 
termination date of the grant. LSC shall respond to such request no 
later than 30 days prior to the termination date of the grant.

Disaster Relief Emergency Grant Accounting and Reporting

Accounting for the Grant
    The grant must be separately reported by natural line item in 
recipient's annual audit(s). This reporting may be done either on the 
face of the financial statements, or in a schedule attached to the 
financial statements. Any fund balance remaining at the end of the 
grant period shall be refunded to the LSC at submission of the audit 
report.
Case Service Reporting
    In times of crisis, the immediate needs of victims supersede the 
need to adhere to the recipient's established priorities and recipients 
confronted by natural disasters generally dispense with the stated 
priorities to respond to the most pressing needs of their clients. 
Depending on the extent of the disaster and the impact it has on the 
recipient's case activities, the recipient may find that it has 
processed a substantial number of cases outside its normal priorities 
and the case reporting would reflect this. To avoid a distorted picture 
when disaster cases are reported in the regular CSRs, LSC requires that 
there be separate case reporting for disaster related cases for which 
emergency funding was provided.
Periodic Progress Reports
    If requested, the recipient shall make periodic reports to LSC on 
the progress being made by the recipient in the completion of the 
disaster relief project(s).

Victor M. Fortuno,
General Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-6980 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P