[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 4922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1434]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Notice and Request for Comments--LSC Elimination of Hawai'i 
Migrant Service Area

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments--LSC Elimination of Hawai'i 
Migrant Service Area.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation will eliminate the Hawai'i 
migrant service area, MHI, effective April 1, 2008, because any 
eligible migrant population in Hawai'i can be more effectively and 
efficiently served through the Hawai'i basic field grant.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail, fax or e-mail to 
Karen J. Sarjeant, Vice President for Programs and Compliance, Legal 
Services Corporation, 3333 K St., NW., Washington, DC 20007; 202-295-
1645 (phone); 202-337-6386 (fax); [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen J. Sarjeant, Vice President for 
Programs and Compliance, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20007; 202-295-1645 (phone); 202-337-6386 (fax); 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Legal Services Corporation's (LSC) 
mission is to promote equal access to justice in our Nation and to 
provide for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons. 
Pursuant to its statutory authority, LSC designates service areas in 
U.S. States, territories, possessions and the District of Columbia for 
which it provides grants to legal aid programs to provide free civil 
legal services, primarily through ``basic field'' grants based on 
poverty populations. In some regions, LSC designates migrant service 
areas for grants that are designed to specifically serve the legal 
needs of eligible migrant populations. The funding for migrant service 
areas is taken out of the funding for the basic field service areas 
also covering those populations based on the estimated number of 
eligible migrants as a portion of the total poverty population.
    For many years LSC has designated a migrant service area in 
Hawai'i. LSC has been told that the eligible migrant population in 
Hawai'i is not sufficient in numbers to maintain a separate migrant 
service area. LSC has researched this matter and determined that, based 
on the available information, it would be more effective and efficient 
to serve the legal needs of the eligible migrant population in Hawai'i 
through the basic field grant rather than providing a separate migrant 
grant.
    LSC provides grants through a competitive bidding process, which is 
regulated by 45 CFR part 1634. In 2007, LSC implemented a competitive 
grants process for 2008 calendar year funding that included, inter 
alia, the Hawai'i migrant service area. LSC determines the term of 
grants after applications have been received. For 2008, LSC awarded a 
three-month grant for the Hawai'i migrant service area to the Legal Aid 
Society of Hawai'i (``LASH''), effective January 1, 2008, through March 
31, 2008. Through an earlier competitive grants process, LASH is also 
the recipient of the Hawai'i basic field grant, awarded for calendar 
years 2007 through 2009.
    LSC intends to eliminate the Hawai'i migrant service area beginning 
April 1, 2008. Funding for the eligible migrant population of Hawai'i, 
which had been deducted from the Hawai'i basic field grant, will be 
restored to that grant. LSC expects that the recipient of that grant, 
the Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i, will continue to provide services 
addressing the special needs of the eligible migrant population as part 
of its basic field grant, which will be subject to competition again 
for funding in calendar year 2010.
    LSC invites public comment on this decision. Interested parties may 
submit comments to LSC by March 3, 2008. More information about LSC can 
be found at LSC's Web site: http://www.lsc.gov.

Victor M. Fortuno,
Vice President and General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8-1434 Filed 1-25-08; 8:45 am]
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