[Federal Register: March 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 61)]
[Notices]
[Page 16610-16611]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30mr04-120]
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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 http://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); heronk@lsc.gov.
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