GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1274

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Sponsors: Senators Jordan; Gulley and Martin of Guildford.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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May 17, 2000

A JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY THE STATE'S COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE VI OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, AS CODIFIED IN 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, AND ITS IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.
Whereas, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and its implementing regulations prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally assisted programs; and
Whereas, Title VI applies to discrimination by federal agencies and recipients of federal financial assistance; and
Whereas, State agencies receiving federal financial assistance are required to ensure their compliance with Title VI and that of their subrecipients; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina receives federal financial assistance for various programs and activities; and
Whereas, there is some question as to whether the State is in compliance with Title VI; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is authorized to study the State's compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, and its implementing regulations.  Title VI provides that "[n]o person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."In conducting this study, the Commission should:
(1)	Identify the State programs and activities that are covered by Title VI and its implementing regulations and the amount of federal financial assistance received for Title VI programs and activities within the past five years.
(2)	Determine State employees' familiarity with the requirements of Title VI and its implementing regulations and the steps taken by State agencies to ensure Title VI compliance.
(3)	Determine what actions State agencies have taken to educate the public about Title VI.
(4)	Examine the systems State agencies use to collect and analyze statistical data (race, color, and national origin) on both participants in and beneficiaries of programs and activities covered by Title VI.
(5)	Identify the number of Title VI complaints filed by citizens of this State with State or federal agencies within the past five years and the manner in which the complaints were resolved.
(6)	Determine what, if any, actions State agencies should take to improve compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulations.
(7)	Consider what, if any, assistance should be sought from the federal government to ensure State agencies' compliance with Title VI and its implementing regulations, including both helping agencies identify covered programs and activities and increasing the public's awareness of Title VI.
(8)	Consider the need to create an agency or authorize an existing State agency to monitor State agencies' compliance with Title VI and to take remedial action when deficiencies are found.
(9)	Consider other alternatives that may be used to monitor and improve the State's compliance with Title VI.
(10)	Determine what actions other states are taking to ensure Title VI compliance.
(11)	Consider any other matter the Commission deems appropriate in accomplishing the objectives of the study.
Section 2. The Commission may call upon all State agencies to cooperate with it in the study.
Section 3. The Commission shall make an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the 2001 General Assembly and a final report to the 2002 Regular Session of the 2001 Session of the General Assembly.
Section 4. This resolution is effective upon ratification.