Closed Matters for Comment
LSC seeks public comments on a variety of proposals affecting LSC grants and operations. The public can submit comments to LSC regarding any Open Comment Period items. This page contains materials for which the comment period has closed. For earlier matters, please contact LSC.
The Rulemaking section of Laws, Regulations & Guidance contains information about open and closed LSC rulemakings (changes to the LSC Regulations).
Request for Comment on Draft Performance Area 4
Comments were accepted until June 5, 2017. (Extended deadline.)
LSC is in the process of revising the Performance Criteria that LSC uses to evaluate the quality of legal assistance provided by its grantees. LSC is seeking comments on the proposed changes to Performance Area 4, "Effectiveness of governance, leadership, and administration." Additional information and opportunity to comment on the revisions to Performance Criteria 1-3 will be provided in future Federal Register notices.
- Federal Register Extension published on June 1, 2017.
- Federal Register Notice published on April 5, 2017.
- Submit comments to PerformanceCriteria@lsc.gov by May 29, 2017.
- See below for charts of proposed changes to each criterion:
Comments
- Colorado Legal Services
- Community Legal Aid
- Florida Bar Foundation, Legal Foundation of Washington, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, Michigan State Bar Foundation, Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid
- Iowa Legal Aid
- Management Information Exchange
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association
- Northwest Justice Project
- Office of the Inspector General, Legal Services Corporation
- Proposed Criterion 1: Board Governance
- Proposed Criterion 2: Leadership
- Proposed Criterion 3: Technology and Infrastructure
- Proposed Criterion 4: Financial Administration
- Proposed Criterion 5: Human Resources Administration
- Proposed Criterion 6: Overall Management and Administration
- Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation and Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
- Steven R. Guess
Proposed 2018 Grant Terms and Conditions
- Final 2018 Grant Terms and Conditions
- Summary of Public Comments and LSC's Resolution of the Issues Raised in the Comments
- Public Comments
- Proposed 2018 Grant Terms and Conditions (April 3, 2017)
Beginning with grant year 2018, LSC is revising its process for developing the Grant Assurances for the Basic Field Grant program. The Grant Assurances will be renamed the Grant Terms and Conditions and will become a part of the Request for Proposals to better notify Basic Field Grant applicants about the legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements of the grants. The Grant Terms and Conditions delineate LSC and recipients’ rights and responsibilities under the grant. For grant year 2018,
For grant year 2018, LSC has not made substantive changes to the grant year 2017 Grant Assurances/Terms and Conditions. LSC proposes adding several terms, however, including:
- Expanded explanations of the statutory restrictions on the use of LSC and non-LSC funds;
- Expanded explanations on the organizational governance and programmatic requirements that recipients of Basic Field Grant funds must follow;
- Explanation of governing law, venue, and mandatory mediation requirements;
- Prohibition on assigning a Basic Field Grant award to another organization;
- Explanation of intellectual property rights in products developed by a grantee using Basic Field Grant funds;
- Explanation of the grantor-grantee relationship between LSC and a successful applicant for funding;
- Standard integration, severability, and indemnification clauses; and
- Expanded explanation of enforcement procedures.
LSC published an April 6 Federal Register notice regarding the 2018 Terms and Conditions and submission of comments:
- to inform recipients and other stakeholders of the change; and
- to allow interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the Terms and Conditions.
LSC received comments and made revisions, as discussed in the links above.
Questions
Please direct any questions to Rebecca D. Weir, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, rweir@lsc.gov.
Comments
- ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants
- Colorado Legal Services
- Iowa Legal Aid
- Legal Aid of Western Missouri
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
- National Legal Aid and Defender Association
- Northwest Justice Project
- Wisconsin Judicare
Draft Financial-Screening Program Letter
LSC published for comment a draft program letter discussing minimum requirements for LSC recipients when collecting financial-eligibility information from applicants through automated intake systems, and when such systems can make financial-eligibility determinations.
- Final Program Letter 16-6: Final Guidelines for Automated Financial-Eligibility Screening
- Federal Register Notice | LSC: Final Guidelines for Automated Financial-Eligibility Screening
- Draft Program Letter for Public Comment—Automated Systems for Financial-Eligibility Information Collection and Screening
- 2012 Draft Program Letter Regarding Financial Screening and Public Comments Submitted to LSC
Comments on the 2016 Draft
- National Legal Aid and Defender Association
- Legal Aid of Nebraska
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
Proposed 2017 Grant Assurances
LSC sought public comments on the Proposed Grant Assurances for calendar-year 2017 Basic Field Grants.
- Proposed 2017 Grant Assurances in redline format, highlighting proposed revisions from the 2016 Grant Assurances
- Federal Register (April 5, 2016) | Notice of Proposed Revisions for the LSC Grant Assurances for Calendar Year 2017 Basic Field Grants, with instructions for submitting comments and additional information.
- Federal Register (May 9, 2016) | Extension of Comment Period through May 16, 2016, for Proposed Revisions to the LSC Grant Assurances for Calendar Year 2017 Basic Field Grants
Public Comments on Proposed 2017 Grant Assurances
Comments received from LSC recipients:
- Comments of Indiana Legal Services
- Comments of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
- Comments of North Penn Legal Services
- Comments of Iowa Legal Aid
- Comments of Prairie State Legal Services
Comments received from non-LSC recipients:
- Comments of the California Project Directors Association
- Comments of the Interest on Lawyer Account Fund of the State of New York
- Comments of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois
- Comments of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
- Comments of the Legal Foundation of Washington
- Comments of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation
- Comments of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association
- Comments of the State Bar of California
Agricultural-Worker Population Estimate Update for Basic Field—Migrant Grants; Michigan Estimates
For 2017 grants, LSC considered and adopted new estimates of the LSC-eligible agricultural worker population for distribution of basic field grants between general population grants and agricultural worker grants (migrant grants). Materials and comments are posted on the Agricultural Worker Population Estimate page.
Assessing the Goals in the Strategic Plan 2012-2016
- LSC 2012–2015 Strategic Plan
- Notice and request for comments with instructions for submission of comments.
Public Comments on Assessing the Goals in the Strategic Plan 2012 - 2016:
- Comments of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants (February 26, 2016)
- Comments of the California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (February 29, 2016)
- Comments of the National Center For Lesbian Rights (February 29, 2016)
- Comments of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association
- Ohio Legal Assistance foundation, Inc. (February 26, 2016)
Proposed 2016 Grant Assurances
On April 17, 2015, LSC posted for comment Proposed 2016 Grant Assurances in redline format, highlighting proposed revisions from the 2015 Grant Assurances, and a Federal Register notice with instructions for submitting comments.
Public Comments on Proposed 2016 Grant Assurances
- Comments of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (May 18, 2015)
- Comments of the Northwest Justice Project (May 18, 2015)
LSC Responses and Revisions
- LSC Memo to the LSC Board Regarding 2016 Grant Assurances (July 7, 2015)
- LSC Grant Assurances Statement of Purpose (2007)
- Summary of Changes for the 2016 Grant Assurances
- Revised 2016 Grant Assurances (redline) (July 7, 2015)
- Revised 2016 Grant Assurances (no redline) (July 7, 2015)
Agricultural-Worker Population Estimate Update for Basic Field—Migrant Grants
- LSC is considering implementation of new data estimating the agricultural worker population for Migrant Grants.
- Materials and comments are posted on the Agricultural Worker Population Estimate page.
Proposed 2015 Grant Assurances
- LSC posted Proposed 2015 Grant Assurances in redline format, highlighting revisions from the 2014 Grant Assurances, and a Federal Register notice with instructions for submitting comments.
Public Comments on Proposed LSC 2015 Grant Assurances
- Comments of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association on Grant Assurance #15
- Comments of Colorado Legal Services on Grant Assurance #15
- Comments of Iowa Legal Aid on Grant Assurance #15
- Comments of Northwest Justice Project on Grant Assurance #15
- Comments of Washington State Bar Association on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of Legal Services of North Florida on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of Northwest Justice Project on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of Legal Services of New Jersey on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of the American Bar Association on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
- Comments of Legal Aid of Western Missouri on Grant Assurance #10 and #11
LSC Strategic Plan 2012-2016
- Updated Draft LSC Strategic Plan 2012-2016 (August 2012 Draft)
- Federal Register Notice - LSC Strategic Plan 2012-2016 Request for Comment
- Draft LSC Strategic Plan 2012-2016 for Public Comment (June 2012 Draft)
- Summary of Public Comments to the Draft Strategic Plan
Public Comments on Draft LSC Strategic Plan 2012-2016
- Comments of Iowa Legal Aid (July 9, 2012)
- Comments of American Bar Foundation (July 9, 2012)
- Comments of Midwest Project Directors (July 9, 2012)
- Comments of Richard Zorza (July 10, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Aid of Western Missouri (July 10, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (July 10, 2012)
- Comments of Standing Committee on Legal Aid & Indigent Defendants (July 10, 2012)
- Comments of Jim Greiner (July 10, 2012)
- Comments of Coalition of Connecticut Programs (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Wayne Moore (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Services Association of Michigan (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Doug German (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Gerry Singsen (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Alan Ells (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of National Legal Aid and Defender Association (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Services New York City (July 11, 2012)
- Comments of Michigan State Bar Foundation (July 12, 2012)
- Comments of LSC's Office of Inspector General (July 12, 2012)
- Comments of Washington State Legal Aid Funders (July 17, 2012)
- Comments of Management Information Exchange (July 20, 2012)
- Supplemental Comments of Wayne Moore (July 23, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Action of Wisconsin (July 26, 2012)
LSC Strategic Planning 2011-2015 - Request for Comments
Public Comments on LSC Strategic Planning 2011-2015
- Comments of N-LAAN
- Comments of NLADA
- Comments of SCLAID
- Comments of OSLSA
- Comments of NAIP
- Comments of 39 Legal Services Community Leaders
- Comments of D. White, Executive Director, LAFMC
- Comments of The Bronx Defenders
Draft Financial-Screening Program Letter
Public Comments on Draft Financial-Screening Program Letter
- Comments of Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.(April 19, 2012)
- Comments of Minnesota Legal Services Coalition (April 19, 2012)
- Comments of Iowa Legal Aid (April 19, 2012)
- Comments of Illinois LSC - funded programs (April 24, 2012)
- Comments of Colorado Legal Services ( April 25, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Services of Northern Michigan Inc. (April 25, 2012)
- Comments of National Legal Aid & Defender Association (April 25, 2012)
- Comments of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (April 26, 2012)
Fiscal Oversight Task Force Report to LSC’s Board of Directors
Fiscal Oversight Task Force Report to LSC’s Board of Directors (July 28, 2011)
Summary of Comments and Response
- Summary of Public Comments on the Fiscal Oversight Task Force (October 6, 2011)
- Summary of FOTF Members’ Reactions to Public Comments on the FOTF Report (November 14, 2011)
Notice for Comments on the Report and Comments Submitted
- Federal Register Notice for Comments (August 31, 2011)
- Comments of Janet LaBella (October 5, 2011)
- Comments of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (October 5, 2011)
- Comments of the IFPTE Local 135 (October 4, 2011)
- Comments of the American Bar Association (September 30, 2011)
- Comments of Charles Crittenden (September 30, 2011)
- Comments of Chuck Greenfield (September 29, 2011)
- Comments of Bertrand Thomas (September 28, 2011)
- Comments of Mary Higgins (September 27, 2011)
- Comments of John Meyer (September 26, 2011)
Poverty Data and LSC Funding Distribution
- LSC Board Resolution Recommending Changes to FY 2013 Appropriation
- LSC Management Summary of Comments and Final Recommendation (September 14, 2011)
- LSC Management Recommendation on Funding Reallocation Issues (July 13, 2011)
- NLADA Recommendations Regarding Legislative Implementation of Census Changes (July 12, 2011)
- Federal Register Notice for Comments (August 9, 2011)
Comments
- Comments of the National Association of IOLTA Programs (September 9, 2011)
- Comments of the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission (September 8, 2011)
- Comments of the State Bar of Arizona and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education (September 8, 2011)
- Comments of Puerto Rico Legal Services (September 8, 2011)
- Comments of South Carolina Legal Services (September 7, 2011)
- Comments of New York LSC Recipients (September 7, 2011)
- Comments of Legal Services of South Central Michigan (September 7, 2011)
- Comments of Colorado Legal Services (September 7, 2011)
- Comments of Louisiana LSC Recipients (September 6, 2011)
- Comments of Asian American Justice Center (September 6, 2011)
- Comments of Georgia Legal Services Program (September 6, 2011)
- Comments of Atlanta Legal Aid (September 6, 2011)
- Comments of Anishinabe Legal Services (September 2, 2011)
- Comments of Terry Adams (September 1, 2011)
- Comments of Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society (August 17, 2011)
- Comments of Micronesian Legal Services Corporation (August 16, 2011)
- Comments of Anonymous (August 10, 2011)
- Comments of Beatrice Sonnier (August 10, 2011)