Title 45

SECTION 707.12

707.12 Compliance procedures.

§ 707.12 Compliance procedures.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this section applies to all allegations of discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities conducted by the Agency.

(b) The Agency shall process complaints alleging violations of section 504 with respect to employment according to the procedures established in 29 U.S.C. 791 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 29 CFR part 1613 pursuant to section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791).

(d) The Agency shall accept and investigate all complete complaints for which it has jurisdiction. All complete complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination. The Agency may extend this time period for good cause.

(e) If the Agency receives a complaint over which it does not have jurisdiction, it shall promptly notify the complainant and shall make reasonable efforts to refer the complaint to the appropriate Government entity.

(f) The Agency shall notify the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board upon receipt of any complaint alleging that a building or facility that is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 4151 through 4157, is not readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

(g) Within 180 days of the receipt of a complete complaint for which it has jurisdiction, the Agency shall notify the complainant of the results of the investigation in a letter containing -

(1) Findings of fact and conclusions of law;

(2) A description of a remedy for each violation found; and

(3) A notice of the right to appeal.

(h) Appeals of the findings of fact and conclusions of law or remedies must be filed by the complainant within 90 days of receipt from the Agency of the letter required by paragraph (g) of this section. The Staff Director may extend this time for good cause.

(i) Timely appeals shall be accepted and processed by the Staff Director or the Staff Director's designee.

(j) The Agency shall notify the complainant in writing of the results of the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If the head of the Agency determines that additional information is needed from the complainant, it shall have 60 days from the date it receives the additional information to make its determination on the appeal.

(k) The time limits cited in paragraphs (d), (g), (h), and (j) of this section may be extended for an individual case when the Staff Director determines that there is good cause, based on the particular circumstances of that case, for the extension.

(l) The Agency may delegate its authority for conducting complaint investigations to other Federal agencies; however, the authority for making the final determination may not be delegated to another Agency.