COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

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COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

• COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES
• BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

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CSBG OVERVIEWCOMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES

• COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES WERE CREATED UNDER THE
  ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1964.
• THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT WAS CREATED IN
  1981 AND IT MAINTAINED FUNDING TO COMMUNITY
  ACTION AGENCIES.
• TRIPARTITE BOARDS EXIST IN COMMUNITY ACTION
  AGENCIES BECAUSE IT IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT OF
  CSBG.

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TRIPARTITE BOARD

• THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY IS FOUND IN PUBLIC LAW
  105-285, SECTION 676B.
• THE CSBG PROGRAM MUST BE ADMINISTERED THROUGH A
  TRIPARTITE BOARD.
• THE BOARD MUST FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE
  DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND
  EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMS.
• THE MEMBERS MUST BE SELECTED BY THE AGENCY.

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BOARD COMPOSITIONPUBLIC OFFICIALS

• ONE-THIRD OF THE MEMBERS ARE ELECTED PUBLIC
  OFFICIALS, HOLDING OFFICE ON THE DATE OF
  SELECTION, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
• IF THE NUMBER OF ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS
  AVAILABLE TO SERVE IS LESS THAN ONE-THIRD,
  APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS OR THEIR
  REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE COUNTED AS MEETING THE
  REQUIREMENT.

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LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

• NOT LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE MEMBERSHIP
• MUST BE CHOSEN BY A DEMOCRATIC SELECTION PROCESS
• MUST BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND
  FAMILIES SERVED
• IF A MEMBER IS SELECTED TO REPRESENT A SPECIFIC
  NEIGHBORHOOD THE MEMBER MUST LIVE IN THE
  NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTED

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PRIVATE SECTOR

• MUST BE MEMBERS OR OFFICIALS OF
• BUSINESS
• INDUSTRY
• LABOR
• RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION
• LAW ENFORCEMENT
• EDUCATION
• OR OTHER MAJOR GROUPS AND INTERESTS IN THE AREA
  SERVED

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DOS EXPECTATIONS

• FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW AS IT RELATES TO
  COMPOSITION, SELECTION AND FUNCTION OF THE BOARD.
• THERE MUST BE WRITTEN DOCUMENTS TO ASSURE
• PUBLIC OFFICIALS WERE IN OFFICE ON THE DATE OF
  SELECTION.
• CLARIFICATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT IS
  HELD BY THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR BY A
  REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OFFICIAL.
• EACH REPRESENTATIVE MUST HAVE ON FILE, A CURRENT
  LETTER FROM THE APPOINTING PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

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DOS EXPECTATIONS CONTINUED

• THE BYLAWS MUST CLEARLY STATE THE DEMOCRATIC
  PROCESS TO BE USED TO SELECT LOW-INCOME
  REPRESENTATIVES.
• THERE SHOULD BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION
  FROM THE AREAS SERVED BY THE AGENCY.
• PROVISIONS MUST BE MADE TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT
  WOULD PREVENT THE FULL INVOLVEMENT OF LOW-INCOME
  PERSONS SERVING ON THE BOARD.

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DOS EXPECTATIONS CONTINUED

• THE PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE
  MEMBERS OR OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OR
  GROUPS SELECTED BY THE BOARD.
• THERE MUST BE DOCUMENTATION ON FILE TO ASSURE THE
  FULL KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT OF THE GROUPS OR
  ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD.
• WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS ASKED BY THE BOARD TO
  REPRESENT A MAJOR INTEREST OR GROUP, THERE MUST
  BE DOCUMENTATION TO JUSTIFY THE REQUEST.

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DOS EXPECTATIONS CONTINUED

• BOARD MEMBERS MUST BE FULLY INFORMED AS TO THEIR
  ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
• THERE SHOULD BE A BOARD MANUAL AVAILABLE TO ALL
  MEMBERS AND UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
• IF THE BYLAWS REQUIRE MEETINGS TO BE OPEN TO THE
  PUBLIC, THEN STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT
  THE PUBLIC HAS INFORMATION REGARDING THE DATE AND
  TIME OF EACH MEETING.

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OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

• BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE ROLE
  OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
• REGULATING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
• SUPERVISING ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT
  ADMINISTER AND/OR SOLICIT CHARITABLE FUNDS OR
  OTHER CHARITABLE ASSETS IN NEW YORK STATE.

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ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

• AMENDMENTS TO CERTIFICATE THAT CHANGES THE
  PURPOSES OF THE AGENCY.
• DISSOLUTION.
• MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS.
• INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION.
• REGISTRATION AND REPORTING.

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SUMMARY

• MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE
  AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH POLICIES FOR THE
  GOVERNANCE OF THE CORPORATION.
• DOS EXPECTS THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO BE CARRIED OUT
  WITH THE DUTY OF CARE, OBEDIENCE AND LOYALTY.

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SUMMARY

• COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY, BOARD MEMBERS ARE
  LEGALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
  ACTIVITIES OF THE AGENCY.
• THESE RESPONSIBILITIES MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN AN
  EFFICIENT AND INFORMED MANNER.

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SUMMARY

• AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO
  INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT YOUR
  RESPONSIBILITIES.
• REVIEW THE BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
• KNOW THE TYPES OF GRANTS RECEIVED AND THE
  PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED.
• CAREFULLY REVIEW ALL FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM
  REPORTS.
• REVIEW ALL MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
  AND ITS COMMITTEES.

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SUMMARY

• BE AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING
  MAINTAINING A VIABLE CORPORATION.
• SHOULD THE CERTIFICATE BE AMENDED DUE TO CHANGES
  IN THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS?
• IS THE CURRENT ADDRESS ON FILE WITH THE DIVISION
  OF CORPORATIONS?
• ARE ALL REQUIRED REPORTS FILED WITH THE
  APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES?

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HAND OUTS

• FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
• REGULATING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
• RIGHT FROM THE START GUIDELINES FOR BOARD
  MEMBERS
• www.oag.state.ny.us/charities

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HAND OUTS

• FROM CAPLAW
• COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD REQUIREMENTS
• LOBBYING AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY
• www.caplaw.org

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HAND OUTS

• FROM A BOARD MANUAL DEVELOPED BY THE MINNESOTA
  CSBG OFFICE
• CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE BOARD
• BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE BOARD
• www.dhs.state.mn.us/cfs/oeo

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HAND OUTS

• PUBLIC LAW 105-285
• SECTION 766B TRIPARTITE BOARDS
• SECTION 678C CORRECTIVE ACTION AND TERMINATION

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APPRECIATION

• MANY THANKS TO THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME AND
  COMMITMENT