20 USC 1234 - Office of Administrative Law Judges

Collapse to view only § 1234. Office of Administrative Law Judges

§ 1234. Office of Administrative Law Judges
§ 1234a. Recovery of funds
§ 1234b. Measure of recovery
§ 1234c. Remedies for existing violations
§ 1234d. Withholding
§ 1234e. Cease and desist orders
§ 1234f. Compliance agreements
§ 1234g. Judicial review
§ 1234h. Use of recovered funds
§ 1234i. Definitions

§ 1234. Office of Administrative Law Judges

(a) Establishment; dutiesThe Secretary shall establish in the Department of Education an Office of Administrative Law Judges (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Office”) which shall conduct—

(1) recovery of funds hearings pursuant to section 1234a of this title,

(2) withholding hearings pursuant to section 1234d of this title,

(3) cease and desist hearings pursuant to section 1234e of this title, and

(4) other proceedings designated by the Secretary.

(b) Appointment

(d) Assignment of judges

(e) Review and evidentiary functions

(f) Conduct of proceedings; costs and fees of parties

(1) The proceedings of the Office shall be conducted according to such rules as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation in conformance with the rules relating to hearings in title 5, sections 554, 556, and 557.

(2) The provisions of title 5, section 504, relating to costs and fees of parties, shall apply to the proceedings before the Department.

(g) Discovery; scope, time, etc.; issue and enforcement of subpoenas

(1) In order to secure a fair, expeditious, and economical resolution of cases and where the judge determines that the discovered information is likely to elicit relevant information with respect to an issue in the case, is not sought primarily for the purposes of delay or harassment, and would serve the ends of justice, the judge may order a party to—

(A) produce relevant documents;

(B) answer written interrogatories that inquire into relevant matters; and

The judge shall set a time limit of 90 days on the discovery period. The judge may extend this period for good cause shown. At the request of any party, the judge may establish a specific schedule for the conduct of discovery.

(2) In order to carry out the provisions of subsections (f)(1) and (g)(1), the judge is authorized to issue subpoenas and apply to the appropriate court of the United States for enforcement of a subpoena. The court may enforce the subpoena as if it pertained to a proceeding before that court.

(h) Mediation of disputes

(i) Professional personnel; employment, assignment, or transfer

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 451, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2346; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 349.)

§ 1234a. Recovery of funds

(a) Preliminary departmental decision; grounds of determination; notice requirements; prima facie case; amount of funds recoverable

(1) Whenever the Secretary determines that a recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under an applicable program must return funds because the recipient has made an expenditure of funds that is not allowable under that grant or cooperative agreement, or has otherwise failed to discharge its obligation to account properly for funds under the grant or cooperative agreement, the Secretary shall give the recipient written notice of a preliminary departmental decision and notify the recipient of its right to have that decision reviewed by the Office and of its right to request mediation.

(2) In a preliminary departmental decision, the Secretary shall have the burden of establishing a prima facie case for the recovery of funds, including an analysis reflecting the value of the program services actually obtained in a determination of harm to the Federal interest. The facts to serve as the basis of the preliminary departmental decision may come from an audit report, an investigative report, a monitoring report, or other evidence. The amount of funds to be recovered shall be determined on the basis of section 1234b of this title.

(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2), failure by a recipient to maintain records required by law, or to allow the Secretary access to such records, shall constitute a prima facie case.

(b) Review of preliminary departmental decision; form and contents of application for review; inadequate preliminary decisions; duties of recipient to subrecipients after preliminary decision; burden of proof

(1) A recipient that has received written notice of a preliminary departmental decision and that desires to have such decision reviewed by the Office shall submit to the Office an application for review not later than 60 days after receipt of notice of the preliminary departmental decision. The application shall be in the form and contain the information specified by the Office. As expeditiously as possible, the Office shall return to the Secretary for such action as the Secretary considers appropriate any preliminary departmental decision which the Office determines does not meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2).

(2) In cases where the preliminary departmental decision requests a recovery of funds from a State recipient, that State recipient may not recover funds from an affected local educational agency unless that State recipient has—

(A) transmitted a copy of the preliminary departmental decision to any affected subrecipient within 10 days of the date that the State recipient in a State administered program received such written notice; and

(B) consulted with each affected subrecipient to determine whether the State recipient should submit an application for review under paragraph (1).

(3) In any proceeding before the Office under this section, the burden shall be upon the recipient to demonstrate that it should not be required to return the amount of funds for which recovery is sought in the preliminary departmental decision under subsection (a).

(d) Review of findings of fact in preliminary decision; conclusiveness; remand; new or modified findings

(1) Upon review of a decision of the Office by the Secretary, the findings of fact by the Office, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive. However, the Secretary, for good cause shown, may remand the case to the Office to take further evidence, and the Office may thereupon make new or modified findings of fact and may modify its previous action. Such new or modified findings of fact shall likewise be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence.

(2) During the conduct of such review, there shall not be any ex parte contact between the Secretary and individuals representing the Department or the recipient.

(e) Time for filing petition for review of preliminary decision

(f) Stay of collection or other adverse action by Secretary against recipient

(1) If a recipient submits a timely application for review of a preliminary departmental decision, the Secretary shall take no collection action until the decision of the Office upholding the preliminary Department decision in whole or in part becomes final agency action under subsection (g).

(2) If a recipient files a timely petition for judicial review under section 1234g of this title, the Secretary shall take no collection action until judicial review is completed.

(3) The filing of an application for review under paragraph (1) or a petition for judicial review under paragraph (2) shall not affect the authority of the Secretary to take any other adverse action under this subchapter against the recipient.

(g) Preliminary decision as final agency actionA decision of the Office regarding the review of a preliminary departmental decision shall become final agency action 60 days after the recipient receives written notice of the decision unless the Secretary either—

(1) modifies or sets aside the decision, in whole or in part, in which case the decision of the Secretary shall become final agency action when the recipient receives written notice of the Secretary’s action, or

(2) remands the decision to the Office.

(h) Publication of decisions as final agency actions

(i) Collection amounts and procedures

(j) Compromise of preliminary departmental decisions; preconditions; notice requirements

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may, subject to the notice requirements of paragraph (2), compromise any preliminary departmental decision under this section which does not exceed the amount agreed to be returned by more than $200,000, if the Secretary determines that (A) the collection of any or all or the amount thereof would not be practical or in the public interest, and (B) the practice which resulted in the preliminary departmental decision has been corrected and will not recur.

(2) Not less than 45 days prior to the exercise of the authority to compromise a preliminary departmental decision pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of intention to do so. The notice shall provide interested persons an opportunity to comment on any proposed action under this subsection through the submission of written data, views, or arguments.

(k) Limitation period respecting return of funds

(l) Foregoing of interest during period of administrative review

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 452, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2347; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 350; Pub. L. 103–382, title II, § 250(a), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3926.)

§ 1234b. Measure of recovery

(a) Amount returned proportionate to extent of harm violation caused to an identifiable Federal interest; reduction; determination of identifiable Federal interest

(1) A recipient determined to have made an unallowable expenditure, or to have otherwise failed to discharge its responsibility to account properly for funds, shall be required to return funds in an amount that is proportionate to the extent of the harm its violation caused to an identifiable Federal interest associated with the program under which the recipient received the award. Such amount shall be reduced in whole or in part by an amount that is proportionate to the extent the mitigating circumstances caused the violation.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1), an identifiable Federal interest includes, but is not limited to, serving only eligible beneficiaries; providing only authorized services or benefits; complying with expenditure requirements and conditions (such as set-aside, excess cost, maintenance of effort, comparability, supplement-not-supplant, and matching requirements); preserving the integrity of planning, application, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; and maintaining accountability for the use of funds.

(b) Reduction or waiver of amount based on mitigating circumstances; burden of proof; determination of mitigating circumstances; weight, etc., of written request for guidance

(1) When a State or local educational agency is determined to have made an unallowable expenditure, or to have otherwise failed to discharge its responsibility to account properly for funds, and mitigating circumstances exist, as described in paragraph (2), the judge shall reduce such amount by an amount that is proportionate to the extent the mitigating circumstances caused the violation. Furthermore, the judge is authorized to determine that no recovery is justified when mitigating circumstances warrant. The burden of demonstrating the existence of mitigating circumstances shall be upon the State or local educational agency.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1), mitigating circumstances exist only when it would be unjust to compel the recovery of funds because the State or local educational agency—

(A) actually and reasonably relied upon erroneous written guidance provided by the Department;

(B) made an expenditure or engaged in a practice after—

(i) the State or local educational agency submitted to the Secretary, in good faith, a written request for guidance with respect to the expenditure or practice at issue, and

(ii) a Department official did not respond within 90 days of receipt by the Department of such request; or

(3) A written request for guidance as described in paragraph (2) sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) shall be conclusive proof of receipt by the Department.

(4) If the Secretary responds to a written request for guidance described in paragraph (2)(B) more than 90 days after its receipt, the State or local educational agency that submitted the request shall comply with the guidance received at the earliest practicable time.

(5) In order to demonstrate the existence of the mitigating circumstances described in paragraph (2)(B), the State or local educational agency shall demonstrate that—

(A) the written request for guidance accurately described the proposed expenditure or practice and included the facts necessary for a determination of its legality; and

(B) the written request for guidance contained a certification by the chief legal officer of the State educational agency that such officer had examined the proposed expenditure or practice and believed the proposed expenditure or practice was permissible under then applicable State and Federal law; and

(C) the State or local educational agency reasonably believed that the proposed expenditure or practice was permissible under then applicable State and Federal law.

(6) The Secretary shall disseminate to State educational agencies responses to written requests for guidance, described in paragraph (5), that reflect significant interpretations of applicable law or policy.

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 453, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2349; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 353.)

§ 1234c. Remedies for existing violations

(a) Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that any recipient of funds under any applicable program is failing to comply substantially with any requirement of law applicable to such funds, the Secretary may—

(1) withhold further payments under that program, as authorized by section 1234d of this title;

(2) issue a complaint to compel compliance through a cease and desist order of the Office, as authorized by section 1234e of this title;

(3) enter into a compliance agreement with a recipient to bring it into compliance, as authorized by section 1234f of this title; or

(4) take any other action authorized by law with respect to the recipient.

(b) Any action, or failure to take action, by the Secretary under this section shall not preclude the Secretary from seeking a recovery of funds under section 1234a of this title.

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 454, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2349; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 354.)

§ 1234d. Withholding

(a) Discretionary authority over further payments under applicable program

(b) Notice requirements

Before withholding payments, the Secretary shall notify the recipient, in writing, of—

(1) the intent to withhold payments;

(2) the factual and legal basis for the Secretary’s belief that the recipient has failed to comply substantially with a requirement of law; and

(3) an opportunity for a hearing to be held on a date at least 30 days after the notification has been sent to the recipient.

(d) Suspension of payments, authorities, etc.

(e) Findings of fact

(f) Final agency action

The decision of the Office in any hearing under this section shall become final agency action 60 days after the recipient receives written notice of the decision unless the Secretary either—

(2) remands the decision of the Office.

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 455, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2350; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 354.)

§ 1234e. Cease and desist orders

(a) Issuance and contents of complaint

In accordance with section 1234c of this title, the Secretary may issue to a recipient under an applicable program a complaint which—

(1) describes the factual and legal basis for the Secretary’s belief that the recipient is failing to comply substantially with a requirement of law; and

(2) contains a notice of a hearing to be held before the Office on a date at least 30 days after the service of the complaint.

(b) Appearance contesting order

The testimony in any hearing held under this section shall be reduced to writing and filed with the Office. If upon that hearing the Office is of the opinion that the recipient is in violation of any requirement of law as charged in the complaint, the Office shall—

(1) make a report in writing stating its findings of fact; and

(2) issue to the recipient an order requiring the recipient to cease and desist from the practice, policy, or procedure which resulted in the violation.

(d) Report and order as final agency action

(e) Enforcement of final order

The Secretary may enforce a final order of the Office under this section which becomes final agency action by—

(1) withholding from the recipient any portion of the amount payable to it, including the amount payable for administrative costs, under the applicable program; or

(2) certifying the facts to the Attorney General who shall cause an appropriate proceeding to be brought for the enforcement of the order.

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 456, as added Pub. L. 95–561, title XII, § 1232, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2351; amended Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 355.)

§ 1234f. Compliance agreements

(a) Discretionary authority; purposes of agreement

(b) Procedures applicable

(1) Before entering into a compliance agreement with a recipient, the Secretary shall hold a hearing at which the recipient, affected students and parents or their representatives, and other interested parties are invited to participate. The recipient shall have the burden of persuading the Secretary that full compliance with the applicable requirements of law is not feasible until a future date.

(2) If the Secretary determines, on the basis of all the evidence presented, that full compliance is genuinely not feasible until a future date, the Secretary shall make written findings to that effect and shall publish those findings, along with the substance of any compliance agreement, in the Federal Register.

A compliance agreement under this section shall contain—

(1) an expiration date not later than 3 years from the date of the written findings under subsection (b)(2), by which the recipient shall be in full compliance with the applicable requirements of law, and

(2) those terms and conditions with which the recipient must comply until it is in full compliance.

(d) Failure of recipient to comply with terms and conditions

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 457, as added Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 355.)

§ 1234g. Judicial review

(a) Recipients entitled to review; stay of action by Secretary

(b) Petition for review; filing of record

(d) Scope of review; review by Supreme Court

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 458, as added Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 356; amended

§ 1234h. Use of recovered funds

(a) Repayment to recipient; factors considered

Whenever the Secretary recovers funds paid to a recipient under a grant or cooperative agreement made under an applicable program because the recipient made an expenditure of funds that was not allowable, or otherwise failed to discharge its responsibility to account properly for funds, the Secretary may consider those funds to be additional funds available for that program and may arrange to repay to the recipient affected by that action an amount not to exceed 75 percent of the recovered funds if the Secretary determines that—

(1) the practices or procedures of the recipient that resulted in the violation of law have been corrected, and that the recipient is in all other respects in compliance with the requirements of that program, provided that the recipient was notified of any noncompliance with such requirements and given a reasonable period of time to remedy such noncompliance;

(2) the recipient has submitted to the Secretary a plan for the use of those funds pursuant to the requirements of that program and, to the extent possible, for the benefit of the population that was affected by the failure to comply or by the misuse of funds that resulted in the recovery; and

(3) the use of those funds in accordance with that plan would serve to achieve the purposes of the program under which the funds were originally paid.

(b) Terms and conditions of repayment

Any payments by the Secretary under this section shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of the affected programs, including—

(1) the submission of periodic reports on the use of funds provided under this section; and

(2) consultation by the recipient with students, parents, or representatives of the population that will benefit from the payments.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the funds made available under this section shall remain available for expenditure for a period of time deemed reasonable by the Secretary, but in no case to exceed more than three fiscal years following the later of—

(1) the fiscal year in which final agency action under section 1234a(e) of this title is taken; or

(2) if such recipient files a petition for judicial review, the fiscal year in which final judicial action under section 1234g of this title is taken.

(d) Publication in Federal Register of notice of intent to enter into repayment arrangement

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 459, as added Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 356; amended Pub. L. 103–382, title II, § 250(b), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3927.)

§ 1234i. Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) The term “recipient” means a recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under an applicable program.

(2) The term “applicable program” excludes programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] and assistance programs provided under the Act of September 30, 1950 1

1 See References in Text note below.

(Public Law 874, 81st Congress), and the Act of September 23, 1950 1 (Public Law 815, 81st Congress).

(Pub. L. 90–247, title IV, § 460, as added Pub. L. 100–297, title III, § 3501(a), Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 357.)