<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".22" citation="COMAR 10.54.01.22" title_num="10" subtitle_num="54" chapter_num="01" heading="Nondiscrimination.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Civil Rights Requirements.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>To ensure that an individual may not, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under the Program, a local agency shall comply with the requirements of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as incorporated by reference in Regulation .03C of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as incorporated by reference in Regulation .03C of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>§504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as incorporated by reference in Regulation .03C of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 as incorporated by reference in Regulation .03C of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>USDA Food and Nutrition Service instructions issued by the Program to the local agencies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>USDA regulations on nondiscrimination as incorporated by reference in Regulation .03C of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A local agency shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Notify the public of the nondiscrimination policy and complaint rights of a participant and an applicant as set forth in §B of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Review and monitor its activities to ensure Program compliance with the nondiscrimination laws and regulations; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Collect and report racial and ethnic participation data as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Complaints.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual may submit to a local agency a complaint that alleges an incident of discrimination pursuant to §A of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local agency shall forward to the State agency, within 10 days, the complaint which alleges discrimination.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The State agency shall refer the complaint, including a complaint based on sex or handicap, to the USDA for investigation and necessary action.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>