Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities - Grants to States (93.617)

Program

93.617 Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities - Grants to States

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Help America Vote Act, Title II, Part 2, Section 261, Public Law 107-252.

Program Number

93.617

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Section 261 of HAVA provides that funds be made available to States to: (1) make polling places, including the path of travel, entrances, exits, and voting areas of each polling facility, accessible to individuals with the full-range of disabilities (e.g., visual impairments, including blindness; hearing impairments, including deafness; the full-range of mobility impairments, including gross and fine motor impairments, emotional impairments, and intellectual impairments); (2) provide the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) to individuals with the full-range of disabilities; (3) provide training for election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers on how best to promote the access and participation of individuals with the full-range of disabilities in election for Federal office: and (4) provide individuals with the full-range of disabilities with information about the accessibility of polling places.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

To assist States to provide greater accessibility to individuals with full-range of disabilities as it relates for the four (4) areas of funding. Grant funds are only available for five years after the appropriation year, as required by 31 U.S.C. Section 1552.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands).

Beneficiary Eligibility

Individuals with full-range of disabilities.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicant eligibility: Secretary of State/Chief Election Official of States including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beneficiary Eligibility: States and Units of Local Government. Cost will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The reporting requirements information collection for the application and annual report are approved under OMB control number 0970-0327, expiration date 11/30/2010.

Award Procedure

Funds will be awarded annually.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

None.

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 16.

Renewals

None. Awards are generally made for a 12-month project period.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded annually. The statistical factor used to fund distribution is the population age 18 and over in each State. No State will receive less than $100,000. There is no matching requirement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual narrative report that describes how any funds authorized were used. Report due no later than December 31st of each year. No cash reports are required. Annual progress report. Expenditures are to be reported using a Financial Status Report Short Form (SF-269A). Submission of annual financial reports are due 90 days after the end of each 12-month period (October 1-September 30). Annual progress and financial status report are used as the primary monitoring tools.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.

Records

Records must be retained for at least 3 years; records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if all findings have not been resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008 55 grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2009: It is anticipated that 55 grants will be awarded in FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: It is anticipated that 55 grants will be awarded in FY 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $11,817,000; FY 09 est $12,154,000; FY 10 est $12,154,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not less than $100,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

45 CFR Parts 74 and 92, Grant Administrative Requirements.

Related Programs

93.618 Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities-Grants for Protection and Advocacy Systems

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20201. Contact: Melvenia Wright. Telephone: (202) 690-5557.

Headquarters Office

Melvenia Wright Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: mwright@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 690-5557.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs.add

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.