COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

1. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. DOS EXPECTATIONSCONTINUED • 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.

9. DOS EXPECTATIONSCONTINUED • 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.

10. DOS EXPECTATIONSCONTINUED • 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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?

17. 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

18. HAND OUTS • FROM CAPLAW: • COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD REQUIREMENTS • LOBBYING AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY www.caplaw.org

19. 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

20. HAND OUTS • PUBLIC LAW 105-285: • SECTION 766B – TRIPARTITE BOARDS • SECTION 678C – CORRECTIVE ACTION AND TERMINATION

21. APPRECIATION MANY THANKS TO THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT