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court of the United States to enforce the subpoena.

(e) The ALJ may not compel the discovery of information that is legally privileged.

(f)(1) The ALJ limits the period for discovery to not more than 90 days but may grant an extension for good cause.

(2) At a party's request, the ALJ may set a specific schedule for discovery. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1234(f)(1) and (g))

§ 81.17 Privileges.

The privilege of a person or governmental organization not to produce documents or provide information in a proceeding under this part is governed by the principles of common law as interpreted by the courts of the United States.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.18 The record.

(a) The ALJ arranges for any evidentiary hearing or oral argument to be recorded and transcribed and makes the transcript available to the parties. Transcripts are made available to nonDepartmental parties at a cost not to exceed the actual cost of duplication.

(b) The record of a hearing on the record consists of—

(1) All papers filed in the proceeding; (2) Documentary evidence admitted by the ALJ;

(3) The transcript of any evidentiary hearing or oral argument; and

(4) Rulings, orders, and subpoenas issued by the ALJ.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 556(e), 557(c); 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3(a)(1), 1234(f)(1), 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989, as amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.19 Costs and fees of parties.

The Equal Access to Justice Act, 5 U.S.C. 504, applies by its terms to proceedings under this part. Regulations under that statute are in 34 CFR part 21.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), and 3474(a))

§ 81.20 Interlocutory appeals to the Secretary from rulings of an ALJ.

(a) A ruling by an ALJ may not be appealed to the Secretary until the issuance of an initial decision, except that the Secretary may, at any time prior to the issuance of an initial decision, grant review of a ruling upon either an ALJ's certification of the ruling to the Secretary for review, or the filing of a petition seeking review of an interim ruling by one or both of the parties, if—

(1) That ruling involves a controlling question of substantive or procedural law; and

(2) The immediate resolution of the question will materially advance the final disposition of the proceeding or subsequent review will be an inadequate remedy.

(b)(1) A petition for interlocutory review of an interim ruling must include the following:

(1) A brief statement of the facts necessary to an understanding of the issue on which review is sought.

(ii) A statement of the issue.

(iii) A statement of the reasons showing that the ruling complained of involves a controlling question of substantive or procedural law and why immediate review of the ruling will materially advance the disposition of the case, or why subsequent review will be an inadequate remedy.

(2) A petition may not exceed ten pages, double-spaced, and must be accompanied by a copy of the ruling and any findings and opinions relating to the ruling. The petition must be filed with the Office of Hearings and Appeals, which immediately forwards the petition to the Office of the Secretary.

(c) A copy of the petition must be provided to the ALJ at the time the petition is filed under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and a copy of a petition or any certification must be served upon the parties by certified mail, return receipt requested. The petition or certification must reflect that service.

(d) If a party files a petition under this section, the ALJ may state to the Secretary a view as to whether review is appropriate or inappropriate by submitting a brief statement addressing the party's petition within 10 days of

the ALJ's receipt of the petition for interlocutory review. A copy of the statement must be served on all parties by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(e)(1) A party's response, if any, to a petition or certification for interlocutory review must be filed within seven days after service of the petition or certification, and may not exceed ten pages, double-spaced, in length. A copy of the response must be filed with the ALJ by hand delivery, by regular mail, or by facsimile transmission.

(2) A party shall serve a copy of its response on all parties on the filing date by hand-delivery or regular mail. If agreed upon by the parties, service of a copy of the response may be made upon the other parties by facsimile transmission.

(f) The filing of a request for interlocutory review does not automatically stay the proceedings. Rather, a stay during consideration of a petition for review may be granted by the ALJ if the ALJ has certified or stated to the Secretary that review of the ruling is appropriate. The Secretary may order a stay of proceedings at any time after the filing of a request for interlocutory review.

(g) The Secretary notifies the parties if a petition or certification for interlocutory review is accepted, and may provide the parties a reasonable time within which to submit written argument or other existing material in the administrative record with regard to the merit of the petition or certification.

(h) If the Secretary takes no action on a request for interlocutory review within 15 days of receipt of it, the request is deemed to be denied.

(i) The Secretary may affirm, modify, set aside, or remand the ALJ's ruling.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 557(b); 20 U.S.C. 1234(f)(1))

[58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

Subpart B-Hearings for Recovery of Funds

§ 81.30 Basis for recovery of funds.

(a) Subject to the provisions of § 81.31, an authorized Departmental official re

quires a recipient to return funds to the Department if—

(1) The recipient made an unallowable expenditure of funds under a grant or cooperative agreement; or

(2) The recipient otherwise failed to discharge its obligation to account properly for funds under a grant or cooperative agreement.

(b) An authorized Departmental offcial may base a decision to require a recipient to return funds upon an audit report, an investigative report, a monitoring report, or any other evidence. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1234a(a) (1) and (2)) [54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.31 Measure of recovery.

A recipient that made an unallowable expenditure or otherwise failed to discharge its obligation to account properly for funds shall return an amount that

(a) Meets the standards for proportionality in §81.32;

(b) In the case of a State or local educational agency, excludes any amount attributable to mitigating circumstances under the standards in § 81.23; and

(c) Excludes any amount expended in a manner not authorized by law more than five years before the recipient received the notice of a disallowance decision under § 81.34.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234a(k), 1234b (a) and (b), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989; 54 FR 21622, May 19, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.32 Proportionality.

(a)(1) A recipient that made an unallowable expenditure or otherwise failed to account properly for funds shall return an amount that is proportional to the extent of the harm its violation caused to an identifiable Federal interest associated with the program under which it received the grant or cooperative agreement.

(2) An identifiable Federal interest under paragraph (a)(1) of this section includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) Serving only eligible beneficiaries.

(ii) Providing only authorized services or benefits.

(iii) Complying with expenditure requirements and conditions, such as setaside, excess cost, maintenance of effort, comparability, supplement-notsupplant, and matching requirements.

(iv) Preserving the integrity of planning, application, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.

(v) Maintaining accountability for the use of funds.

(b) The appendix to this part contains examples that illustrate how the standards for proportionality apply. The examples present hypothetical cases and do not represent interpretations of any actual program statute or regulation.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234b(a), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.33 Mitigating circumstances.

(a) A recipient that is a State or local educational agency and that has made an unallowable expenditure or otherwise failed to account properly for funds is not required to return any amount that is attributable to the mitigating circumstances described in paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this section.

(b) Mitigating circumstances exist if it would be unjust to compel the recovery of funds because the recipient's violation was caused by erroneous written guidance from the department. To prove mitigating circumstances under this paragraph, the recipient shall prove that

(1) The guidance was provided in response to a specific written request from the recipient that was submitted to the Department at the address provided by notice published in the FEDERAL REGISTER under this section;

(2) The guidance was provided by a Departmental official authorized to provide the guidance, as described by that notice;

(3) The recipient actually relied on the guidance as the basis for the conduct that constituted the violation; and

(4) The recipient's reliance on the guidance was reasonable.

(c) Mitigating circumstances exist if it would be unjust to compel the recov

ery of funds because the recipient's violation was caused by the Department's failure to provide timely guidance. To prove mitigating circumstances under this paragraph, the recipient shall prove that

(1) The recipient in good faith submitted a written request for guidance with respect to the legality of a proposed expenditure or practice;

(2) The request was submitted to the Department at the address provided by notice published in the FEDERAL REGISTER under this section;

(3) The request

(i) Accurately described the proposed expenditure or practice; and

(ii) Included the facts necessary for the Department's determination of its legality;

(4) The request contained the certification of the chief legal officer of the appropriate State educational agency that the officer

(i) Examined the proposed expenditure or practice; and

(ii) Believed it was permissible under State and Federal law applicable at the time of the certification;

(5) The recipient reasonably believed the proposed expenditure or practice was permissible under State and Federal law applicable at the time it submitted the request to the Department;

(6) No Departmental official authorized to provide the requested guidance responded to the request within 90 days of its receipt by the Department; and

(7) The recipient made the proposed expenditure or engaged in the proposed practice after the expiration of the 90day period.

(d) Mitigating circumstances exist if it would be unjust to compel the recovery of funds because the recipient's violation was caused by the recipient's compliance with a judicial decree from a court of competent jurisdiction. To prove mitigating circumstances under this paragraph, the recipient shall prove that—

(1) The recipient was legally bound by the decree;

(2) The recipient actually relied on the decree when it engaged in the conduct that constituted the violation; and

(3) The recipient's reliance on the decree was reasonable.

(e) If a Departmental official authorized to provide the requested guidance responds to a request described in paragraph (c) of this section more than 90 days after its receipt, the recipient that made the request shall comply with the guidance at the earliest practicable time.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234b(b), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.34 Notice of a disallowance decision.

(a) If an authorized Departmental official decides that a recipient must return funds under §81.30, the official gives the recipient written notice of a disallowance decision. The official sends the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other means that ensure proof of receipt.

(b)(1) The notice must establish 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.

(2) For the purpose of this section, a prima facie case is a statement of the law and the facts that, unless rebutted, is sufficient to sustain the conclusion drawn in the notice. The facts may be set out in the notice or in a document that is identified in the notice and available to the recipient.

(3) A statement that the recipient failed to maintain records required by law or failed to allow an authorized representative of the Secretary access to those records constitutes a prima facie case for the recovery of the funds affected.

(i) If the recipient failed to maintain records, the statement must briefly describe the types of records that were not maintained and identify the recordkeeping requirement that was violated.

(ii) If the recipient failed to allow access to records, the statement must briefly describe the recipient's actions that constituted the failure and identify the access requirement that was violated.

(c) The notice must inform the recipient that it may

(1) Obtain a review of the disallowance decision by the OALJ; and

(2) Request mediation under §81.13. (d) The notice must describe

(1) The time available to apply for a review of the disallowance decision; and

(2) The procedure for filing an application for review.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234a(a), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993; 60 FR 46494, Sept. 6, 1995; 61 FR 14484, Apr. 2, 1996] § 81.35 Reduction of claims.

The Secretary or an authorized Departmental official as appropriate may, after the issuance of a disallowance decision, reduce the amount of a claim established under this subpart by—

(a) Redetermining the claim on the basis of the proper application of the law, including the standards for the measure of recovery under §81.31, to the facts;

(b) Compromising the claim under the Federal Claims Collection Standards in 4 CFR part 103; or

(c) Compromising the claim under § 81.36, if applicable.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234a(j), and 3474(a); 31 U.S.C. 3711)

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§ 81.36 Compromise of claims under General Education Provisions Act.

(a) The Secretary or an authorized Departmental official as appropriate may compromise a claim established under this subpart without following the procedures in 4 CFR part 103 if—

(1)(i) The amount of the claim does not exceed $200,000; or

(ii) The difference between the amount of the claim and the amount agreed to be returned does not exceed $200,000; and

(2) The Secretary or the official determines that

(i) The collection of the amount by which the claim is reduced under the compromise would not be practical or in the public interest; and

(ii) The practice that resulted in the disallowance decision has been corrected and will not recur.

(b) Not less than 45 days before compromising a claim under this section, the Department publishes a notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER stating—

(1) The intention to compromise the claim; and

(2) That interested persons may comment on the proposed compromise.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234a (j), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated at 58 FR 43473, Aug. 16, 1993]

§81.37 Application for review of a disallowance decision.

(a) If a recipient wishes to obtain review of a disallowance decision, the recipient shall file a written application for review with the Office of Administrative Law Judges, c/o Docket Clerk, Office of Hearings and Appeals, and, as required by §81.12(b), shall serve a copy on the applicable Departmental official who made the disallowance decision.

(b) A recipient shall file an application for review not later than 60 days after the date it receives the notice of a disallowance decision.

(c) Within 10 days after receipt of a copy of the application for review, the authorized Departmental official who made the disallowance decision shall provide the ALJ with a copy of any document identified in the notice pursuant to §81.34(b)(2).

(d) An application for review must contain

(1) A copy of the disallowance decision of which review is sought;

(2) A statement certifying the date the recipient received the notice of that decision;

(3) A short and plain statement of the disputed issues of law and fact, the recipient's position with respect to these issues, and the disallowed funds the recipient contends need not be returned; and

(4) A statement of the facts and the reasons that support the recipient's position.

(e) The ALJ who considers a timely application for review that substantially complies with the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may permit the recipient to supplement or amend the application with respect to issues that were timely raised. Any requirement to return funds that is not

timely appealed becomes the final decision of the Department.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1234(f)(1), 1234a(b)(1), and 3474(a))

[54 FR 19512, May 5, 1989. Redesignated and amended at 58 FR 43473, 43474, Aug. 16, 1993; 58 FR 51013, Sept. 30, 1993; 60 FR 46494, Sept. 6, 1995]

§ 81.38 Consideration of an application for review.

(a) The ALJ assigned to the case under §81.4 considers an application for review of a disallowance decision.

(b) The ALJ decides whether the notice of a disallowance decision meets the requirements of §81.34, as provided by section 451(e) of GEPA.

(1) If the notice does not meet those requirements, the ALJ—

(i) Returns the notice, as expeditiously as possible, to the authorized Departmental official who made the disallowance decision;

(ii) Gives the official the reasons why the notice does not meet the requirements of § 81.34; and

(iii) Informs the recipient of the ALJ's decision by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(2) An authorized Departmental official may modify and reissue a notice that an ALJ returns.

(c) If the notice of a disallowance decision meets the requirements of § 81.34, the ALJ decides whether the application for review meets the requirements of § 81.37.

(1) If the application, including any supplements or amendments under

§ 81.37(d), does not meet those requirements, the disallowance decision becomes the final decision of the Department.

(2) If the application meets those requirements, the ALJ—

(i) Informs the recipient and the authorized Departmental official that the OALJ has accepted jurisdiction of the case; and

(ii) Schedules a hearing on the record.

(3) The ALJ informs the recipient of the disposition of its application for review by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the ALJ decides that the application does not meet the requirements of §81.37, the ALJ informs the

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