Okaloosa County BOCC — March 4, 2014 — Title VI and Nondiscrimination Policy and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan — reading text

in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title VI provides that "no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or nationall origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance" (42 U.S.C. Section 2000d). English: The Okaloosa County Board of County Commis Commissioners sioners will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap/ disability or income status. No person may be treated unfavorably, excluded from participating in or denied the benefits of any County program or activity because se of their race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap/ disability or income status. If you feel you are being denied participation in or being denied benefits of the transit services provided by OCT,, or otherwise being discriminated against because of your race, color, or national origin, you may contact our office at 850-833-9173. Spanish La Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Okaloosa no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, edad, incapacidades / discapacidades o nivel de ingresos. Ninguna persona puede ser tratada desfavorablemente, excluida de participar o ser negado de los beneficios de cualquier programa o actividad Condado debido a su raza, color, origen nacional, edad, sexo, discapacidades / incapacidades o nivel de ingresos. Si usted piensa que le han negado participación o acceso a los beneficios y servicios proveídos por el Departamento de Tránsito del Condado de Okaloosa, o que ha sido discriminado por motivos de raza, color, u origen nacional, usted debe comunicarse al 850-833-9173. 9173.  Appendix B Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Title VI / Nondiscrimination Program Complaint of Discrimination Complainant(s) Name: Complainant(s) Address: Complainant(s) Phone Number: Complainant's Representative's Name, Address, Phone Number and Relationship (e.g. friend, attorney, parent, etc): Name and Address of Agency, Institution, or Department Whom You Allege Discriminated Against You: Names of the Individual(s) Whom You Allege Discriminated Against You (If Known): o Race o Color o National Origin Discrimination o Sex o Age o Handicap/Disability Date of Alleged Discrimination: Because Of: o Income o Retaliation o Other Status Please list the name(s) and phone number(s) of any person, if known, that the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners could contact for additional information to support or clarify your allegation(s). Please explain as clearly as possible how, why, when and where you believe you were discriminated against. Include as much background information as possible about the alleged acts of discrimination. Additional pages may be attached if needed. Complainant(s) or Complainant(s) Representatives Date of Signature: Signature: Mail or Fax Completed Form to: Okaloosa County Transit 850-833-9173 ph Attn: Title VI Officer 850-833-9168 fax 600 Transit Way Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547  Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Title VI / Programa Antidiscriminatorio Querella de Discriminacion Nombre del querellante: Dirección: Número de teléfono: Nombre, dirección, teléfono y relación (ej. amigo, abogado, pariente, etc.) del Representante del querellante: Nombre y dirección de la Agencia, Institución, o Departamento que usted alega discrimino en su contra: Nombre(s) del Individuo(s) Quien(es) Usted Allega Discrimino (naron) Contra Usted Si lo(s) Conoce: o Raza o Color o Origen Nacional Fecha de la o Incapacidad/Impedimento alegada Razón de la o Sexo o Edad discriminación: Físico discriminación: o Status oRepresali o Otro de Ingreso a Favor de indicar el nombre (s) y número(s) de teléfono(s) de alguna persona(s) que La Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Okaloosa puede comunicarse para información adicional que clarifique o respalde su alegación o alegaciones. Favor de explicar tan claro como sea posible, como, porque, cuando y donde usted cree que fue discriminado. Incluya suficiente información acerca de los antecedentes según le sea posible, de los alegados actos de discrimen. Puede añadir paginas adicionales, si es necesario. Firma del Querellante(s) o su Representante: Fecha: Favor de mandar por correo electrónico o fax a: Okaloosa County Transit 850-833-9173 ph Attn: Title VI Officer 850-833-9168 fax 600 Transit Way Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 Appendix C Letter Acknowledging Receipt of Complaint Today’s Date Mr. John Doe 123 Oak St. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Dear Mr. Doe: This letter is to acknowledge receipt of your complaint against Okaloosa County Transit alleging ________________________________________________. An investigation will begin shortly. If you have additional information you wish to convey or questions concerning this matter, please feel free to contact this office by telephoning 850-833-9173, or write to me at 600 Transit Way, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547. Sincerely, Name Title VI Coordinator Appendix D Letter Notifying Complainant that the Complaint Is Substantiated Today’s Date Mr. John Doe 123 Oak St. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Dear Mr. Doe: The matter referenced in your letter of ______________ (date) against Okaloosa County Transit alleging Title VI violation has been investigated. (An/Several) apparent violation(s) of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including those mentioned in your letter (was/were) identified. Efforts are underway to correct these deficiencies. Thank you for calling this important matter to our attention. You were extremely helpful during our review of the program. You may be hearing from this office, or from federal authorities, if your services should be needed during the administrative hearing process. Sincerely, Name Title VI Coordinator Appendix E Letter Notifying Complainant that the Complaint Is Not Substantiated Today’s Date Mr. John Doe 123 Oak St. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Dear Mr. Doe: The matter referenced in your complaint of ______________ (date) against Okaloosa County Transit (OCT) alleging _______________________________ has been investigated. The results of the investigation did not indicate that the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, had in fact been violated. As you know, Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program receiving federal financial assistance. Okaloosa County Transit has analyzed the materials and facts pertaining to your case for evidence of OCT’s failure to comply with any of the civil rights laws. There was no evidence found that any of these laws have been violated. I therefore advise you that your complaint has not been substantiated, and that I am closing this matter in our files. You have the right to 1) appeal within seven calendar days of receipt of this final written decision from OCT, and/or 2) file a complaint externally with the Florida Department of Transportation: FDOT - Equal Opportunity Office Title VI/Nondiscrimination Program John Smith, Title VI Coordinator District Three – Chipley 605 Suwannee Street, M.S. 65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 john.smith@dot.state.fl.us Phone: 850-414-4747 Fax: 850-414-4879 Thank you for taking the time to contact us. If I can be of assistance to you in the future, do not hesitate to call me. Sincerely, Name Title VI Coordinator Appendix F LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP) PLAN OKALOOSA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY TRANSIT Introduction This Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan has been prepared to address Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners (Okaloosa BCC) responsibilities as a recipient of federal financial assistance as they relate to the needs of individuals with limited English language skills. The plan has been prepared in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Federal Transit Administration Circular 4702.1A dated May 13, 2007, which state that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. Executive Order 13166, titled “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency”, indicates that differing treatment based upon a person’s inability to speak, read, write or understand English is a type of national origin discrimination. It directs each federal agency to publish guidance for its respective recipients clarifying their obligation to ensure that such discrimination does not take place. This order applies to all state and local agencies which receive federal funds. Plan Summary The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners is the recipient of FTA 5307 funding and has developed this LEP Plan to help identify reasonable steps for providing language assistance to persons with limited English proficiency who wish to access services provided by Okaloosa County Transit (OCT). OCT is a contractor to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners. As defined in Executive Order 13166, LEP persons are those who do not speak English as their primary language and have limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English. This plan outlines how to identify a person who may need language assistance, the ways in which assistance may be provided, staff training that may be required, and how to notify LEP persons that assistance is available. In order to prepare this plan, the BCC undertook the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) four-factor LEP analysis which considers the following factors: 1. The number or proportion of LEP persons in the service area who may be served or are likely to encounter the BCC program, activity or service. 2. The frequency with which LEP persons come in contact with BCC programs, activities or services. 3. The nature and importance of programs, activities or services provided by the BCC to the LEP population.  4. The resources available to BCC and overall costs to provide LEP assistance. Factor 1: The Number and Proportion of LEP Persons Served or Encountered in the Eligible Service Population. Task 1, Step 1: Examine prior experiences with LEP individuals The Transit Coordinator & Grants Manager for Okaloosa County Board of