Okla. Admin. Code § 340:1-11-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 340:1-11-4 - Administration responsibilities, administration of programs, dissemination of policy, and awareness training

(a) The Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) Director assumes full responsibility for compliance, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:1-11-1.

(b) The OKDHS Director designates a staff member who is knowledgeable of civil rights laws.

(c) The OKDHS Director assigns full compliance responsibility to all OKDHS administrators, managers, and supervisors. The administrators, managers, and supervisors maintain essential records and files, per OAC 340:1-11-1.

(d) Administrators, managers, and supervisors avail themselves of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) administrator's technical assistance and training. Administrators, managers, and supervisors comply with the Methods of Administration designed and prepared by the OCR administrator.

(e) The OCR administrator is responsible for:

(1) developing rules, regulations, and compliance programs, per OAC 340:1-11-1, and disseminating those requirements to:

(A) staff;

(B) clients;

(C) contractors, vendors, and sub-grantees;

(D) the general public; and

(E) customary referral services; and

(2) developing the Methods of Administration;

(3) keeping the OKDHS Director, administrators, managers, and supervisors informed of nondiscrimination requirements and responsibilities, per OAC 340:1-11-1;

(4) monitoring and evaluating OKDHS nondiscrimination activities, identifying the need for remedial action and appropriate follow-up review, and submitting reports, as required to the OKDHS Director, the Department of Health and Human Services-Office for Civil Rights (DHHS-OCR), and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS);

(5) providing training and technical assistance, and serving as a resource for OKDHS staff regarding nondiscrimination responsibilities;

(6) assigning OCR personnel to perform compliance reviews and to investigate discrimination complaints;

(7) directing and coordinating Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act compliance inspections of OKDHS facilities and recommending remedial action as necessary when complaints are received;

(8) receiving Request Review Committee appeal decisions;

(9) overseeing investigations of discrimination complaints OCR receives;

(10) acting as the liaison between the OKDHS Director, DHHS-OCR, FNS, minority and community organizations, and groups advocating for persons with disabilities in all matters concerning nondiscrimination in the OKDHS delivery of services; and

(11) testifying in matters concerning civil rights before entities, such as boards, commissions, or legislative panels.

(f) Prior to implementation of any new programs or methods for providing existing services, the OCR administrator, upon request, conducts a study and prepares a report that shows the impact on minority groups and persons with disabilities, and the accessibility of the services, as proposed, to minority clients or clients with disabilities, both present and prospective.

(g) OKDHS informs staff, clients, applicants, contractors, vendors, sub-grantees, and the general public that programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.

(h) The OCR administrator ensures OKDHS staff isprovided on-going training designed to ensure awareness of diversity issues and of appropriate responses to minorities and persons with disabilities. Training includes:

(1) legal interpretations of anti-discrimination laws;

(2) compliance review objectives; and

(3) cultural and disability awareness.

Okla. Admin. Code § 340:1-11-4

Amended at 15 Ok Reg 860, eff 2-1-98 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1587, eff 5-11-98; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2085, eff 5-20-98 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1006, eff 4-26-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1177, eff 5-11-01

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 33, Issue 24, September 1, 2016, eff. 9/15/2016

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 24, September 1, 2020, eff. 9/15/2020

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 22, August 1, 2023, eff. 9/15/2023