[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 13, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 13CFR117.15]
[Page 154-155]
TITLE 13--BUSINESS CREDIT AND ASSISTANCE
CHAPTER I--SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
PART 117--NONDISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS OF SBA--EFFECTUATION OF THE AGE DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975, AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
Sec. 117.15 Procedure for effecting compliance.
(a) General. (1) If there appears to be a failure or threatened
failure to comply with this part by an applicant or recipient and if the
noncompliance or threatened noncompliance cannot be resolved by informal
means, compliance with this part may be effected by suspending,
terminating, or refusing any financial assistance approved but not yet
disbursed to an applicant. In the case of loans partially or fully
disbursed, compliance with this part may be effected by calling,
canceling, terminating, accelerating repayment, or suspending in whole
or in part the Federal financial assistance provided. The determination
of the recipient's violation may be made only after a recipient has had
an opportunity for a hearing on the record before an administrative law
judge.
(2) In addition, compliance may be effected by any other means
authorized by law. Such other means may include, but are not limited to:
(i) Action by SBA to accelerate the maturity of the recipient's
obligation;
(ii) Referral to the Department of Justice with a recommendation
that appropriate proceedings be brought to enforce any rights of the
United States under any law of the United States or obligations of the
recipient created by the Act or this part; and
(iii) Use of any requirement of or referral to any Federal, State or
local government agency that will have the
[[Page 155]]
effect of correcting a violation of the Act or these regulations.
(3) If there appears to be a failure or threatened failure to comply
with this part by an SBA program office or official, the Chief, Office
of Civil Rights Compliance, through the Director, Office of Equal
Employment Opportunity and Compliance, will recommend appropriate
corrective action to the Administrator. Any resulting adverse action
against an SBA employee shall follow Office of Personnel Management and
SBA procedures for such action.
(b) Noncompliance with Secs. 117.7 and 117.9. If an applicant fails
or refuses to furnish an assurance required under
&; 117.7, or fails to provide
information or allow SBA access to information under
&; 117.9 or otherwise fails or
refuses to comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to those
sections, Federal financial assistance may be deferred for a period not
to exceed 60 days after the applicant has received a notice for an
opportunity for hearing under &;
117.16, or unless a hearing has begun within that time, or the time for
beginning the hearing has been extended by mutual consent of the
recipient and the Agency, for purposes of determining what constitutes
mutual consent, the Agency shall be deemed to have consented to any
extension requested by the recipient and granted by the administrative
law judge (hearing officer), whether or not the Agency initially
approved the extension. A deferral may not continue for more than 30
days after the close of the hearing, unless the hearing results in a
finding against the applicant or recipient.
(c) SBA will not take action toward accelerating repayment,
suspending, terminating, or refusing financial assistance until:
(1) SBA has advised the applicant or recipient of the failure to
comply and has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary
means;
(2) There has been an express finding on the record, after an
opportunity for hearing, of a failure by the applicant or recipient to
comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to this part;
(3) The action has been approved by the Administrator of SBA
pursuant to &; 117.17; and
(4) The expiration of 30 days after SBA has filed with the committee
of the House and the committee of the Senate having legislative
jurisdiction over the form of financial assistance involved, a full
written report of the circumstances and the grounds for such action.
(d) Other means authorized by law. No action to effect compliance by
any other means authorized by law shall be taken until:
(1) SBA has determined that compliance cannot be secured by
voluntary means;
(2) The action has been approved by the Administrator or designee;
(3) The expiration of 30 days after SBA has filed with the committee
of the House and the committee of the Senate having legislative
jurisdiction over the form of financial assistance involved, a full
written report of the circumstances and the grounds for such action;
(4) The applicant or recipient has been notified of the failure to
comply, and of the action to be taken to effect compliance; and
(5) The expiration of at least 10 days from the mailing of such
notice to the applicant or recipient or other person. During this period
of at least 10 days from the mailing of such notice to the applicant or
recipient or other person, additional efforts shall be made to persuade
the applicant or recipient to comply with this part and to take such
corrective action as may be appropriate.