Title VI Frequently Asked Questions

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a national law that protects people from discrimination based on race, color or national origin in connection with programs and activities that receive federal money. The law states:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Title VI and implementing regulations require state agencies to develop Title VI plans/reports. All employees of ALEA have a duty to provide program benefits and services in a non-discriminatory manner. This requirement also applies to businesses and other entities receiving federal money from the cabinet.

Discrimination limits equal access to services, opportunities or other benefits. Some examples of illegal discriminatory practices under Title VI include:

• Denying any individual services, opportunity or other benefits for which he or she is otherwise qualified under a federally-funded program.
• Providing any service or benefit to a person that is different or provided in a different manner from that which is provided to others.
• Subjecting a person to segregated or separate treatment in any manner related to receipt of service.
• Restricting a person in any way in the enjoyment of services and other benefits provided to others.
• Administering a program in a way that limits participation by any group of recipients or subjects them to discrimination.
• Permitting discriminatory activity in a facility built, in whole or in part, with federal funds.
• Failing to advise the population eligible to be served or benefited by a program about the existence of the program.
• Locating a facility in a way that would limit or impede access to a federally- funded service or benefit.

Here are some situations that could come under discriminatory practices covered under Title VI:

• Laws under a federally funded program are enforced differently in minority and non-minority neighborhoods.
• A board or advisory body is established by an agency receiving federal money and the agency does not seek minority representation on the board or advisory body.
• The recipient of federal funds discriminates in selection of contractors.
• An agency receives federal funds to perform corrective/remedial work, but the money is only used for projects in non-minority neighborhoods.

Yes. ALEA receives funding from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and, therefore, is subject to specific Title VI inclusions. Specifically, ALEA’s Title VI program ensures no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration financial assistance on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, low income, limited English proficiency, or disability.