Title VI Program Policy

The Bis-Man Transit Board, hereinafter referred to as the "Bis-Man Transit" is committed to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/ADA of 1990, and all related regulations and statutes. Taken together, these requirements define an encompassing Title VI/ADA Program. Title VI and the additional Nondiscrimination requirements are applicable to programs receiving federal financial assistance due to the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin. Specifically, 42 USC 2000d state that "No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national 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." In addition to Title VI, there are other Nondiscrimination statutes which include: Section 162(a) of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (23 USC 324) (sex), Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (age), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/ADA of 1990(disability).

There are two Presidential Executive Orders that place further emphasis upon the Title VI protections. Executive Order 12898 ensures nondiscrimination against minority populations by discouraging programs, policies, and activities with disproportionately high and adverse environmental or human health effects on minority and low-income populations. Executive Order 13166 directs recipients of Federal financial assistance that to ensure compliance with Title VI, they must take reasonable steps to ensure that limited English proficiency persons have meaningful access to their programs.

Bis-Man Transit is committed to and supports taking all steps to ensure that no person or groups(s) of persons shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, limited English proficiency, or income status*, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any and all programs, services, or activities administered by the Recipient, regardless of whether those programs and activities are federally funded or not.

Bis-Man Transit also assures that every effort will be made to prevent discrimination through the impacts of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. In addition, Bis-Man Transit will provide meaningful access to services for persons with Limited English Proficiency for language assistance free of charge to the person upon request.

In the event the Bis-Man Transit distributes federal-aid funds to a subrecipient, the Bis-Man Transit will include Title VI language in all written agreements and will monitor for compliance.

Bis-Man Transit's Title VI/ADA Program Coordinator, Deidre Hughes, Executive Director, 701.258.6817, 3750 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501, dhughes@bismantransit.com is responsible for initiating and monitoring Title VI activities, preparing reports and other responsibilities as required by 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200 and 49 CFR 21.

Complainants must include all required information and must meet all timeframes as defined in the Bis-Man Transit Complaint Procedure.

Legible copies of all available pertinent documentation should be attached to the complaint form.