[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-692]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 12, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity
[Docket No. N-93-3691; FR-3348-N-07]
State and Local Fair Housing Laws: Initial Determination
Concerning Substantial Equivalency of Fair Housing Law of the State of
Arizona
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity, HUD.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with 24 CFR 115.6(c) of the Department's
regulations, this notice announces the Department's determination that
the fair housing law of the State of Arizona is substantially
equivalent, on its face, to the Fair Housing Act. This notice solicits
comments from the public on this determination, and on the proposed
determination that the present practices and past performance of the
agency enforcing the fair housing law of the State of Arizona
demonstrate that, in operation, the law provides rights and remedies
that are substantially equivalent to those available under the Fair
Housing Act.
DATES: Comment Due Date: February 11, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding
this notice to the Office of General Counsel, Rules Docket Clerk, room
10276, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20410. Communications should refer to the above
docket number and title. A copy of each communication submitted will be
available for public inspection and copying on weekdays between 7:30
a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcella O. Brown, Director, Funded
Programs Division, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity,
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW.,
room 5234, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0455. (This is not
a toll-free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3600-3619), the Department is
authorized to investigate complaints alleging discrimination in
housing. (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as amended by the
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 is cited as the ``Fair Housing
Act.'') Section 810(f) of the Fair Housing Act requires the Department
to refer complaints to State and local agencies that have
``substantially equivalent'' fair housing standards, as determined and
certified by the Department. The standards and procedures for
certifying State and local fair housing laws that provide substantive
rights and remedies for alleged discriminatory housing practices that
are substantially equivalent to those provided in the Fair Housing Act
are set forth in 24 CFR part 115.
On July 23, 1993 (58 FR 39561), the Department published the annual
notice required by 24 CFR 115.6, which announced, among other things,
the updated, consolidated list of all certified agencies, and a list of
agencies with which an agreement for interim referrals or other
utilization of services had been entered into under 24 CFR 115.11. In
the July 23, 1993 notice, the Department listed thirty-four
jurisdictions, of which the State of Arizona was one, which had entered
into an agreement with the Department, subsequent to September 12,
1988, for interim referrals, and were considered to have interim
certification in accordance with section 810(f)(4) of the Fair Housing
Amendments Act of 1988 (hereafter ``Act''). (The Fair Housing
Amendments Act of 1988 was enacted on September 13, 1988.)
Notice Announcements and Solicitation of Comments
In accordance with 24 CFR 115.6(c)(1), this notice announces that
the fair housing law of the State of Arizona has been determined by the
Assistant Secretary of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity to be
substantially equivalent, on its face, to the Fair Housing Act. The
Assistant Secretary has determined, after application of the criteria
set forth in 24 CFR 115.3 and 115.4, that the fair housing law of the
State of Arizona provides, on its face, substantive rights and remedies
for alleged discriminatory housing practices that are substantially
equivalent to those provided in the Fair Housing Act.
Following a review of performance standards and other materials
pertaining to the fair housing law of the State of Arizona, and its
enforcement by the State of Arizona, the Department expects to make a
final determination that the law, in operation, provides rights and
remedies that are substantially equivalent to those available under the
Fair Housing Act. The Department intends to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding with the agency charged with enforcement of the fair
housing law of the State of Arizona in accordance with Sec. 115.6(c).
In accordance with 24 CFR 115.6(b), the public is invited to submit
written comments on this notice. Specifically, the Department requests
written comments on the proposed determination that the current
practices and past performance of the agency of the State of Arizona
charged with administration and enforcement of the State's fair housing
law demonstrate that, in operation, the State law provides substantive
rights and remedies that are substantially equivalent to the Fair
Housing Act. This notice also invites comments from the public on the
Department's determination that the fair housing law of the State of
Arizona is substantially equivalent, on its face, to the Fair Housing
Act.
Dated: December 23, 1993.
Roberta Achtenberg,
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
[FR Doc. 94-692 Filed 1-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-28-P
