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AGENCY:

Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Legal Services Corporation (Corporation) is required by law to establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. This document updates the specified income levels to reflect the annual amendments to the Federal Poverty Guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

DATES:

Effective February 2, 2015.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stefanie K. Davis, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K St. NW., Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295-1563; sdavis@lsc.gov.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 1007(a)(2) of the Legal Services Corporation Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. 2996f(a)(2), requires the Corporation to establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. Section 1007(a)(2) of the Act also provides that other specified factors shall be taken into account along with income.

Section 1611.3(c) of the Corporation's regulations establishes a maximum income level equivalent to one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 45 CFR 1611.3(c). Since 1982, HHS has been Start Printed Page 5486responsible for updating and issuing the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The figures for 2015 set out below are equivalent to 125 percent (125%) of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines published by HHS on January 22, 2015 (80 FR 3236).

In addition, LSC is publishing a chart listing income levels that are two hundred percent (200%) of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This chart is for reference purposes only as an aid to grant recipients in assessing the financial eligibility of an applicant whose income is greater than 125 percent (125%) of the applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines amount, but less than 200 percent (200%) of the applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines amount (and who may be found to be financially eligible under duly adopted exceptions to the annual income ceiling in accordance with 45 CFR 1611.3, 1611.4, and 1611.5).

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List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 1611

• Grant Programs—Law
• Legal Services

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For reasons set forth in the preamble, the Legal Services Corporation amends 45 CFR part 1611 as follows:

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PART 1611—ELIGIBILITY

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1. The authority citation for part 1611 continues to read as follows:

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Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996e(b)(1), 2996e(b)(3), 2996f(a)(1), 2996f(a)(2), 2996g(e); Section 509(h) of Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996); Pub. L. 105-119, 11 Stat. 2512 (1998).

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2. Revise Appendix A to part 1611 to read as follows:

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Appendix A to Part 1611—Income Level for Individuals Eligible for Assistance

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