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DBE Final Rule

Section 26.87 What Procedures Does a Recipient Use To Remove a DBE's Eligibility?

As long ago as 1983, the Department (in the preamble to the first DBE rule) strongly urged recipients to use appropriate due process procedures for decertification actions. Recipient procedures are still inconsistent and, in some cases, inadequate, in this respect. Quite recently, for example, litigation forced one recipient to rescind a decertification of an apparently ineligible firm because it had failed to provide administrative due process. We believe that proper due process procedures are crucial to maintaining the integrity of this program. The majority of commenters agreed, though a number of commenters had concerns about particular provisions of the SNPRM proposal.

Some recipients, for example, thought separation of functions was an unnecessary requirement, or too burdensome, particularly for small recipients. We believe separation of functions is essential: there cannot be a fair proceeding if the same party acts as prosecutor and judge. We believe that the burdens are modest, particularly in the context of state DOTs and statewide UCPs. We acknowledge that for small recipients, like small airports and transit authorities, small staffs may create problems in establishing separation of functions (e.g., if there is only one person in the organization who is knowledgeable about the DBE program). For this reason, the rule will permit small recipients to comply with this requirement to the extent feasible until UCPs are in operation (at which time the UCPs would have to ensure separation of functions in all such cases). The organizational scheme for providing separation of functions will be part of each recipient's DBE program. In the case of a small recipient, if the DBE program showed that other alternatives (e.g., the airport using the transit authority's DBE officer as the decision-maker in decertification actions, and vice-versa) were unavailable, the Department could approve something less than ideal separation of functions for the short term before the UCP becomes operational. In reviewing certification appeals from such recipients, the Department would take into account the absence of separation of functions.

It is very important that the decision-maker be someone who is familiar with the DBE certification requirements of this part. The decisionmaker need not be an administrative law judge or some similar official; a knowledgeable program official is preferable to an ALJ who lacks familiarity with the program.

Another aspect of the due process requirements that commenters addressed was the requirement for a record of the hearing, which some commenters found to be burdensome. We want to emphasize that, while recipients have to keep a hearing record (including a verbatim record of the hearing), they do not need to produce a transcript unless there is an appeal. A hearing record is essential, because DOT appellate review is a review of the administrative record.

Some commenters suggested deleting two provisions. One of these allowed recipients to impose a sort of administrative temporary restraining order on firms pending a final decertification decision. The other allowed the effect of a decertification decision to be retroactive to the date of the complaint. The Department agrees that these two provisions could lead to unfairness, and so we have deleted them.

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