Tennessee Department of Human Resources

Tennessee Title VI Compliance Commission

Program Description

The Tennessee Title VI Compliance Commission was created by Executive Order 34 to define and establish components, guidelines, and objectives of a comprehensive state policy to ensure and promote present and future compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Specifically, Title VI provides that:

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

Title VI was included in the Civil Rights Act of 11964 to establish a national policy of nondiscrimination. The State Attorney General of Tennessee on May 28, 1992 issued opinion no. 92.47 to give state agencies and their sub recipient’s general information concerning the federal law.

The following duties and responsibilities are assigned by executive order to the Commission:

Review current Title VI monitoring and enforcement procedures as reflected by federal and state statutes, rules, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities.

Define and establish the components, guidelines, and objectives of a comprehensive state policy to ensure and promote present and future compliance with Title VI requirements.

Identify any Tennessee laws, rules, programs, services and budgetary priorities which conflict with components, guidelines, and objectives of the comprehensive state policy.

Search for any interdepartmental gaps, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies in implementation of such comprehensive state policy.

Investigate allegations of noncompliance with Title VI.

Report annually to the Governor and the Tennessee General Assembly concerning the commission’s activities, findings, and recommendations.

The commission has a director to provide training and technical assistance to state agency Title VI coordinators. Title VI coordinators are responsible for implementing their Title VI plans and strategies. There is a close working relationship between the director, coordinators and management in the Executive Branch.