1614.2—General policy.
(a)
This part implements the policy adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation which requires that a substantial amount of funds be made available to encourage the involvement of private attorneys in the delivery of legal assistance to eligible clients through both pro bono and compensated mechanisms, and that such funds be expended in an economic and efficient manner.
(b)
In the case of recipients whose service areas are adjacent, coterminous or overlapping, the recipients may enter into joint efforts to involve the private attorneys in the delivery of legal services to eligible clients, subject to the prior approval of the Office of Field Services. In order to be approved the joint venture plan must meet the following conditions:
(1)
The recipients involved in the joint venture must plan to expend at least twelve and one-half percent (12 1/2 %) of the aggregate of their basic field awards on PAI. In the case of recipients with adjacent service areas, 12 1/2 % of each recipient's grant shall be expended to PAI; provided, however, that such expenditure is subject to waiver under § 1614.6 ;
(2)
Each recipient in the joint venture must be a bona fide participant in the activities undertaken by the joint venture; and
(3)
The joint PAI venture must provide an opportunity for involving private attorneys throughout the entire joint service area(s).
(c)
Private attorney involvement shall be an integral part of a total local program undertaken within the established priorities of that program in a manner that furthers the statutory requirement of high quality, economical and effective client-centered legal assistance to eligible clients. Decisions concerning implementation of the substantial involvement requirement rest with the recipient through its governing body, subject to review and evaluation by the Corporation.