COMDTINST 5350.20A
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction updates the U.S. Coast Guard's (hereafter "USCG" or "Coast
Guard") policy and guidance to comply with the new Department of Homeland Security's
(DHS') regulations to implement reference (a), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended, and reference (b), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This
Instruction does not create new obligations, but rather updates and clarifies existing Coast
Guard responsibilities under the newly established Department of Homeland Security and its
regulations. This Instruction will be updated to include additional policy and guidance issued
by the DHS for references (c), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, reference
(d), Age Discrimination Act, and related civil rights policy, guidance and assurances issued
by the DHS for Federally assisted programs. The DHS' regulation implementing Title VI
was published in the Federal Register as 6 CFR Part 21, reference (e), and the regulation for
Title IX was published as 6 CFR Part 17, reference (f). Copies of references (e) and (f) are
attached as enclosures (1) and (2), and are made a part hereof by this reference.
2. ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics
commands, commanding officers of integrated support commands and headquarters units,
assistant commandants for directorates, Chief Counsel and special staff elements at
Headquarters shall ensure compliance with the provisions of this Instruction. Internet release
is authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Civil Rights Compliance by Recipients of Federal Financial
Assistance from the Coast Guard, COMDTINST 5350.20 is hereby cancelled.
4. SCOPE. This Instruction applies to any program for which Federal financial assistance that
is authorized under a law administered by the Coast Guard, including the types of Federal
financial assistance listed in appendix A of reference (e). DHS regulations in 6 CFR 21.4(c)
defines "Federal financial assistance" as, "(1) Grants and loans of Federal funds; (2) The
grant or donation of Federal property and interests in property; (3) The detail of Federal
personnel; (4) The sale and lease of, and the permission to use (on other than a casual or
transient basis), Federal property or any interest in such property without consideration or at
a nominal consideration, or at a consideration which is reduced for the purpose of assisting
the recipient, or in recognition of the public interest to be served by such sale or lease to the
recipient; and (5) Any Federal agreement, arrangement, or other contract which has as one of
its purposes the provision of assistance." Additional definitions are provided in 21.4 of
reference (e), for Title VI, and in 17.105 of reference (f), for Title IX.
5. BACKGROUND. On November 25, 2002, the President signed into law the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296), which created the new Department of Homeland
Security. Pursuant to provisions of the Homeland Security Act, the new Department came
into existence on 24 January 2003, and the Coast Guard migrated to the DHS on 1 March
2003. Shortly thereafter, DHS issued an initial series of proposed and interim final
regulations, including regulations covering Title VI and Title IX, references (e) and (f),
which were published on 6 March 2003.
6. POLICY. It is the policy of the Coast Guard that no person in the United States, on the basis
of race, color, national origin, gender (in educational programs), disability/handicap or age,
covered under references (a) through (d), shall be excluded from participation in, be denied
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