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PREFACE

The Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee is a standing committee whose members are appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture State Director, Rural Development (RD). The Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee functions in the following capacity:

  • Identifying and bringing to the Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Officers (STC, SED and SD) attention any trends, problems, issues, or concerns on all matters related to the Nevada Interagency Civil Rights program.
  • Monitoring recruitment practices and making recommendations for ensuring that under-represented groups are made aware of employment opportunities for career positions, temporary summer employment, or special appointment.
  • Focusing the attention of the DEEOOs on specific personnel practices or problems of an EEO nature that are producing or could produce dissension and dissatisfaction among employees (e.g. merit promotion procedures; selection for training and assignments; criteria, nomination and distribution of awards; etc.).
  • Monitoring the policies and overall effectiveness of the Affirmative Employment Plan (AEP) with regard to recruitment, hiring, promotion and retention.
  • Providing training resources for various civil rights workshops, seminars, and meetings.
  • Acting as a forum for an exchange of ideas and action proposals on sensitive issues, matters, or concerns of a civil rights nature.
  • Contributing to the development and implementation of strategies designed to improve and increase awareness of and participation in USDA programs and activities by under-served groups, individuals, and communities.
  • Promoting and communicating the efforts of management to achieve and operate a realistic and ongoing civil rights program.
  • Participating and taking an active role in the development and implementation of the Affirmative Employment Plan.
  • Participating in civil rights compliance reviews.

During the fiscal year, The Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee will be committed to ensuring equal opportunity and civil rights for all customers by identifying needs and making recommendations to the Nevada State Conservationist, NRCS, Nevada State Executive Director, FSA, and the Nevada State Director, RD.

 

_______________________________________________________________ ___________
Chair, Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee                                              Date

_______________________________________________________________ ___________
State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service                            Date

_______________________________________________________________ ___________
State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency                                                   Date

 _______________________________________________________________ ___________
State Director, Rural Development                                                                     Date

 

 

BYLAWS OF THE USDA,

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, FARM SERVICE AGENCY

 & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

NEVADA INTERAGENCY CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE

 

PREAMBLE

The Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee is committed to ensuring equal opportunity and civil rights for all customers by identifying needs and making recommendations to the Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director, and the Rural Development State Director.

The Committee serves the following functions:

  • Serves as an advisory body to the Nevada Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Officers (DEEO Officers), to promote and assist in meaningful and effective affirmative action and consistent with the goals and objectives set forth by management.
  • In addition to serving as advisor to the Nevada DEOOs, the NICRC establishes lines of communication between employees and management through which employees’ views on civil rights issues may be brought to the attention of management, providing management with feedback on the performance of the civil rights program, identifying weaknesses, and recommending ways in which the program can be improved. All recommendations are to be reported in writing to the DEOO for appropriate consideration and follow-up action.
  •  The NICRC does not receive, investigate, and/or in any way adjudicate individual or class complaints of discrimination.
  • The NICRC will maintain copies of the minutes of each meeting and forward copies to the DEOOs and National teams.
  • The NICRC will meet as often as necessary, and at least, quarterly.
  • Identifies emerging areas needing special attention to the Nevada DEEO Officers.
 
ARTICLE I Name

Section 1: The name of this committee shall be the USDA, Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee (hereafter, the "Committee").

ARTICLE II Purpose

Section 1: The purpose of this Committee shall be to serve as an advisor to the Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Officers (DEEO Officers) of Nevada Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Nevada Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Nevada Rural Development (RD). The DEEO Officer of NRCS is the Nevada State Conservationist. The DEEO Officer of FSA is the Nevada State Executive Director. The DEEO Officer of RD is the Nevada State Director.

Section 2: Specific responsibilities of the Committee are listed under the Preamble (above).

ARTICLE III Members

Section 1: The Committee will be composed of three officers, Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary from the three agencies and the Special Emphasis Program Managers. The Committee is served by the following Special Emphasis Program Managers: Federal Women's Program Manager, Black Emphasis Program Manager, Disability Emphasis Program Manager, American Indian Emphasis Program Manager, Asian Pacific Islander Emphasis Program Manager, Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager, and Veteran's Emphasis Program Manager. All members have voting authority. The Committee will be assisted by a Civil Rights Liaison from each Agency who will represent, and be appointed by the respective DEEO Officers. The Human Resources Mangers and Outreach Coordinators will serve as advisors to the committee.

Section 2: The Committee shall solicit volunteers to serve on the Committee before anticipated openings occur. The Committee shall provide this list to the DEEOOs so that they may appoint SEPMs for their jurisdictional areas.

Section 3: The Committee shall notify the DEEO Officers of vacancies on the Committee.

Section 4: The Membership of the Committee shall (to the extent practicable) consist of representatives of minority groups, women, various grade levels, classification categories, and geographical regions.

Section 5: Each committee member shall be appointed to serve a three-year term. With approval of the DEEO Officers, a SEPM’s term may be extended twice for one year intervals, not to exceed a total of five consecutive years. Advisors and Officers shall be appointed to a three-year term which may be extended at the discretion of the DEEOOs.

Section 6: The members should serve overlapping terms so that no more than one third to one half of the membership is replaced each year.

Section 7: If a member leaves the Committee before his/her appointment period ends, the Committee shall solicit volunteers for the DEEOOs approval. A person shall be appointed by the DEEOOs to serve a three-year term. If the Chair position is vacated, the vice-chair shall execute the office of Chair until such time that the DEEOOs appoint a new Chair.

Section 8: An eligible person shall be a NRCS, FSA or RD employee willing to serve on the Committee.

Section 9: The term of membership shall begin with the call to order for the first committee meeting immediately following appointment to the Committee and shall end upon termination of their three-year term or five year total term with extensions.

Section 10: Each member shall provide a written exit report to the Committee Chair within 30 days of termination from the Committee.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1: The officers of the Committee shall be a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Secretary.

Section 2: The Committee shall forward nominations to the DEEO Officers for appointment as necessary.

Section 3: Officers shall serve a three-year term and be eligible for extension at the discretion of the DEEOO.

Section 4: Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and the parliamentary authority cited in Article VIII.

Section 5: The DEEO Officers shall provide appropriate staff and related resources to the Committee as requested by the Committee.

ARTICLE V

Meetings

Section 1: The regular meetings of the Committee shall be held quarterly, or as deemed necessary by the Committee and the DEEO Officers. The exact date shall be set by the committee Chair in consultation with the DEEO Officers and committee members.

Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the Chair upon approval by the State Conservationist and the State Director.

Section 3: Two-thirds of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI

Voting

Section 1: Except as otherwise specifically provided for in these bylaws, decisions shall be reached by a majority vote of the members at meetings in which a quorum is present.

Section 2: Voting by proxy shall not be permitted except on votes pertaining to amendment of the bylaws.

ARTICLE VII

Removal of Members

Section 1: Removal of a member from the Committee for cause shall be determined by the Nevada DEEO Officers.

ARTICLE VIII

Parliamentary Authority

Section 1: The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Committee in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules the Committee may adopt.

ARTICLE IX

Amendment of the Bylaws

Section 1: Motion to amend these bylaws may be submitted in writing by any member of the Committee to the Chair.

Section 2: The Chair will refer proposed amendments to these bylaws to the Nevada DEEO Officers.

Section 3: All amendments to these bylaws are subject to the approval of the Nevada DEEO Officers.

These bylaws are hereby submitted for approval:

Recommended:__________________________________________________ _________________

Chair, Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee                                               Date

Approved:______________________________________________________ _________________

State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service                    Date

Approved:______________________________________________________ _________________

State Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency                                            Date

Approved:______________________________________________________ _________________

State Director, USDA Rural Development                                                              Date

 

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