Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that protects individuals and groups from discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Specifically, 42 USC 2000d states:
"No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Title VI prohibits MnDOT and entities that receive federal funds via MnDOT from discriminating against the public based on race, color, or national origin. Other federal non-discrimination legal authorities add protections based on age, disability, sex, and low-income status. At the state-level, the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the provision of public services based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and status with regard to public assistance. MnDOT’s Title VI and Non-Discrimination Policy reflects the departments obligations under these legal authorities in the following policy statement:
“Federal and state law prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, low-income status, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and status with regard to public assistance. MnDOT is committed to ensuring that no person in the State of Minnesota is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of these protected classes under any and all programs, services, or activities administered by the department and its subrecipients and contractors. Additionally, MnDOT is committed to ensuring that its programs incorporate access for people with limited English proficiency.
“Any person who believes that they, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, low-income status, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status with regard to public assistance may file a discrimination complaint with MnDOT. All complaints received by MnDOT must be routed promptly to the Title VI Coordinator in the Office of Civil Rights.”
The following types of actions are prohibited under Title VI protections:
- Excluding individuals or groups from participation in programs or activities
- Denying program services or benefits to individuals or groups
- Providing a different service or benefit, or provide them in a manner different from what is provided to others
- Denying an opportunity to participate as a member of a planning, advisory or similar body that is an integral part of the program
- Retaliating against an individual for filing a discrimination complaint or participating in an investigation into a complaint.
See a visual representation of MnDOT’s Title VI program (PDF).
Enforcement
The Office of Civil Rights conducts the following activities to enforce Title VI:
- Providing Title VI training and technical support to staff, contractors, local governments and other MnDOT subrecipients of federal funds
- Processing Title VI complaints received by MnDOT
- Conducting internal and external compliance reviews
- Reporting on Title VI compliance activities (see links below for reports)
Policy and notices
- MnDOT Title VI and Non-Discrimination Policy
- Public Notice of Rights under Title VI