Directors’ April 2025 BSPD Digest

Week 1 – April 1^st, 2025 Theme: Top 10 Legal Risks Facing Nonprofit Boards

Most Board members know about the legal risks involved with lobbying and political activity. Is your Board aware of other potential legal risks they may be facing, like issues with copyrights, trademarks and federal tax-exempt status? Learn the top 10 legal risks facing nonprofit Boards here: https://www.venable.com/insights/publications/2011/02/the-top-10-legal-risks-facing-nonprofit-boards

Week 2 – April 8^th, 2025 Theme: Section 504 Updates

Many centers are reporting that families are asking questions about the status of Section 504. One helpful thing centers can do to prevent any bias in summarizing what is happening is to point them directly to the source documents. This is the link to the full complaint filed on September 26, 2024. Anyone who uses this link should read the full document to completely understand what it says: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/HHS%20Rehabilitation%20Act%20Complaint%20Filestamped.pdf

Week 3 – April 15^th, 2025 Theme: Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities

This link leads to the full Section 504 regulations updated on September 14, 2023. They are posted in the Federal Register here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/14/2023-19149/discrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-in-health-and-human-service-programs-or-activities

Week 4 – April 22^nd, 2025 Theme: US Dept. of Education: Section 504

This link leads to the Section 504 materials currently present on the US Department of Education website: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/individuals-disabilities/section-504

Week 5 – April 29^th, 2025 Theme: More Info. on the Section 504 Updates

The resource shared on week 2 of this series shows that the lawsuit is still active from the Texas Attorney General’s office. It has not been dismissed. However, it is also not moving forward at this time. One thing families are asking is, “What is an amicus brief?” This site provides a clear definition: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/amicus_curiae#:~:text=Generally%2C%20it%20is%20referencing%20a,are%20called%20%22amicus%20briefs.%22