Certification
(2) Certification. The Governor, or head of a State agency designated by the Governor, must certify in writing to the Administrator that the State's mediation program meets the following program requirements: (i) That the State's mediation program provides mediation services to covered persons with the aim of reaching mutually agreeable decisions between the parties under the program; (ii) That the State's mediation program is authorized or administered by an agency of the State government or by the Governor of the State; (iii) That the State's mediation program provides for training of mediators in mediation skills and in all issues covered by the State's mediation program; (iv) That the State's mediation program shall provide confidential mediation as defined in 785.2; (v) That the State's mediation program ensures, in the case of agricultural loans, that all lenders and borrowers of agricultural loans receive adequate notification of the mediation program; (vi) That the State's mediation program ensures, in the case of other issues covered by the mediation program, that persons directly affected by actions of the USDA receive adequate notification of the mediation program; and (vii) That the State's mediation program prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.