42 U.S.C. § 5309 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 42. The Public Health and Welfare § 5309. Nondiscrimination in programs and activities

(a)Prohibited conduct

No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or in part with funds made available under this chapter. Any prohibition against discrimination on the basis of age under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 or with respect to an otherwise qualified handicapped individual as provided in section 794 of Title 29 shall also apply to any such program or activity.

(b)Compliance procedures available to Secretary

Whenever the Secretary determines that a State or unit of general local government which is a recipient of assistance under this chapter has failed to comply with subsection (a) or (e) or an applicable regulation, he shall notify the Governor of such State or the chief executive officer of such unit of local government of the noncompliance and shall request the Governor or the chief executive officer to secure compliance. If within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed sixty days, the Governor or the chief executive officer fails or refuses to secure compliance, the Secretary is authorized to (1) refer the matter to the Attorney General with a recommendation that an appropriate civil action be instituted; (2) exercise the powers and functions provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d); (3) exercise the powers and functions provided for in section 5311(a) of this title; or (4) take such other action as may be provided by law.

(c)Civil action by Attorney General

When a matter is referred to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (b), or whenever he has reason to believe that a State government or unit of general local government is engaged in a pattern or practice in violation of the provisions of this section, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court for such relief as may be appropriate, including injunctive relief.

(d)Waiver of race discrimination prohibitions regarding assistance to Hawaiian Home Lands

The provisions of this section and section 5304(b)(2) of this title which relate to discrimination on the basis of race shall not apply to the provision of assistance by grantees under this chapter to the Hawaiian Home Lands.

(e)Equal access