Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§6727 Nondiscrimination

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 80— - PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ANTIRECESSION PROVISIONS › § 6727

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

State and local government programs that get money from this federal program must not exclude people or treat them unfairly because of race, color, national origin, or sex. Rules that ban age discrimination, protect qualified people with disabilities, and cover religious discrimination or exemptions under other civil rights laws also apply to these programs. If a state or local government can clearly prove a program did not get any money from this federal source, the rule does not apply to that program. The rule about disability does not apply to construction started before January 1, 1977. The Secretary enforces these rules the same way other federal grant rules are enforced. The Attorney General can act the same as under those grant laws, and people harmed have the same rights and remedies.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §6727

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, or sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a State government or unit of local government, which government or unit receives funds made available under this subchapter. Any prohibition against discrimination on the basis of age under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 [42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.] 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. Any prohibition against discrimination on the basis of religion, or any exemption, from such prohibition, as provided in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.] or title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968, commonly referred to as Civil Rights Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], shall also apply to any such program or activity.
(2)(A)The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply where any State government or unit of local government demonstrates, by clear and convincing evidence, that the program or activity with respect to which the allegation of discrimination has been made is not funded in whole or in part with funds made available under this subchapter.
(B)The provisions of paragraph (1), relating to discrimination on the basis of handicapped status, shall not apply with respect to construction projects commenced prior to January 1, 1977.
(b)The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be enforced by the Secretary in the same manner and in accordance with the same procedures as are required by section 6701(a)(2), (3), 6716–6720, 6721, and 6723(f) of title 31 11 See References in Text note below. to enforce compliance with section 6716(a)–(c) of title 31.1 The Attorney General shall have the same authority, functions, and duties with respect to funds made available under this subchapter as the Attorney General has under section 6716(d), 6720, and 6721(d) of title 31 1 with respect to funds made available under chapter 67 of title 31.1 Any person aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) of this section shall have the same rights and remedies as a person aggrieved by a violation of section 6716(a)–(c) of title 31,1 including the rights provided under section 6721(d) of title 31.1

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is title III of Pub. L. 94–135, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 728, which is classified generally to chapter 76 (§ 6101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6101 of this title and Tables. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241, which is classified principally to subchapters II to IX (§ 2000a et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables. Act of April 11, 1968, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 73, known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, known as the Fair Housing Act, is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title. Chapter 67 of title 31, including section 6701, 6716–6720, 6721, and 6723, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by Pub. L. 99–272, title XIV, § 14001(a)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 327. See, also, Codification note below. Codification In subsec. (b), “section 6701(a)(2), (3), 6716–6720, 6721, and 6723(f) of title 31” substituted for “section 122, 124, and 125 of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 [31 U.S.C. 1242, 1244, 1245]”, “section 6716(a)–(c) of title 31” substituted for “section 122(a) of such Act” and also for “subsection (a) of section 122 of such Act” [31 U.S.C. 1242(a)], “section 6716(d), 6720, and 6721(d) of title 31” substituted for “section 122(g) and (h) and 124(c) of such Act [31 U.S.C. 1242(g), (h), 1244(c)]”, and “chapter 67 of title 31” substituted for “that Act [31 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.]”, respectively, on authority of Pub. L. 97–258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1067, the first section of which enacted Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also,

References in Text

note above.

Amendments

1977—Pub. L. 95–30 amended section generally, inserting reference to discriminatory practices prohibited by the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and generally restructuring the

Enforcement

and remedies provisions to incorporate the procedures of the Secretary and of the Attorney General under the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 6727

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73