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Title 29, LaborRelease 119-110

§3248 Nondiscrimination

Title 29 › CHAPTER 32 — WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY › SUBCHAPTER I — WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES › Part E — Administration › § 3248

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Programs and activities that get federal money under this law must not treat people unfairly. They cannot stop someone from joining, deny benefits, give worse service, or refuse to hire them because of race, color, religion, sex (except as allowed under Title IX), national origin, age, disability, or political belief. People who take part in a funded program must not be treated worse just because they are participants. Funds may not be used to hire people to build, run, or care for places used mainly for religious worship or religious teaching, except for routine maintenance of a place that is not mainly used for that purpose when the organization is part of the program. Citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, parolees, and other immigrants the Attorney General allows to work may take part and get help. If a state or other recipient breaks these rules, the Secretary will tell them to fix it. If they do not fix it within a reasonable time, and no more than 60 days, the Secretary can send the case to the Attorney General or take other lawful steps. The Attorney General can sue in federal court and seek orders to stop discrimination. Job Corps members are treated as the final recipients of federal help. The Secretary had to issue rules to carry out these requirements by one year after July 22, 2014, using standards and complaint steps like the related age, disability, sex, and race laws.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §3248

Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
(1)Federal financial assistance
For the purpose of applying the prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of age under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), on the basis of disability under section 794 of this title, on the basis of sex under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), or on the basis of race, color, or national origin under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), programs and activities funded or otherwise financially assisted in whole or in part under this Act are considered to be programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
(2)Prohibition of discrimination regarding participation, benefits, and employment
No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, subjected to discrimination under, or denied employment in the administration of or in connection with, any such program or activity because of race, color, religion, sex (except as otherwise permitted under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 [20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.]), national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation or belief.
(3)Prohibition on assistance for facilities for sectarian instruction or religious worship
Participants shall not be employed under this subchapter to carry out the construction, operation, or maintenance of any part of any facility that is used or to be used for sectarian instruction or as a place for religious worship (except with respect to the maintenance of a facility that is not primarily or inherently devoted to sectarian instruction or religious worship, in a case in which the organization operating the facility is part of a program or activity providing services to participants).
(4)Prohibition on discrimination on basis of participant status
No person may discriminate against an individual who is a participant in a program or activity that receives funds under this subchapter, with respect to the terms and conditions affecting, or rights provided to, the individual, solely because of the status of the individual as a participant.
(5)Prohibition on discrimination against certain noncitizens
Participation in programs and activities or receiving funds under this subchapter shall be available to citizens and nationals of the United States, lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens, refugees, asylees, and parolees, and other immigrants authorized by the Attorney General to work in the United States.
(b)Action of Secretary
Whenever the Secretary finds that a State or other recipient of funds under this subchapter has failed to comply with a provision of law referred to in subsection (a)(1), or with paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (a), including an applicable regulation prescribed to carry out such provision or paragraph, the Secretary shall notify such State or recipient and shall request that the State or recipient comply. If within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days, the State or recipient fails or refuses to comply, the Secretary may—
(1)refer the matter to the Attorney General with a recommendation that an appropriate civil action be instituted; or
(2)take such other action as may be provided by law.
(c)Action of Attorney General
When a matter is referred to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (b)(1), or whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that a State or other recipient of funds under this subchapter is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of a provision of law referred to in subsection (a)(1) or in violation of paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (a), the Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States for such relief as may be appropriate, including injunctive relief.
(d)Job Corps
For the purposes of this section, Job Corps members shall be considered to be the ultimate beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance.
(e)Regulations
The Secretary shall issue regulations necessary to implement this section not later than 1 year after July 22, 2014. Such regulations shall adopt standards for determining discrimination and procedures for enforcement that are consistent with the Acts referred to in subsection (a)(1), as well as procedures to ensure that complaints filed under this section and such Acts are processed in a manner that avoids duplication of effort.

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 Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6101 of Title 42 and Tables. The Education

Amendments

of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), (2), is Pub. L. 92–318, June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 235. Title IX of the Act, known as the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, is classified principally to chapter 38 (§ 1681 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of title IX to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1681 of Title 20 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. Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000a of Title 42 and Tables. This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 113–128, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1425, known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which enacted this chapter, repealed chapter 30 (§ 2801 et seq.) of this title and chapter 73 (§ 9201 et seq.) of Title 20, Education, and made

Amendments

to numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the first day of the first full program year after
July 22, 2014 (
July 1, 2015), see section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 3248

Title 29, Labor

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110