Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§2000d–4a “program or Activity” and “program” Defined

Title 42 › CHAPTER 21 — CIVIL RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER V — FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS › § 2000d–4a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Names which groups count as a "program or activity" or a "program" when any part gets federal money. Program or activity: the operations that receive federal financial help. Program: the same idea. It covers state or local government departments and the part that gives out the money; colleges, universities, and public higher‑education systems; local school districts, vocational systems, and other school systems; whole private businesses or nonprofits if the whole entity gets the money or if their main work is education, health care, housing, social services, or parks and recreation; a single plant or separate facility that gets the aid; and any joint entity set up by two or more of these.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2000d–4a

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

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “program or activity” and the term “program” mean all of the operations of— (1)
(2)(A)a college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of higher education; or
(B)a local educational agency (as defined in section 7801 of title 20), system of vocational education, or other school system;
(3)(A)an entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship—
(i)if assistance is extended to such corporation, partnership, private organization, or sole proprietorship as a whole; or
(ii)which is principally engaged in the business of providing education, health care, housing, social services, or parks and recreation; or
(B)the entire plant or other comparable, geographically separate facility to which Federal financial assistance is extended, in the case of any other corporation, partnership, private organization, or sole proprietorship; or
(4)any other entity which is established by two or more of the entities described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3);
any part of which is extended Federal financial assistance.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of title 20. 2002—Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 107–110 substituted “7801” for “8801”. 1994—Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 103–382 substituted “section 8801 of title 20” for “section 198(a)(10) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–110 effective Jan. 8, 2002, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education. Exclusion From CoverageThis section not to be construed to extend application of Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.] to ultimate beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance excluded from coverage before Mar. 22, 1988, see section 7 of Pub. L. 100–259, set out as a

Construction

note under section 1687 of Title 20, Education. Abortion NeutralityThis section not to be construed to force or require any individual or hospital or any other institution, program, or activity receiving Federal funds to perform or pay for an abortion, see section 8 of Pub. L. 100–259, set out as a note under section 1688 of Title 20, Education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2000d–4a

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110