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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§3015 Gifts and Donations

Title 42 › CHAPTER 35 — PROGRAMS FOR OLDER AMERICANS › SUBCHAPTER II — ADMINISTRATION ON AGING › § 3015

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Assistant Secretary can accept and use gifts or donations for the United States. Gifts can be cash, property, or unpaid services. They can be kept until spent. Money from gifts or from selling donated items is extra to the regular budget. Gifts can be used directly or given as grants or contracts to public or nonprofit groups to do three things: test new or better programs and services for older people, run conferences to share information about those services, and make and share informational materials in print, visual, electronic, or other forms. The Assistant Secretary must write rules explaining when a gift should be refused because it would hurt the agency’s fairness or damage the integrity or appearance of its programs or officials.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §3015

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

(a)Gifts and donations
The Assistant Secretary may accept, use, and dispose of, on behalf of the United States, gifts or donations (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and uncompensated services or property), which shall be available until expended for the purposes specified in subsection (b). Gifts of cash and proceeds of the sale of property shall be available in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this chapter.
(b)Use of gifts and donations
Gifts and donations accepted pursuant to subsection (a) may be used either directly, or for grants to or contracts with public or nonprofit private entities, for the following activities:
(1)The design and implementation of demonstrations of innovative ideas and best practices in programs and services for older individuals.
(2)The planning and conduct of conferences for the purpose of exchanging information, among concerned individuals and public and private entities and organizations, relating to programs and services provided under this chapter and other programs and services for older individuals.
(3)The development, publication, and dissemination of informational materials (in print, visual, electronic, or other media) relating to the programs and services provided under this chapter and other matters of concern to older individuals.
(c)Ethics guidelines
The Assistant Secretary shall establish written guidelines setting forth the criteria to be used in determining whether a gift or donation should be declined under this section because the acceptance of the gift or donation would—
(1)reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, or any employee of the Administration or Department, to carry out responsibilities or official duties under this chapter in a fair and objective manner; or
(2)compromise the integrity or the appearance of integrity of programs or services provided under this chapter or of any official involved in those programs or services.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3015, Pub. L. 89–73, title II, § 204, formerly § 205, as added Pub. L. 93–29, title II, § 201(c), May 3, 1973, 87 Stat. 33; amended Pub. L. 94–135, title I, § 101, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 713; Pub. L. 95–478, title I, § 102(e), title V, § 503(b)(3), (4)(A), Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1514, 1559; renumbered § 204 and amended Pub. L. 97–115, §§ 2(e)(2), (f), 11(b)(1), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1596, 1606; Pub. L. 98–459, title II, § 204, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1769; Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §§ 107(b), 108, 182(d), Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 931, 932, 964; Pub. L. 100–628, title VII, § 705(2), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3247; Pub. L. 102–375, title II, § 205, title IX, § 904(a)(6), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1211, 1306; Pub. L. 103–171, § 3(a)(13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1990, established a Federal Council on the Aging and provided for its membership, duties, etc., and authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1992 through 1995, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–501, title II, § 202(2), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2230. A prior section 204 of Pub. L. 89–73 was classified to section 3014 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 97–115.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 3015

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110