Federal Protections

The following key pieces of legislation and executive orders heavily influence how the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning conducts public engagement including public meetings, and the distribution of materials and communications.

These regulations include:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., 78 stat. 252) states that "no person in the United States, shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
• Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973, (23 U.S.C. § 324 et seq.), (prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex); Title 23 Chapter 3 Section 324 of Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973.  This Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.  No person shall, on the ground of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance.
• The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, (42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq.), (prohibits discrimination on the basis of age).  This Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.  The Act applies to persons of all ages.  Under the Act recipients of federal funds may not exclude, deny or limit services or otherwise discriminate against persons on the basis of age.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 701).  The ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides comprehensive civil rights protections to any qualified person with a disability and it forbids discrimination not only in government programs, benefits and services, but also in employment practices, access to public accommodations, and telecommunications.  While Section 504 applies only to the federal government and recipient of federal funds, Title II of the ADA applies to all state and local governments, regardless of funding source.