Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 2.djvu/331

 PUBLIC LAW 106-310—OCT. 17, 2000 114 STAT. 1213 "SEC. 1955. SERVICES PROVIDED BY NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA- 42 USC 300x-65. TIONS. "(a) PURPOSES.— The purposes of this section are— "(1) to prohibit discrimination against nongovernmental organizations and certain individuals on the basis of religion in the distribution of government funds to provide substance abuse services under this title and title V, and the receipt of services under such titles; and "(2) to allow the organizations to accept the funds to provide the services to the individuals without impairing the religious character of the organizations or the religious freedom of the individuals. "(b) RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED AS NONGOVERN- MENTAL PROVIDERS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—^A State may administer and provide substance abuse services under any program under this title or title V through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to provide assistance to beneficiaries under such titles with nongovernmental organizations. "(2) REQUIREMENT. —^A State that elects to utilize nongovernmental organizations as provided for under paragraph (1) shall consider, on the same basis as other nongovernmental organizations, religious organizations to provide services under substance abuse programs under this title or title V, so long as the programs under such titles are implemented in a manner consistent with the Establishment Clause of the first amendment to the Constitution. Neither the Federal Government nor a State or local government receiving funds under such programs shall discriminate against an organization that provides services under, or applies to provide services under, such programs, on the basis that the organization has a religious character. " (c) RELIGIOUS CHARACTER AND INDEPENDENCE. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— ^A religious organization that provides services under any substance abuse program under this title or title V shall retain its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, including such organization's control over the definition, development, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. "(2) ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS. —Neither the Federal Government nor a State or local government shall require a religious organization— "(A) to alter its form of internal governance; or "(B) to remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols, in order to be eligible to provide services under any substance abuse program under this title or title V. " (d) EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES. — "(1) SUBSTANCE ABUSE. —^A religious organization that provides services under any substance abuse program under this title or title V may require that its employees providing services under such program adhere to rules forbidding the use of drugs or alcohol. "(2) TITLE VII EXEMPTION.—The exemption of a religious organization provided under section 702 or 703(e)(2) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-l, 2000e-2(e)(2)) regarding employment practices shall not be affected by the

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