State agencies and people receiving certain federal funds must not discriminate against people in covered programs or activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
It is a discriminatory practice for any state agency receiving federal funds making it subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. § 2000 d et seq.), or for any person receiving such federal funds from a state agency, to exclude a person from participation in, deny benefits to a person, or to subject a person to discrimination under any program or activity receiving such funds, on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Acts 1995, ch. 381, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in this section, is compiled in 42 U.S.C. § 2000 d et seq. Attorney General Opinions. The human rights commission has authority to process complaints alleging violations of T.C.A. § 4-21-904 against state agencies or persons receiving federal funds from a state agency; thus, local government entities, educational institutions, private for profit and non-profit corporations can only be included in specific instances where they are considered persons receiving such federal funds from a state agency, OAG 00-107, 2000 Tenn. AG LEXIS 109 (6/12/00). The human rights commission has no direct authority to monitor recipients and subrecipients of federally funded programs and activities for compliance with the statute, except to the extent that it is implicit in the commission's authority, OAG 00-107, 2000 Tenn. AG LEXIS 109 (6/12/00). The human rights commission has authority to process complaints alleging violations of T.C.A. § 4-21-904 , which includes the authority to investigate such complaints under T.C.A. § 4-21-302 ; the commission is also authorized to review complaints filed with state agencies under T.C.A. § 4-21-905 to determine whether Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000 d et seq., is applicable, OAG 00-107, 2000 Tenn. AG LEXIS 109 (6/12/00).