As used in this chapter, the term “building” means any building or facility (other than (A) a privately owned residential structure not leased by the Government for subsidized housing programs and (B) any building or facility on a military installation designed and constructed primarily for use by able bodied military personnel) the intended use for which either will require that such building or facility be accessible to the public, or may result in the employment or residence therein of physically handicapped persons, which building or facility is—
(1) to be constructed or altered by or on behalf of the United States;
(2) to be leased in whole or in part by the United States after August 12, 1968;
(3) to be financed in whole or in part by a grant or a loan made by the United States after August 12, 1968, if such building or facility is subject to standards for design, construction, or alteration issued under authority of the law authorizing such grant or loan; or
(4) to be constructed under authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1960, the National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, or title III of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §1, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 91–205, Mar. 5, 1970, 84 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(1), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2507.)
The National Capital Transportation Act of 1960, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 86–669, July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 537, which enacted sections 651, 652, 661 to 665, and 671 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and enacted provisions set out as notes under section 651 of former Title 40 and which was repealed by Pub. L. 91–143, §8(a)(1), Dec. 9, 1969, 83 Stat. 322.
The National Capital Transportation Act of 1965, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 89–173, Sept. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 663, as amended. Section 1 of the Act, which was classified to a note under section 681 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, was repealed by Pub. L. 107–217, §6(b), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1304. Section 2 of the Act, which was classified to section 681 of former Title 40, has been omitted from the Code. Sections 3 and 4 of the Act, which were classified to sections 682 and 683, respectively, of former Title 40, were repealed by Pub. L. 91–143, §8(a)(2), Dec. 9, 1969, 83 Stat. 323. Sections 5(a) (no subsec. (b) was enacted) and 6 of the Act, which were classified to sections 684 and 685, respectively, of former Title 40, were repealed by Pub. L. 107–217, §6(b), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1304. Section 7 of the Act amended provisions classified to section 662 of former Title 40, which was repealed by Pub. L. 89–774, §5(b), Nov. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 1353. Section 8 of the Act, which was classified to a note under section 681 of former Title 40, has been omitted from the Code.
1976—Pub. L. 94–541 inserted in parenthetical text “not leased by the Government for subsidized housing programs” after “structure” and struck out from par. (2) “, after construction or alteration in accordance with plans and specifications of the United States” after “August 12, 1968”.
1970—Par. (4). Pub. L. 91–205 added par. (4).
Pub. L. 90–480, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 718, which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the “Architectural Barriers Act of 1968”.
Section 202 of Pub. L. 94–541 provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) of section 201 of this Act [amending this section] shall not apply to any lease entered into before January 1, 1977. It shall apply to every lease entered into on or after January 1, 1977, including any renewal of a lease entered into before such date which renewal is on or after such date.”
The Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall prescribe standards for the design, construction, and alteration of buildings (other than residential structures subject to this chapter and buildings, structures, and facilities of the Department of Defense and of the United States Postal Service subject to this chapter) to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §2, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(2), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2507; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–541 substituted “shall prescribe” and “to insure whenever possible” for “is authorized to prescribe such” and “as may be necessary to insure”, respectively, and inserted in parenthetical text “and of the United States Postal Service” after “Department of Defense”.
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall prescribe standards for the design, construction, and alteration of buildings which are residential structures subject to this chapter to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §3, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(3), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2507; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–541 substituted “shall prescribe” and “to insure whenever possible” for “is authorized to prescribe such” and “as may be necessary to insure”, respectively.
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall prescribe standards for the design, construction, and alteration of buildings, structures, and facilities of the Department of Defense subject to this chapter to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §4, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(4), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2507; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–541 substituted “shall prescribe” and “to insure whenever possible” for “is authorized to prescribe such” and “as may be necessary to insure”, respectively.
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
The United States Postal Service, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall prescribe such standards for the design, construction, and alteration of its buildings to insure whenever possible that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to, and use of, such buildings.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §4a, as added Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(5), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2508; amended Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
Every building designed, constructed, or altered after the effective date of a standard issued under this chapter which is applicable to such building, shall be designed, constructed, or altered in accordance with such standard.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §5, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719.)
The Administrator of General Services, with respect to standards issued under section 4152 of this title, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, with respect to standards issued under section 4153 of this title, and the Secretary of Defense with respect to standards issued under section 4154 of this title, and the United States Postal Service with respect to standards issued under section 4154a of this title—
(1) is authorized to modify or waive any such standard, on a case-by-case basis, upon application made by the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States concerned, and upon a determination by the Administrator or Secretary, as the case may be, that such modification or waiver is clearly necessary, and
(2) shall establish a system of continuing surveys and investigations to insure compliance with such standards.
(Pub. L. 90–480, §6, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(6), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2508.)
1976—Pub. L. 94–541, in introductory text, inserted reference to the United States Postal Service with respect to standards issued under section 4154a of this title and struck out “is authorized” at end; in par. (1), inserted introductory words “is authorized”; and in par. (2), substituted “shall establish a system of continuing surveys and investigations” for “to conduct such surveys and investigations as he deems necessary”.
Section, Pub. L. 90–480, §7, as added Pub. L. 94–541, title II, §201(7), Oct. 18, 1976, 90 Stat. 2508; amended Pub. L. 103–437, §15(n), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4593, which required the Administrator of General Services to report to Congress during the first week of January of each year on his activities and those of other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government under this chapter during the preceding fiscal year and required the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board established by section 792 of title 29 to report to the Public Works and Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives and the Environment and Public Works Committee of the Senate during the first week of January of each year on its activities and actions to insure compliance with the standards prescribed under this chapter, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, item 6 on page 155 and item 10 on page 173 of House Document No. 103–7.