---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300ff–53"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300ff–53"
heading: "Preferences in making grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300ff-53"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXIV — Hiv Health Care Services Program"
  - "Part C — Early Intervention Services"
  - "Subpart i — categorical grants"
---

# §300ff–53. Preferences in making grants

- (a) **In general—** In making grants under [section 300ff–51 of this title](/usc/42/300ff–51.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give preference to any qualified applicant experiencing an increase in the burden of providing [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) regarding HIV/AIDS, as indicated by the factors specified in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Specification of factors—**
  - (1) **In general—** In the case of the geographic area with respect to which the entity involved is applying for a grant under [section 300ff–51 of this title](/usc/42/300ff–51.md), the factors referred to in [subsection (a)](#a), as determined for the period specified in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), are—
    - (A) the number of cases of HIV/AIDS;
    - (B) the rate of increase in such cases;
    - (C) the lack of availability of early intervention [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
    - (D) the number of other cases of sexually transmitted diseases, and[^1] the number of cases of tuberculosis and of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse[^2] and the number of cases of individuals co-infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or C;
    - (E) the rate of increase in each of the cases specified in [subparagraph (D)](#b-1-D);
    - (F) the lack of availability of primary health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) from [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) other than such applicant; and
    - (G) the distance between such area and the nearest community that has an adequate level of availability of appropriate HIV-related [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and the length of time required to travel such distance.
  - (2) **Relevant period of time—** The period referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) is the 2-year period preceding the fiscal year for which the entity involved is applying to receive a grant under [section 300ff–51 of this title](/usc/42/300ff–51.md).
- (c) **Equitable allocations—** In providing preferences for purposes of [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall equitably allocate the preferences among urban and rural areas.
- (d) **Certain areas—** Of the applicants who qualify for preference under this section—
  - (1) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give preference to applicants that will expend the grant under [section 300ff–51 of this title](/usc/42/300ff–51.md) to provide early intervention under such section in rural areas; and
  - (2) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall give preference to areas that are underserved with respect to such [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
[^2]: So in original. A comma probably should appear.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVI, § 2653, as added Pub. L. 101–381, title III, § 301(a), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 608; amended Pub. L. 106–345, title III, § 311, Oct. 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 1345; Pub. L. 109–415, title III, § 302(b), title VII, §§ 702(3), 703, Dec. 19, 2006, 120 Stat. 2806, 2820; Pub. L. 111–87, § 2(a)(1), (3)(A), Oct. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2885.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2009—Pub. L. 111–87 repealed Pub. L. 109–415, § 703, and revived the provisions of this section as in effect on Sept. 30, 2009. See 2006 Amendment note and Effective Date of 2009 Amendment; Revival of Section note below.

2006—Pub. L. 109–415, § 703, which directed repeal of this section effective Oct. 1, 2009, was itself repealed by Pub. L. 111–87, § 2(a)(1), effective Sept. 30, 2009.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–415, § 702(3), substituted “HIV/AIDS” for “HIV disease”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–415, § 302(b)(1)(A), substituted “HIV/AIDS” for “acquired immune deficiency syndrome”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(D). Pub. L. 109–415, § 302(b)(1)(B), inserted “and the number of cases of individuals co-infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or C” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–415, § 302(b)(2), substituted “preference” for “special consideration”.

2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–345 added subsec. (d).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment; Revival of Section

For provisions that repeal by section 2(a)(1) of Pub. L. 111–87 of section 703 of Pub. L. 109–415 be effective Sept. 30, 2009, and that the provisions of this section as in effect on Sept. 30, 2009, be revived, see section 2(a)(2), (3)(A) of Pub. L. 111–87, set out as a note under section 300ff–11 of this title.