---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4722"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4722"
heading: "State government and statewide programs and grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4722"
units:
  - "Chapter 62 — Intergovernmental Personnel Program"
  - "Subchapter II — Strengthening State and Local Personnel Administration"
---

# §4722. State government and statewide programs and grants

- (a) **Amount of grants; executive certification; systems of personnel administration: innovation and diversity in design, execution, and management—** The [Office](/usc/42/4762.md?p=1) of Personnel Management (hereinafter referred to as the “[Office](/usc/42/4762.md?p=1)”) is authorized to make grants to a [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) for up to 75 per centum (or, with respect to fiscal years commencing after the expiration of three years following the effective date of the grant provisions of this chapter, for up to 50 per centum) of the costs of developing and carrying out programs or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), on the certification of the Governor of that [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) that the programs or [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) contained within the [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3)’s application are consistent with the applicable principles set forth in clauses (1)–(6) of the third paragraph of [section 4701 of this title](/usc/42/4701.md), to strengthen personnel administration in that [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) government or in [local governments](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) of that [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3). The authority provided by this section shall be employed in such a manner as to encourage innovation and allow for diversity on the part of [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) and [local governments](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) in the design, execution, and management of their own systems of personnel administration.
- (b) **Application; time of making; information; terms and conditions; personnel administration improvement—** An application for a grant shall be made at such time or times, and contain such information, as the [Office](/usc/42/4762.md?p=1) may prescribe. The [Office](/usc/42/4762.md?p=1) may make a grant under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section only if the application therefor—
  - (1) provides for designation, by the Governor or chief executive authority, of the [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) [office](/usc/42/4762.md?p=1) that will have primary authority and responsibility for the development and administration of the approved program or [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) at the [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) level;
  - (2) provides for the establishment of merit personnel administration where appropriate and the further improvement of existing systems based on merit principles;
  - (3) provides for specific personnel administration improvement needs of the [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) government and, to the extent appropriate, of the [local governments](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) in that [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3), including [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) personnel administration services for [local governments](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4);
  - (4) provides assurance that the making of a Federal Government grant will not result in a reduction in relevant [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) or [local government](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) expenditures or the substitution of Federal funds for [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) or local funds previously made available for these purposes; and
  - (5) sets forth clear and practicable actions for the improvement of particular aspects of personnel administration such as—
    - (A) establishment of statewide personnel systems of general or special functional coverage to meet the needs of urban, suburban, or rural governmental jurisdictions that are not able to provide sound career services, opportunities for advancement, adequate retirement and leave systems, and other career inducements to well-qualified professional, administrative, and technical personnel;
    - (B) making [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) grants to [local governments](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) to strengthen their staffs by improving their personnel administration;
    - (C) assessment of [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) and [local government](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) needs for professional, administrative, and technical manpower, and the initiation of timely and appropriate action to meet such needs;
    - (D) strengthening one or more major areas of personnel administration, such as recruitment and selection, training and development, and pay administration;
    - (E) undertaking research and demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to develop and apply better personnel administration techniques, including both [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) conducted by [State](/usc/42/4762.md?p=3) and [local government](/usc/42/4762.md?p=4) staffs and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) conducted by colleges or universities or other appropriate [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations under grants or contracts;
    - (F) strengthening the recruitment, selection, assignment, and development of handicapped persons, women, and members of disadvantaged groups whose capacities are not being utilized fully;
    - (G) training programs related directly to upgrading within the [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) for nonprofessional employees who show promise of developing a capacity for assuming professional responsibility;
    - (H) achieving the most effective use of scarce professional, administrative, and technical manpower; and
    - (I) increasing intergovernmental cooperation in personnel administration, with respect to such matters as recruiting, examining, pay studies, training, education, personnel interchange, manpower utilization, and fringe benefits.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–648, title II, § 202, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1911; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 102, eff. Jan. 1, 1979, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

For effective date of the grant provisions of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), as being 180 days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 4772 of this title.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–648, Jan. 5, 1971, 84 Stat. 1909, known as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4701 of this title and Tables.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

“Office of Personnel Management” and “Office” substituted in text for “United States Civil Service Commission” and “Commission”, respectively, pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, § 102, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783, set out under section 1101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which transferred all functions vested by statute in United States Civil Service Commission and Chairman thereof to Director of Office of Personnel Management (except as otherwise specified), effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by section 1–102 of Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, set out under section 1101 of Title 5.