---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 200305"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "200305"
heading: "Financial assistance to States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/200305"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Outdoor Recreation Programs"
  - "Chapter 2003 — Land and Water Conservation Fund"
---

# §200305. Financial assistance to States

- (a) **Authority of Secretary To Make Payments.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance to the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) from amounts available for [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) purposes. Payments may be made to the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) as provided in this section, subject to such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) considers appropriate and in the public interest to carry out the purposes of this chapter, for outdoor recreation:
  - (1) Planning.
  - (2) Acquisition of land, water, or interests in land or water.
  - (3) Development.
- (b) **Apportionment Among States.—** Amounts appropriated and available for [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) purposes for each fiscal year shall be apportioned among the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), whose determination shall be final, in accordance with the following formula:
  - (1) Forty percent of the 1st $225,000,000; 30 percent of the next $275,000,000; and 20 percent of all additional appropriations shall be apportioned equally among the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4).
  - (2) At any time, the remaining appropriation shall be apportioned on the basis of need to individual [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) in such amounts as in the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3)’s judgment will best accomplish the purposes of this chapter. The determination of need shall include consideration of—
    - (A) the proportion that the population of each [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) bears to the total population of the [United States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=5);
    - (B) the use of outdoor recreation resources of each [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) by persons from outside the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4); and
    - (C) the Federal resources and programs in each [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4).
  - (3) The total allocation to a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) under paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2) shall not exceed 10 percent of the total amount allocated to all of the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) in any one year.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall notify each [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) of its apportionments. The amounts shall be available for payment to the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) for planning, acquisition, or development [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) as prescribed. Any amount of any apportionment that has not been paid or obligated by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) during the fiscal year in which the notification is given and for 2 fiscal years thereafter shall be reapportioned by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) in accordance with [paragraph (2)](#b-2) without regard to the 10 percent limitation to an individual [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) specified in this subsection.
- (c) **Matching Requirements.—** Payments to any [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) shall cover not more than 50 percent of the cost of planning, acquisition, or development [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) that are undertaken by the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4). The remaining share of the cost shall be borne by the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) in a manner and with [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) or [services](/usc/54/100102.md?p=4) as shall be satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3).
- (d) **Comprehensive State Plan.—**
  - (1) **Required for consideration of financial assistance.—** A comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan shall be required prior to the consideration by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) of financial assistance for acquisition or development [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4). The plan shall be adequate if, in the judgment of the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), it encompasses and will promote the purposes of this chapter. No plan shall be approved unless the chief executive official of the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) certifies that ample opportunity for public participation in plan development and revision has been accorded. The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall develop, in consultation with others, criteria for public participation, which criteria shall constitute the basis for the certification by the chief executive official. The plan shall contain—
    - (A) the name of the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) agency that will have authority to represent and act for the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) in dealing with the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) for purposes of this chapter;
    - (B) an evaluation of the demand for and supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities in the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4);
    - (C) a program for the implementation of the plan; and
    - (D) other necessary information, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3).
  - (2) **Factors to be considered.—** The plan shall take into account relevant Federal resources and programs and shall be correlated so far as practicable with other [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4), regional, and local plans. Where there exists or is in preparation for any particular [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) a comprehensive plan financed in part with [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) supplied by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) of Housing and Urban Development, any statewide outdoor recreation plan prepared for purposes of this part shall be based on the same population, growth, and other pertinent factors as are used in formulating plans financed by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) of Housing and Urban Development.
  - (3) **Provision of assistance when plan not otherwise available or to maintain plan.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance to any [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) for [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) for the preparation of a comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan when the plan is not otherwise available or for the [maintenance](/usc/54/200501.md?p=4) of the plan.
  - (4) **Wetlands.—** A comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan shall specifically address wetlands within the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) as an important outdoor recreation resource as a prerequisite to approval, except that a revised comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan shall not be required by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), if a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) submits, and the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), acting through the [Director](/usc/54/100102.md?p=1), approves, as a part of and as an addendum to the existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan, a wetlands priority plan developed in consultation with the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) agency with responsibility for fish and wildlife resources and consistent with the national wetlands priority conservation plan developed under section 301 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 ([16 U.S.C. 3921](/usc/16/3921.md)) or, if the national plan has not been completed, consistent with the provisions of that section.
- (e) **Projects for Land and Water Acquisition and Development of Basic Outdoor Recreation Facilities.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** In addition to assistance for planning [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance to any [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) for the types of [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) described in paragraphs [(2)](#e-2) and [(3)](#e-3), or combinations of those [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4), if the [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) are in accordance with the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) comprehensive plan.
  - (2) **Acquisition of land or water.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** Under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance for a [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) for the acquisition of land, water, or an interest in land or water, or a wetland area or an interest in a wetland area, as identified in the wetlands provisions of the comprehensive plan (other than land, water, or an interest in land or water acquired from the [United States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=5) for less than fair market value), but not including incidental costs relating to acquisition.
    - (B) **Retention of right of use and occupancy.—** When a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) provides that the owner of a single-family residence may, at the owner’s option, elect to retain a right of use and occupancy for not less than 6 months after the date of acquisition of the residence and the owner elects to retain such a right—
      - (i) the owner shall be deemed to have waived any benefits under sections 203 to 206 of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 ([42 U.S.C. 4623](/usc/42/4623.md) to 4626); and
      - (ii) for the purposes of those sections the owner shall not be deemed to be a displaced person as defined in section 101 of that Act ([42 U.S.C. 4601](/usc/42/4601.md)).
  - (3) **Development of basic outdoor recreation facilities.—** Under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance for a [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) for development of basic outdoor recreation facilities to serve the general public, including the development of Federal land under lease to [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) for terms of 25 years or more. No assistance shall be available under this chapter to enclose or shelter a facility normally used for an outdoor recreation activity, but the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may permit local funding, not to exceed 10 percent of the total amount allocated to a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) in any one year, to be used for construction of a sheltered facility for a swimming pool or ice skating rink in an area where the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) determines that the construction is justified by the severity of climatic conditions and the increased public use made possible by the construction.
- (f) **Payments.—**
  - (1) **Criteria for making payments.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may make a payment to a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) only for a planning, acquisition, or development [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) that is approved by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3). The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall not make a payment for or on account of any [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) with respect to which financial assistance has been given or promised under any other Federal program or activity, and no financial assistance shall be given under any other Federal program or activity for or on account of any [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) with respect to which the assistance has been given or promised under this chapter. The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may make payments from time to time in keeping with the rate of progress toward the satisfactory completion of a [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4). The approval of all [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) and all payments, or any commitments relating thereto, shall be withheld until the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) receives appropriate written assurance from the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) that the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) has the ability and intention to finance its share of the cost of all of the [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4), and to operate and maintain by acceptable standards, at [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) expense, the properties or facilities acquired or developed for public outdoor recreation use.
  - (2) **Payment recipients.—** Payments for all [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) shall be made by the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) to the chief executive official of the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) or to a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) official or agency designated by the chief executive official or by [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) law having authority and responsibility to accept and to administer [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) paid under this section for approved [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4). If consistent with an approved [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4), [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) may be transferred by the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) to a political subdivision or other appropriate public agency.
  - (3) **Conversion to other than public outdoor recreation use.—** No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), be converted to other than public outdoor recreation use. The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall approve a conversion only if the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) finds it to be in accordance with the then-existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan and only on such conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) considers necessary to ensure the substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location. Wetland areas and interests therein as identified in the wetlands provisions of the comprehensive plan and proposed to be acquired as suitable replacement property within the same [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) that is otherwise acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), acting through the [Director](/usc/54/100102.md?p=1), shall be deemed to be of reasonably equivalent usefulness with the property proposed for conversion.
  - (4) **Reports and accounting procedures.—** No payment shall be made to any [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) until the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) has agreed to—
    - (A) provide such reports to the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) in such form and containing such information as may be reasonably necessary to enable the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) to perform the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3)’s duties under this chapter; and
    - (B) provide such fiscal control and [fund](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) accounting procedures as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting for Federal [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) paid to the [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) under this chapter.
- (g) **Records.—** A recipient of assistance under this chapter shall keep such records as the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall prescribe, including records that fully disclose—
  - (1) the amount and the disposition by the recipient of the proceeds of the assistance;
  - (2) the total cost of the [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) or undertaking in connection with which the assistance is given or used; and
  - (3) the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
- (h) **Access to Records.—** The [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3), and the Comptroller General, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any records of the recipient that are pertinent to assistance received under this chapter.
- (i) **Prohibition of Discrimination.—** With respect to property acquired or developed with assistance from the [Fund](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1), discrimination on the basis of residence, including preferential reservation or membership [systems](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5), is prohibited except to the extent that reasonable differences in admission and other fees may be maintained on the basis of residence.
- (j) **Coordination With Federal Agencies.—** To ensure consistency in policies and actions under this chapter with other related Federal programs and activities and to ensure coordination of the planning, acquisition, and development assistance to [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) under this section with other related Federal programs and activities—
  - (1) the President may issue such regulations with respect thereto as the President considers desirable; and
  - (2) the assistance may be provided only in accordance with the regulations.
- (k) **Capital Improvement and Other Projects To Reduce Crime.—**
  - (1) **Availability and purpose of funds.—** In addition to assistance for planning [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4), and in addition to the [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) identified in [subsection (e)](#e), and from amounts appropriated out of the Violent Crime Reduction Trust [Fund](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide financial assistance to the [States](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4), not to exceed $15,000,000, for [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) or combinations thereof for the purpose of making capital improvements and other measures to increase safety in urban parks and recreation areas, including [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) to—
    - (A) increase lighting within or adjacent to public parks and recreation areas;
    - (B) provide emergency telephone lines to contact law enforcement or security personnel in areas within or adjacent to public parks and recreation areas;
    - (C) increase security personnel within or adjacent to public parks and recreation areas; and
    - (D) [fund](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) any other [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) intended to increase the security and safety of public parks and recreation areas.
  - (2) **Eligibility.—** In addition to the requirements for [project](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) approval imposed by this section, eligibility for assistance under this subsection shall depend on a showing of need. In providing [funds](/usc/54/200301.md?p=1) under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) shall give priority to [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) proposed for urban parks and recreation areas with the highest rates of crime and, in particular, to urban parks and recreation areas with the highest rates of sexual assault.
  - (3) **Federal share.—** Notwithstanding [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/54/100102.md?p=3) may provide 70 percent improvement grants for [projects](/usc/54/200401.md?p=4) undertaken by a [State](/usc/54/200102.md?p=4) for the purposes described in this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3172; Pub. L. 116–9, title III, § 3001(c), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 755.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 200305 | 16 U.S.C. 460l–8(less (b)(5) (last sentence)). | Pub. L. 88–578, title I, § 6, formerly § 5(less (b)(5) (last sentence)), Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 900; renumbered § 6, Pub. L. 92–347, § 2, July 11, 1972, 86 Stat. 459; Pub. L. 93–303, § 2, June 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 194; Pub. L. 94–422, title I, § 101(3), Sept. 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 1314. 1315; Pub. L. 95–625, title VI, § 606, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3519; Pub. L. 99–645, title III, § 303, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3587; Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40133, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1918; Pub. L. 103–437, § 6(p)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4586; Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title VIII, § 814(d)(1)(H), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4196. |

In subsection (b)(5), the words “(when such islands achieve Commonwealth status)” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (c), the words “No payment may be made to any State for or on account of any cost or obligation incurred or any service rendered prior to September 3, 1964” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (d)(2), the words “Secretary of Housing and Urban Development” are substituted for “Housing and Home Finance Agency” because of 42 U.S.C. 3534.

In subsection (d)(4), the words “For fiscal year 1988 and thereafter” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (e)(3), the words “and after September 28, 1976” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (f)(2), the words “chief executive official” are substituted for “Governor” for clarity and for consistency in the new title.

In subsection (j), the words “(including those conducted pursuant to title VII of the Housing Act of 1961 and section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954)” are omitted as obsolete. The authority to make grants or loans under title VII terminated on December 31, 1974. Section 701 was repealed by section 313(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law 97–35, 95 Stat. 398).

In subsection (k)(3), the words “and the remaining share of the cost shall be borne by the State” are omitted as unnecessary.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 116–9 struck out par. (5) which read as follows: “For the purposes of paragraph (1), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall be deemed to be one State, and shall receive shares of the apportionment in proportion to their populations.”