---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 9902"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "9902"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/9902"
units:
  - "Chapter 106 — Community Services Block Grant Program"
---

# §9902. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Eligible entity; family literacy services—**
  - (A) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means an entity—
    - (i) that is an [eligible entity](#1-A) described in [paragraph (1)](#1) (as in effect on the day before October 27, 1998) as of the day before October 27, 1998, or is designated by the process described in [section 9909 of this title](/usc/42/9909.md) (including an organization serving migrant or seasonal farmworkers that is so described or designated); and
    - (ii) that has a tripartite [board](/usc/42/10261.md?p=2) or other mechanism described in subsection (a) or (b), as appropriate, of [section 9910 of this title](/usc/42/9910.md).
  - (B) **Family literacy services—** The term “family literacy services” has the meaning given the term in [section 9832 of this title](/usc/42/9832.md).
- (2) **Poverty line—** The term “poverty line” means the [official poverty line](/usc/42/254c–12.md?p=1) defined by the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Management and Budget based on the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census. The [Secretary](#4) shall revise annually (or at any shorter interval the [Secretary](#4) determines to be feasible and desirable) the poverty line, which shall be used as a criterion of eligibility in the community services block grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under this chapter. The required revision shall be accomplished by multiplying the [official poverty line](/usc/42/254c–12.md?p=1) by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers during the annual or other interval immediately preceding the time at which the revision is made. Whenever a [State](#5) determines that it serves the objectives of the block grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) established under this chapter, the [State](#5) may revise the poverty line to not to exceed 125 percent of the [official poverty line](/usc/42/254c–12.md?p=1) otherwise applicable under this paragraph.
- (3) **Private, nonprofit organization—** The term “private, nonprofit organization” includes a religious organization, to which the provisions of [section 9920 of this title](/usc/42/9920.md) shall apply.
- (4) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- (5) **State—** The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 105–285, title II, § 201, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2729.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 9902, Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, § 673, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 511; Pub. L. 97–115, § 17(a)(1), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1609; Pub. L. 98–288, § 31(a), May 21, 1984, 98 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 98–558, title II, § 202, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2884; Pub. L. 99–425, title IV, § 402, Sept. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 968; Pub. L. 101–501, title IV, §§ 402, 408, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1251, 1255; Pub. L. 103–171, § 7(c)(1), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1994, defined terms used in this chapter, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 105–285.