
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC2000b]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 21--CIVIL RIGHTS
 
                    SUBCHAPTER III--PUBLIC FACILITIES
 
Sec. 2000b. Civil actions by the Attorney General


(a) Complaint; certification; institution of civil action; relief 
        requested; jurisdiction; impleading additional parties as 
        defendants

    Whenever the Attorney General receives a complaint in writing signed 
by an individual to the effect that he is being deprived of or 
threatened with the loss of his right to the equal protection of the 
laws, on account of his race, color, religion, or national origin, by 
being denied equal utilization of any public facility which is owned, 
operated, or managed by or on behalf of any State or subdivision 
thereof, other than a public school or public college as defined in 
section 2000c of this title, and the Attorney General believes the 
complaint is meritorious and certifies that the signer or signers of 
such complaint are unable, in his judgment, to initiate and maintain 
appropriate legal proceedings for relief and that the institution of an 
action will materially further the orderly progress of desegregation in 
public facilities, the Attorney General is authorized to institute for 
or in the name of the United States a civil action in any appropriate 
district court of the United States against such parties and for such 
relief as may be appropriate, and such court shall have and shall 
exercise jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this 
section. The Attorney General may implead as defendants such additional 
parties as are or become necessary to the grant of effective relief 
hereunder.

(b) Persons unable to initiate and maintain legal proceedings

    The Attorney General may deem a person or persons unable to initiate 
and maintain appropriate legal proceedings within the meaning of 
subsection (a) of this section when such person or persons are unable, 
either directly or through other interested persons or organizations, to 
bear the expense of the litigation or to obtain effective legal 
representation; or whenever he is satisfied that the institution of such 
litigation would jeopardize the personal safety, employment, or economic 
standing of such person or persons, their families, or their property.

(Pub. L. 88-352, title III, Sec. 301, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 246.)
