(a) ProhibitionAssistance under any rural development program administered by the Rural Development Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration, or any other agency of the Department of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement that the recipient of such assistance accept or receive electric service from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative.
(b) Ensuring complianceThe Secretary shall establish, by regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under such rural development programs is not subject to such a condition. Such safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating, or attempting to violate, the prohibition in subsection (a).
(c) RegulationsNot later than 6 months after November 1, 1993, the Secretary shall issue interim final regulations to ensure compliance with subsection (a).
Structure US Code
CHAPTER 50— AGRICULTURAL CREDIT
SUBCHAPTER IV— ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
§ 1981. Farmers Home Administration
§ 1981a. Loan moratorium and policy on foreclosures
§ 1981b. Farm loan interest rates
§ 1981c. Oil and gas royalty payments on loans
§ 1981d. Notice of loan service programs
§ 1981e. Planting and production history guidelines
§ 1981f. Underwriting forms and standards
§ 1982. Relief for mobilized military reservists from certain agricultural loan obligations
§ 1983. Special conditions and limitations on loans
§ 1983a. Prompt approval of loans and loan guarantees
§ 1983b. Beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot program
§ 1983c. Provision of information to borrowers
§ 1983d. Farmer loan pilot projects
§ 1986. Conflicts of interests
§ 1987. Debt adjustment and credit counseling; “summary period” defined; loan summary statements
§ 1990. Transfer of lands to Secretary
§ 1990a. Refinancing of certain rural hospital debt
§ 1993. Transition to private commercial or other sources of credit
§ 1994. Maximum amounts for loans authorized; long-term cost projections
§ 1996. Loans to resident aliens
§ 1997. Conservation easements
§ 1998. Guaranteed farm loan programs
§ 1999. Interest rate reduction program
§ 2001. Debt restructuring and loan servicing
§ 2001a. Debt restructuring and loan servicing for community facility loans
§ 2002. Transfer of inventory lands
§ 2003. Target participation rates
§ 2004. Expedited clearing of title to inventory property
§ 2005. Payment of losses on guaranteed loans
§ 2006. Waiver of mediation rights by borrowers
§ 2006e. Prohibition on use of loans for certain purposes
§ 2006f. Rural development certified lenders program
§§ 2007 to 2007e. Repealed. , ,
§ 2008. Rural development and farm loan program activities
§ 2008b. Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; qualified beginning farmers and ranchers
§ 2008c. Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs technical assistance and training
§ 2008d. Recordkeeping of loans by borrower’s gender
§ 2008e. Prohibition under rural development programs
§ 2008f. Crop insurance requirement
§ 2008g. Payment of interest as condition of loan servicing for borrowers
§ 2008h. Loan and loan servicing limitations
§ 2008i. Short form certification of farm program borrower compliance
§ 2008k. Making and servicing of loans by personnel of State, county, or area committees
§ 2008l. Eligibility of employees of State, county, or area committee for loans and loan guarantees
§ 2008m. National Rural Development Partnership
§ 2008p. Grants for NOAA weather radio transmitters
§ 2008q–1. Grants to improve supply, stability, safety, and training of agricultural labor force
§ 2008s. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program
§ 2008v. Strategic economic and community development