Assistance under any rural development program administered by the Secretary or any agency of the Department of Agriculture shall not be conditioned on any requirement that the recipient of the assistance accept or receive electric service from any particular utility, supplier, or cooperative.

The Secretary shall establish, by regulation, adequate safeguards to ensure that assistance under any rural development program is not subject to such a condition. The safeguards shall include periodic certifications and audits, and appropriate measures and sanctions against any person violating, or attempting to violate subsection (a).

In this section, the term “rural development program” means the following:

(1) Sections 304(b), 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 310B, and 375 [1] and subtitle E [7 U.S.C. 2009 et seq.] of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(b), 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932).

(2) Subtitle G 1 of title XVI and sections 2281 [42 U.S.C. 5177a], 2333, and 2381 [7 U.S.C. 950aaa–2, 3125b] of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.

(3) Subtitle C of title IX of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act Amendments of 1991 (Public Law 102–237; 7 U.S.C. 5930 note).

(4) Section 1323(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 1932 note).

(5) Title V [7 U.S.C. 2661 et seq.] and section 603(c) [7 U.S.C. 2204a] of the Rural Development Act of 1972.

(6) Sections 905 and 940a 1 of this title and subchapter IV of this chapter.

Not later than 60 days after April 4, 1996, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to ensure compliance with subsection (a).

(May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, § 17, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title VII, § 778, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1150.)