(a) Civil rights. In the operation of the Program, no child may be denied benefits or be otherwise discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. Summer EBT agencies and LEAs must comply with the requirements of: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and Department of Agriculture regulations on nondiscrimination (7 CFR parts 15, 15a, and 15b).

(b) Program evaluations. States, ITOs, Summer EBT agencies, LEAs, schools, and contractors must cooperate in studies and evaluations conducted by or on behalf of the Department related to programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

(c) General responsibilities. The criminal penalties and provisions established in section 12(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(g)) provide that whoever embezzles, willfully misapplies, steals, or obtains by fraud any funds, assets, or property that are the subject of a grant or other form of assistance under the Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), whether received directly or indirectly from the United States Department of Agriculture, or whoever receives, conceals, or retains such funds, assets, or property to personal use or gain, knowing such funds, assets, or property have been embezzled, willfully misapplied, stolen, or obtained by fraud must, if such funds, assets, or property are of the value of $100 or more, be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, or, if such funds, assets, or property are of a value of less than $100, must be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.