(a) Race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, intellectual disability, mental disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a veteran or status as a victim of domestic violence, shall not be considered as limiting factors in state-administered programs involving the distribution of funds to qualify applicants for benefits authorized by law.

(b) No state agency may provide grants, loans or other financial assistance to public agencies, private institutions or organizations which discriminate.