Volume 68 · 483
Public Law 83–497
To authorize the collection of indebtedness of military and civilian personnel resulting from erroneous payments, and for other purposes.
Approved July 15, 1954
Statutory text
AN ACT
To authorize the collection of indebtedness of military and civilian personnel resulting from erroneous payments, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That, when it is determined by the Secretary of the department concerned or the head of the agency or independent establishment concerned, or one of their designees, that an employee of the United States or any member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or a reserve component thereof, is indebted to the United States as the result of any erroneous payment made by the department, agency, or independent establishment concerned to or on behalf of any such person, the amount of the indebtedness may be collected in monthly installments, or at officially established regular pay period intervals, by deduction in reasonable amounts from the current pay account of such person. The deductions may be made only from basic compensation, basic pay, special pay, and incentive pay, retired pay, retainer pay, or in the case of persons not entitled to basic pay, other authorized pay. Collection shall be effected over a period not greater than the anticipated period of active duty or period of employment, as the case may be. The amount deducted for any period shall not exceed an amount equal to two-thirds of the pay from which the deduction is made, unless the deduction of a greater amount is necessary to effect collection within the period or anticipated period of active duty or employment. If such individual retires, resigns, or his employment or period of active duty is otherwise terminated before such adjustment has been completed, adjustment shall be made by decreasing subsequent payments, of whatever nature, due such person by the department, agency, or independent establishment concerned. Nothing in this section shall modify any existing law which provides for forfeiture of pay or allowances.
Sec. 2.
Each Secretary of a department, or head of an agency or
Regulations.
independent establishment, as appropriate, shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act. Such regulations shall be approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget. Regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force shall be uniform for the military services insofar as practicable.
Sec. 3.
In accordance with settlement procedures prescribed by
Unpaid and overpaid balances.
the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of the department concerned or the head of the agency or independent establishment concerned is authorized to charge the net amount of the unpaid and overpaid balances occurring in individual pay accounts against the appropriation for the fiscal year in which the balances occurred, and from which the amount was payable, and the net amount shall be credited to and paid from the corresponding appropriation for the next succeeding fiscal year.
The Act of February 9, 1946 (ch. 2, 60 Stat. 3) is repealed.
Repeal.
Sec. 4.
Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed as repealing, amending, or modifying in any way the provisions of the Act of May 22, 1928 (ch. 676, 45 Stat. 698).
Approved July 15, 1954.