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Title 10 — Armed Forces

Part I · Chapter 15 — Military Support for Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies

§ 277. Reimbursement

Statutory text

(a)

Subject to subsection (c), to the extent otherwise required by section 1535 of title 31 (popularly known as the “Economy Act”) or other applicable law, the Secretary of Defense shall require a civilian law enforcement agency to which support is provided under this chapter to reimburse the Department of Defense for that support.

(b)
(1)

Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall require a Federal agency to which law enforcement support or support to a national special security event is provided by National Guard personnel performing duty under section 502(f) of title 32 to reimburse the Department of Defense for the costs of that support, notwithstanding any other provision of law. No other provision of this chapter shall apply to such support.

(2)

Any funds received by the Department of Defense under this subsection as reimbursement for support provided by personnel of the National Guard shall be credited, at the election of the Secretary of Defense, to the following:

(A)

The appropriation, fund, or account used to fund the support.

(B)

The appropriation, fund, or account currently available for reimbursement purposes.

(c)

An agency to which support is provided under this chapter or section 502(f) of title 32 is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if the Secretary of Defense waives reimbursement. The Secretary may waive the reimbursement requirement under this subsection if such support—

(1)

is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or

(2)

results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense or personnel of the National Guard providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1982

    Pub. L. 97–86 title IX § 905(a)(1) · 95 Stat. 1099

    Enacted · 10 U.S.C. § 277

    Added Pub. L. 97–86, title IX, § 905(a)(1), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1116, § 377

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 97–86, title IX, § 905(a)(1), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1116, § 377

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) Part I of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 17 the following new chapter: “CHAPTER 18— MILITARY COOPERATION WITH CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS “Sec. “371. Use of information collected during military operations. “372. Use of military equipment and facilities. “373. Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials. “374. Assistance by Department of Defense personnel. “375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnel. “376. Assistance not to affect adversely military preparedness. “377. Reimbursement. “378. Nonpreemption of other law. “§ 371. Use of information collected during military operations “The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, provide to Federal, State, or local civilian law enforcement officials any information collected during the normal course of military operations that may be relevant to a violation of any Federal or State law within the jurisdiction of such officials. “§ 372. Use of military equipment and facilities “The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, make available any equipment, base facility, or research facility of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps to any Federal, State, or local civilian law enforcement official for law enforcement purposes. “§ 373. Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials “The Secretary of Defense may assign members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps to train Federal, State, and local civilian law enforcement officials in the operation and maintenance of equipment made available under section 372 of this title and to provide expert advice relevant to the purposes of this chapter. “§ 374. Assistance by Department of Defense personnel “(a) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense, upon request from the head of an agency with jurisdiction to enforce— “(1) the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.); “(2) any of sections 274 through 278 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324–1328); or “(3) a law relating to the arrival or departure of merchandise (as defined in section 401 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401)) into or out of the customs territory of the United States (as defined in general headnote 2 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202)) or any other territory or possession of the United States, may assign personnel of the Department of Defense to operate and maintain or assist in operating and maintaining equipment made available under section 372 of this title with respect to any criminal violation of any such provision of law. “(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), equipment made available under section 372 of this title may be operated by or with the assistance of personnel assigned under subsection (a) only to the extent the equipment is used for monitoring and communicating the movement of air and sea traffic. “(c) (1) In an emergency circumstance, equipment operated by or with the assistance of personnel assigned under subsection (a) may be used outside the land area of the United States (or any territory or possession of the United States) as a base of operations by Federal law enforcement officials to facilitate the enforcement of a law listed in subsection (a) and to transport such law enforcement officials in connection with such operations, if— “(A) equipment operated by or with the assistance of personnel assigned under subsection (a) is not used to interdict or to interrupt the passage of vessels or aircraft; and “(B) the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General jointly determine that an emergency circumstance exists. “(2) For purposes of this subsection, an emergency circumstance may be determined to exist only when— “(A) the size or scope of the suspected criminal activity in a given situation poses a serious threat to the interests of the United States; and “(B) enforcement of a law listed in subsection (a) would be seriously impaired if the assistance described in this subsection were not provided. “§ 375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnel “The Secretary of Defense shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to insure that the provision of any assistance (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment of any personnel) to any civilian law enforcement official under this chapter does not include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps in an interdiction of a vessel or aircraft, a search and seizure, arrest, or other similar activity unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise authorized by law. “§ 376. Assistance not to affect adversely military preparedness “Assistance (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment of any personnel) may not be provided to any civilian law enforcement official under this chapter if the provision of such assistance will adversely affect the military preparedness of the United States. The Secretary of Defense shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to insure that the provision of any such assistance does not adversely affect the military preparedness of the United States. “§ 377. Reimbursement “The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations providing that reimbursement may be a condition of assistance to a civilian law enforcement official under this chapter. “§ 378. Nonpreemption of other law “Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the executive branch in the use of military personnel or equipment for civilian law enforcement purposes beyond that provided by law prior to the enactment of this chapter.”.

  2. National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989

    Pub. L. 100–456 div. A title XI § 1104(a) · 102 Stat. 1918

    Amended · 10 U.S.C. § 277

    Pub. L. 100–456 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations providing that reimbursement may be a condition of assistance to a civilian law enforcement official under this chapter.”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 100–456 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations providing that reimbursement may be a condition of assistance to a civilian law enforcement official under this chapter.”

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) Revision of Support for Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies.— Chapter 18 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “CHAPTER 8— MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES “Sec. “371. Use of information collected during military operations. “372. Use of military equipment and facilities. “373. Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials. “374. Maintenance and operation of equipment. “375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnel. “376. Support not to affect adversely military preparedness. “377. Reimbursement. “378. Nonpreemption of other law. “379. Assignment of Coast Guard personnel to naval vessels for law enforcement purposes. “380. Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials. “§ 371. Use of information collected during military operations “(a) The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, provide to Federal, State, or local civilian law enforcement officials any information collected during the normal course of military training or operations that may be relevant to a violation of any Federal or State law within the jurisdiction of such officials. “(b) The needs of civilian law enforcement officials for information shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be taken into account in the planning and execution of military training or operations. “(c) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure, to the extent consistent with national security, that intelligence information held by the Department of Defense and relevant to drug interdiction or other civilian law enforcement matters is provided promptly to appropriate civilian law enforcement officials. “§ 372. Use of military equipment and facilities “The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, make available any equipment (including associated supplies or spare parts), base facility, or research facility of the Department of Defense to any Federal, State, or local civilian law enforcement official for law enforcement purposes. “§ 373. Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials “The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, make Department of Defense personnel available— “(1) to train Federal, State, and local civilian law enforcement officials in the operation and maintenance of equipment, including equipment made available under section 372 of this title; and “(2) to provide such law enforcement officials with expert advice relevant to the purposes of this chapter. “§ 374. Maintenance and operation of equipment “(a) The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, make Department of Defense personnel available for the maintenance of equipment for Federal, State, and local civilian law enforcement officials, including equipment made available under section 372 of this title. “(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and in accordance with other applicable law, the Secretary of Defense may, upon request from the head of a Federal law enforcement agency, make Department of Defense personnel available to operate equipment (including equipment made available under section 372 of this title) with respect to— “(A) a criminal violation of a provision of law specified in paragraph (4)(A); or “(B) assistance that such agency is authorized to furnish to a State, local, or foreign government which is involved in the enforcement of similar laws. “(2) Department of Defense personnel made available to a civilian law enforcement agency under this subsection may operate equipment for the following purposes: “(A) Detection, monitoring, and communication of the movement of air and sea traffic. “(B) Aerial reconnaissance. “(C) Interception of vessels or aircraft detected outside the land area of the United States for the purposes of communicating with such vessels and aircraft to direct such vessels and aircraft to go to a location designated by appropriate civilian officials. “(D) Operation of equipment to facilitate communications in connection with law enforcement programs specified in paragraph (4)(A). “(E) Subject to joint approval by the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, in connection with a law enforcement operation outside the land area of the United States— “(i) the transportation of civilian law enforcement personnel; and “(ii) the operation of a base of operations for civilian law enforcement personnel. “(3) Department of Defense personnel made available to operate equipment for the purpose stated in paragraph (2)(C) may continue to operate such equipment into the land area of the United States in cases involving the pursuit of vessels or aircraft where the detection began outside such land area. “(4) In this subsection; “(A) The term ‘Federal law enforcement agency’ means an agency with jurisdiction to enforce any of the following: “(i) The Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.). “(ii) Any of sections 274 through 278 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324–1328). “(iii) A law relating to the arrival or departure of merchandise (as defined in section 401 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401) into or out of the customs territory of the United States (as defined in general headnote 2 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States) or any other territory or possession of the United States. “(iv) The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (46 U.S.C. App. 1901 et seq.). “(B) The term ‘land area of the United States’ includes the land area of any territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States. “(c) The Secretary of Defense may, in accordance with other applicable law, make Department of Defense personnel available to any Federal, State, or local civilian law enforcement agency to operate equipment for purposes other than described in paragraph (2) only to the extent that such support does not involve direct participation by such personnel in a civilian law enforcement operation unless such direct participation is otherwise authorized by law. “§ 375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnel “The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that the provision of any support (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel) to any civilian law enforcement official under this chapter does not include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps in a search and seizure, an arrest, or other similar activity unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise authorized by law. “§ 376. Support not to affect adversely military preparedness “Support (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel) may not be provided to any civilian law enforcement official under this chapter if the provision of such support will adversely affect the military preparedness of the United States. The Secretary of Defense shall Regulations. prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that the provision of any such support does not adversely affect the military preparedness of the United States. “§ 377. Reimbursement “(a) To the extent otherwise required by section 1535 of title 31 (popularly known as the ‘Economy Act’) or other applicable law, the Secretary of Defense shall require a civilian law enforcement agency to which support is provided under this chapter to reimburse the Department of Defense for that support. “(b) An agency to which support is provided under this chapter is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if such support— “(1) is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or “(2) results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training. “§ 378. Nonpreemption of other law “Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the executive branch in the use of military personnel or equipment for civilian law enforcement purposes beyond that provided by law before December 1, 1981. “§ 379. Assignment of Coast Guard personnel to naval vessels for law enforcement purposes “(a) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation shall provide that there be assigned on board every appropriate surface naval vessel at sea in a drug-interdiction area members of the Coast Guard who are trained in law enforcement and have powers of the Coast Guard under title 14, including the power to make arrests and to carry out searches and seizures. “(b) Members of the Coast Guard assigned to duty on board naval vessels under this section shall perform such law enforcement functions (including drug-interdiction functions)— “(1) as may be agreed upon by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation; and “(2) as are otherwise within the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard. “(c) No fewer than 500 active duty personnel of the Coast Guard shall be assigned each fiscal year to duty under this section. However, if at any time the Secretary of Transportation, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, determines that there are insufficient naval vessels available for purposes of this section, such personnel may be assigned other duty involving enforcement of laws listed in section 374(b)(4)(A) of this title. “(d) In this section, the term ‘drug-interdiction area’ means an area outside the land area of the United States (as defined in section 374(b)(4)(B) of this title) in which the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with the Attorney General) determines that activities involving smuggling of drugs into the United States are ongoing. “§ 380. Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials “(a) The Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Attorney General, shall conduct an annual briefing of law enforcement personnel of each State (including law enforcement personnel of the political subdivisions of each State) regarding information, training, technical support, and equipment and facilities available to civilian law enforcement personnel from the Department of Defense. “(b) Each briefing conducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: “(1) An explanation of the procedures for civilian law enforcement officials— “(A) to obtain information, equipment, training, expert advice, and other personnel support under this chapter; and “(B) to obtain surplus military equipment. “(2) A description of the types of information, equipment and facilities, and training and advice available to civilian law enforcement officials from the Department of Defense. “(3) A current, comprehensive list of military equipment which is suitable for law enforcement officials from the Department of Defense or available as surplus property from the Administrator of General Services. “(c) The Attorney General and the Administrator of General Services shall— “(1) establish or designate an appropriate office or offices to maintain the list described in subsection (b)(3) and to furnish information to civilian law enforcement officials on the availability of surplus military equipment; and “(2) make available to civilian law enforcement personnel nationwide, tollfree telephone communication with such office or offices.”.

  3. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

    Pub. L. 110–181 § 1061(1) · 122 Stat. 3

    Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 277(a)

    Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(1), substituted “Subject to subsection (c), to the extent” for “To the extent”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(1), substituted “Subject to subsection (c), to the extent” for “To the extent”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) in subsection (a), by striking “To the extent” and inserting “Subject to subsection (c), to the extent”; and

  4. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

    Pub. L. 110–181 § 1061(2) · 122 Stat. 3

    1. Added · 10 U.S.C. § 277(b); 10 U.S.C. § 277(c)

      Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(2), added subsecs. (b) and (c)

    2. Struck · 10 U.S.C. § 277(b); 10 U.S.C. § 277(c)

      Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(2), struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “An agency to which support is provided under this chapter is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if such support—

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(2), added subsecs. (b) and (c) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “An agency to which support is provided under this chapter is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if such support—

    “(1) is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or “(2) results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training.”

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following new subsections: “(b) (1) Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall require a Federal agency to which law enforcement support or support to a national special security event is provided by National Guard personnel performing duty under section 502(f) of title 32 to reimburse the Department of Defense for the costs of that support, notwithstanding any other provision of law. No other provision of this chapter shall apply to such support. “(2) Any funds received by the Department of Defense under this subsection as reimbursement for support provided by personnel of the National Guard shall be credited, at the election of the Secretary of Defense, to the following: “(A) The appropriation, fund, or account used to fund the support. “(B) The appropriation, fund, or account currently available for reimbursement purposes. “(c) An agency to which support is provided under this chapter or section 502(f) of title 32 is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if the Secretary of Defense waives reimbursement. Waiver authority. The Secretary may waive the reimbursement requirement under this subsection if such support— “(1) is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or “(2) results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense or personnel of the National Guard providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training.” .

  5. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

    Pub. L. 114–328 div. A title XII § 1241(a)(2) · 130 Stat. 2000

    Changed · 10 U.S.C. § 277

    Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 377 of this title as this section

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 377 of this title as this section.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) by redesignating sections 261, 311, 312, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 351, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, and 384 (as added by section 1011 of this Act) as sections 241, 246, 247, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 261, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, and 284, respectively; and

6 of 6 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 277, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 14, prohibited discrimination in administering laws applicable to both Regulars and Reserves, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1661(a)(2)(A), 1691, , 108 Stat. 2979, 3026, effective . See section 10209 of this title.

Amendments1988–2016 · 3 rounds

2016

Pub. L. 114–328 renumbered section 377 of this title as this section.

2008

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(1), substituted “Subject to subsection (c), to the extent” for “To the extent”.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–181, § 1061(2), added subsecs. (b) and (c) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “An agency to which support is provided under this chapter is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if such support—

“(1) is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or

“(2) results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training.”

1988

Pub. L. 100–456 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations providing that reimbursement may be a condition of assistance to a civilian law enforcement official under this chapter.”

Credits

1981–2016 · 4 acts
  1. 1981Added Pub. L. 97–86, title IX, § 905(a)(1), , 95 Stat. 1116, § 377
  2. 1988amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XI, § 1104(a), , 102 Stat. 2045
  3. 2008Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1061, , 122 Stat. 319
  4. 2016renumbered § 277, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), , 130 Stat. 2497.
Show as published

(Added Pub. L. 97–86, title IX, § 905(a)(1), , 95 Stat. 1116, § 377; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XI, § 1104(a), , 102 Stat. 2045; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1061, , 122 Stat. 319; renumbered § 277, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), , 130 Stat. 2497.)

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