§ 3204. Restrictions on use of penalty mail

Statutory text

Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 3220(a) of this title, an officer, executive department, or independent establishment of the Government of the United States may not mail, as penalty mail, any article or document unless—

a request therefor has been previously received by the department or establishment; or

its mailings is required by law.

Subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit the mailing, as penalty mail, by an officer, executive department, or independent agency of—

enclosures reasonably related to the subject matter of official correspondence;

informational releases relating to the census of the United States and authorized by title 13;

matter concerning the sale of Government securities;

forms, blanks, and copies of statutes, rules, regulations, instructions, administrative orders, and interpretations necessary in the administration of the department or establishment;

agricultural bulletins;

lists of public documents offered for sale by the Superintendent of Documents;

announcements of the publication of maps, atlases, and statistical and other reports offered for sale by the Federal Power Commission as authorized by section 825k of title 16; or

articles or documents to educational institutions or public libraries, or to Federal, State, or other public authorities.

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.

1970
Postal Reorganization Act
Pub. L. 91–375 · 84 Stat. 719
Enacted · 39 U.S.C. § 3204
Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 752
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 752
1985
Pub. L. 99–87 § 1(c)(1) · 99 Stat. 290
Substituted · 39 U.S.C. § 3204(a)
Pub. L. 99–87 substituted “section or section 3220(a) of this title,” for “section,” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–87 substituted “section or section 3220(a) of this title,” for “section,” in introductory provisions.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Section 3204(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking out “section,” and inserting in lieu thereof “section or section 3220(a) of this title,”.

1 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–87 substituted “section or section 3220(a) of this title,” for “section,” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

The Federal Power Commission was terminated, and its functions, personnel, property, funds, etc., were transferred to the Secretary of Energy (except for certain functions which were transferred to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) by sections 7151(b), 7171(a), 7172(a), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Credits

1970–1985 · 2 acts

1970Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 752
1985Pub. L. 99–87, § 1(c)(1), Aug. 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 291.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 752; Pub. L. 99–87, § 1(c)(1), Aug. 9, 1985, 99 Stat. 291.)