31 USC 3531: Property returns

31 USC 3531: Property returns Text contains those laws in effect on January 4, 1995

From Title 31-MONEY AND FINANCESUBTITLE III-FINANCIAL MANAGEMENTCHAPTER 35-ACCOUNTING AND COLLECTIONSUBCHAPTER III-AUDITING AND SETTLING ACCOUNTS

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§3531. Property returns

(a) The head of an executive department-

(1) shall certify to the Comptroller General a charge against an official or agent entrusted with public property for the department resulting from a loss to the United States Government from the property because of fault of the official or agent; and

(2) may not forward the property to the Comptroller General.

(b)(1) A certificate under subsection (a) of this section shall state-

(A) the condition of the property;

(B) that the official or agent has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard but has not been relieved of liability; and

(2) The effect of information in the certificate is the same as if the Comptroller General had discovered the information when auditing the account. The Comptroller General shall charge the appropriate account for the amount of the loss.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, this section does not affect the way a property return is made or liability for property is decided.

( Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 967 .)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
3531(a)	31:44(1st sentence).	June 10, 1921, ch. 18, §304(1st par. 1st sentence), 42 Stat. 24 .
	31:89(less debiting).	Mar. 29, 1894, ch. 49, §§1–4, 28 Stat. 47 .
	31:92.
3531(b)(1)	31:90(words before semicolon).
	31:91(words after semicolon).
3531(b)(2)	31:44(1st sentence).
	31:89(related to debiting).
	31:90(words after semicolon).
3531(c)	31:91(words before semicolon).

In the section, the words "Comptroller General" are substituted for "General Accounting Office" for consistency. The word "official" is substituted for "officer" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the text of 31:92 is omitted as unnecessary. The words "the head of an executive department" are substituted for "the Quartermaster-General, the Commissary-General of Subsistence, [subsequently changed to 'the Quartermaster General' by section 3 of the Act of August 24, 1912 (ch. 391, 37 Stat. 591)], the Surgeon General, the Chief of Engineers, the Chief of Ordnance, the Chief Signal Officer, the Paymaster General of the Navy, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, or other like chief officers in any department" to eliminate unnecessary words and because of the restatement. In clause (1), the words "for the department" are substituted for "by, through, or under whom stores, supplies, and other public property are received for distribution, or whose duty it is to receive or examine returns of such property" for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "so intrusted to him" are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(1), the text of 31:91(words after semicolon) and the words "of such officer's or agent's" and "made up to its date" in 31:90 are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(2), the words "information in" are added for clarity. The words "when received" and "therein set forth" are omitted as surplus. The words "auditing the account" are substituted for "accounting" for consistency. The words "for debiting on one proper account" are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c), the words "to or in any administrative bureau or department" and "under existing laws and regulations" are omitted as surplus.