2019 US Code
Title 31 - Money and Finance
Subtitle III - Financial Management
Chapter 31 - Public Debt
Subchapter II - Administrative
Sec. 3126 - Losses and relief from liability related to redeeming savings bonds and notes

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Citation 31 U.S.C. § 3126 (2019)
Section Name §3126. Losses and relief from liability related to redeeming savings bonds and notes
Section Text

(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, a loss resulting from a payment related to redeeming a savings bond or savings note shall be replaced out of the fund established by section 17303(a) of title 40. A Federal reserve bank, a paying agent allowed to make payments in redeeming a bond or note, or an officer or employee of the Department of the Treasury is relieved from liability to the United States Government for the loss when the Secretary decides that the loss did not result from the fault or negligence of the bank, paying agent, officer, or employee. The Secretary shall relieve the bank, agent, officer, or employee from liability when the Secretary decides that written notice of liability or potential liability has not been given to the bank, agent, officer, or employee by the Government within 10 years from the date of the erroneous payment. However, the Secretary may not relieve a paying agent of an assumed unconditional liability to the Government.

(b) Section 17304(c) of title 40 applies to a decision of the Secretary made under this section. A recovery or repayment of a loss for which replacement is made out of the fund shall be credited to the fund and is available for the purposes for which the fund was established.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 946; Pub. L. 107–217, §3(h)(4), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1299.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
3126(a) 31:757c(i)(1st–4th sentences). Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, §22(i)(1st–6th sentences); added Apr. 11, 1943, ch. 52, §3, 57 Stat. 63; restated Apr. 3, 1945, ch. 51, §3, 59 Stat. 47; Sept. 22, 1959, Pub. L. 86–346, §103, 31 Stat. 622; Oct. 17, 1968, Pub. L. 90–595, §2, 82 Stat. 1155.
3126(b) 31:757c(i)(5th, 6th sentences).

In subsection (a), the words "qualified" and "authorized or" are omitted as surplus. The words "officer or employee of the Department of the Treasury" are substituted for "Treasury of the United States" and "Treasurer" because of the source provisions restated in section 321 of the revised title and for consistency with other titles of the United States Code. The text of 31:757c(i)(3d sentence) is omitted as surplus because of 39:410. The words "under regulations prescribed by him" are omitted as unnecessary.

AMENDMENTS

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–217, §3(h)(4)(A), substituted "section 17303(a) of title 40" for "section 2 of the Government Losses in Shipment Act (40 U.S.C. 722)".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–217, §3(h)(4)(B), substituted "Section 17304(c) of title 40" for "Section 3 of the Government Losses in Shipment Act (40 U.S.C. 723) (related to finality of decisions of the Secretary)".

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 1, Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
SUBTITLE III - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 31 - PUBLIC DEBT
SUBCHAPTER II - ADMINISTRATIVE
Sec. 3126 - Losses and relief from liability related to redeeming savings bonds and notes
Contains section 3126
Date 2019
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 24, 2020
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 31 Stat. 622
40 Stat. 288
57 Stat. 63
59 Stat. 47
82 Stat. 1155
96 Stat. 946
116 Stat. 1299
Public Law References Public Law 86-346, Public Law 90-595, Public Law 97-258, Public Law 107-217
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