Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

31 U.S.C. § 3322

Disbursing officials

(a)
section 3720A of this title The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer public money to a disbursing official only by draft or warrant written on the Treasury. Except as provided in section 3716 and and subsection (b) of this section, a disbursing official shall—
(1)
section 3302 of this title deposit public money as required by ; and
(2)
draw public money from the Treasury or a depositary only—
(A)
as necessary to make payments; and
(B)
payable to persons to whom payment is to be made.
(b)
In a place without a depositary, the Secretary, on deciding it is essential to the public interest, may authorize specially in writing that public money be—
(1)
deposited in any other public depositary; or
(2)
kept in another manner under regulations the Secretary decides are the safest and most effective in making a payment to a public creditor easier.
(c)
A disbursing official is not liable for an overpayment provided under a United States Government bill of lading or transportation request when the overpayment is caused by the—
(1)
section 3726(a) of this title use of improper transportation rates or classifications if the Administrator of General Services has determined that verification by a prepayment audit conducted pursuant to for a particular mode or modes of transportation, or for an agency or subagency, will not adequately protect the interests of the Government; or
(2)
failure to deduct the proper amount under—
(A)
a land grant law; or
(B)
an equalization or other agreement.

Pub. L. 97–25896 Stat. 950 Pub. L. 98–216, § 1(3)98 Stat. 3 Pub. L. 104–134, title III, § 31001(g)(1)(A)110 Stat. 1321–363 Pub. L. 105–264, § 3(a)(1)112 Stat. 2352 (, , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1982 Act

Revised Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

3322(a)

31:492(a).

R.S. § 3620(a); Feb. 27, 1877, ch. 69(7th complete par. on p. 249), 19 Stat. 249; Aug. 28, 1965, Pub. L. 89–145, § 1(1), 79 Stat. 582.

3322(b)

31:82g(related to disbursing officers).

June 1, 1942, ch. 320(related to disbursing officers), 56 Stat. 306.

In the section, the words “disbursing official” are substituted for “disbursing officer” for consistency in the revised title.

41 Stat. 654 section 3302 of this titlesection 476 of this titleIn subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “Secretary of the Treasury” are substituted for “Treasurer of the United States” because of the source provisions restated in section 321(c) of the revised title. The words “or an assistant treasurer of the United States” in section 3620(a) of the Revised Statutes are omitted as obsolete because of the 1st–4th pars. under the heading “Independent Treasury” in the Act of (ch. 214, ). In clause (1), the words “as required by ” are substituted for “with the Treasurer or some one of the assistant treasurers of the United States (subsequently changed to ‘or with one of the depositaries of the United States mentioned in ’)” because of 31:476. In clause (2), the words “in pursuance of law” are omitted as surplus. The text of 31:492(a)(last sentence) is omitted because of section 3323(a) of the revised title.

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “On and after ” are omitted as executed. The words “of the United States” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “for transportation” are omitted as surplus.

Act1984

section 1 of the Act of September 13, 1982 Pub. L. 97–25896 Stat. 877 This is necessary because section 3620(a) (last sentence) of the Revised Statutes inadvertently was omitted from the codification of title 31 by (, ).

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section” are added because of the restatement.

41 Stat. 654 In subsection (b), before clause (1), the word “however” is omitted as surplus. The words “treasurer or” are omitted as obsolete because of the 1st–4th pars. under the heading “Independent Treasury” in the Act of (ch. 214, ). In clause (2), the words “rules and” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–264section 3726(a) of this title1998—Subsec. (c)(1). inserted “if the Administrator of General Services has determined that verification by a prepayment audit conducted pursuant to for a particular mode or modes of transportation, or for an agency or subagency, will not adequately protect the interests of the Government” after “classifications”.

Pub. L. 104–134section 3720A of this title1996—Subsec. (a). inserted “section 3716 and and” after “Except as provided in” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 98–2161984—Subsec. (a). amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a” for “A” in second sentence.

Pub. L. 98–216Subsecs. (b), (c). added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–264, § 3(b)112 Stat. 2354

“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 3528 and 3726 of this title] shall become effective 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–134, title III, § 31001(a)(2)(A)110 Stat. 1321–358

section 5514 of Title 5section 2461 of Title 28section 7701 of this titlesection 2461 of Title 28section 3718 of this title“The provisions of this section [enacting sections 3720B to 3720E of this title, amending this section, sections 3325, 3331, 3332, 3343, 3701, 3711, 3712, 3716 to 3719, 3720A, and 7701 of this title, , Government Organization and Employees, sections 6050P, 6103, and 6402 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, and sections 404 and 664 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 3701, 3711, 3716, and 3719 of this title and , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, amending provisions set out as notes under and , and repealing provisions set out as notes under ] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–216section 4(c) of Pub. L. 98–216section 490 of Title 18Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , Crimes and Criminal Procedure.