US Code

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

42 U.S.C. § 215

Detail of Service personnel

(a)

Other Government departments

The Secretary is authorized, upon the request of the head of an executive department, to detail officers or employees of the Service to such department for duty as agreed upon by the Secretary and the head of such department in order to cooperate in, or conduct work related to, the functions of such department or of the Service. When officers or employees are so detailed their salaries and allowances may be paid from working funds established as provided by law or may be paid by the Service from applicable appropriations and reimbursement may be made as agreed upon by the Secretary and the head of the executive department concerned. Officers detailed for duty with the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard shall be subject to the laws for the government of the service to which detailed.

(b)

State health or mental health authorities

Upon the request of any State health authority or, in the case of work relating to mental health, any State mental health authority, personnel of the Service may be detailed by the Surgeon General for the purpose of assisting such State or a political subdivision thereof in work related to the functions of the Service.

(c)

Congressional committees and nonprofit educational, research, or other institutions engaged in health activities for special studies and dissemination of information

1

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
The Surgeon General may detail personnel of the Service to any appropriate committee of the Congress or to nonprofit educational, research  or other institutions engaged in health activities for special studies of scientific problems and for the dissemination of information relating to public health.

(d)

Availability of funds; reimbursement by State; detailed services deemed service for computation of pay, promotion, etc.

section 213 of this titlePersonnel detailed under subsections (b) and (c) shall be paid from applicable appropriations of the Service, except that, in accordance with regulations such personnel may be placed on leave without pay and paid by the State, subdivision, or institution to which they are detailed. In the case of detail of personnel under subsections (b) or (c) to be paid from applicable Service appropriations, the Secretary may condition such detail on an agreement by the State, subdivision, or institution concerned that such State, subdivision, or institution concerned shall reimburse the United States for the amount of such payments made by the Service. The services of personnel while detailed pursuant to this section shall be considered as having been performed in the Service for purposes of the computation of basic pay, promotion, retirement, compensation for injury or death, and the benefits provided by .

(e)

Commissioned Corps officers; urgent or emergency public health care needs

section 204a(a)(5) of this titleExcept with respect to the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Defense, and except as provided in agreements negotiated with officials at agencies where officers of the Commissioned Corps may be assigned, the Secretary shall have the sole authority to deploy any Commissioned Corps officer assigned under this section to an entity outside of the Department of Health and Human Services for service under the Secretary’s direction in response to an urgent or emergency public health care need (as defined in ).

July 1, 1944, ch. 373 58 Stat. 690 July 3, 1946, ch. 538, § 6 60 Stat. 423 Oct. 12, 1949, ch. 681 63 Stat. 835 67 Stat. 631 Pub. L. 96–76, title III, § 30993 Stat. 585 Pub. L. 109–417, title II, § 206(c)(1)120 Stat. 2853 (, title II, § 214, ; , ; , title V, § 521(e), ; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. , 18 F.R. 2053, ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II 61 Stat. 502 act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041 70A Stat. 641 In subsec. (a), Air Force was inserted on the authority of section 207(a), (f) of , , which established a separate Department of the Air Force, and Secretary of Defense Transfer Order No. 40 [App. A(74)], , which transferred certain functions, insofar as they pertain to the Air Force, which were not previously transferred to the Department of the Air Force and Secretary of the Air Force. Section 207(a), (f) of act , was repealed by section 53 of , . Section 1 of act , enacted “Title 10, Armed Forces”, which in sections 8010 to 8013 continued the Department of the Air Force under the administrative supervision of a Secretary of the Air Force.

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–4172006—Subsec. (e). added subsec. (e).

Pub. L. 96–76, § 309(a)1979—Subsec. (c). , inserted provisions authorizing detail of personnel to appropriate committees of Congress.

Pub. L. 96–76, § 309(b)Subsec. (d). , inserted provisions relating to agreements by States, etc., for reimbursement upon detail of personnel.

1949—Subsec. (d). Act , substituted “the computation of basic pay” for “longevity pay”.

1946—Subsec. (b). Act , provided for detail of personnel on request from a State mental health authority.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88section 3508(b) of Title 20“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsecs. (a), (d), and (e), and “Department of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Department of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsec. (e), pursuant to , which is classified to , Education.

Effective Date of 1949 Amendment

section 854a of Title 33Amendment by act , effective , see section 533(a) of act , set out as a note under , Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Transfer of Functions

section 542 of Title 6For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .

Transfers of Personnel Occasioned by Creation of the Environmental Protection Agency

Pub. L. 91–604, § 15(b)(1)84 Stat. 1710–1712 Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 631(f)(4)(B)125 Stat. 1465 Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a)(9)126 Stat. 1948

“(1)
42 U.S.C. 212 Subject to such requirements as the Civil Service Commission may prescribe, any commissioned officer of the Public Health Service (other than an officer who retires under section 211 of the Public Health Service Act [] after his election but prior to his transfer pursuant to this paragraph and paragraph (2)) who, upon the day before the effective date of Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1970 (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘plan’), is serving as such officer (A) primarily in the performance of functions transferred by such plan to the Environmental Protection Agency or its Administrator (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘Agency’ and the ‘Administrator,’ respectively), may, if such officer so elects, acquire competitive status and be transferred to a competitive position in the Agency; or (B) primarily in the performance of functions determined by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘Secretary’) to be materially related to the functions so transferred, may, if authorized by agreement between the Secretary and the Administrator, and if such officer so elects, acquire such status and be so transferred.
“(2)
50 U.S.C. 380150 U.S.C. 3806(b)(3) An election pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be effective only if made in accordance with such procedures as may be prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (A) before the close of the 24th month after the effective date of the plan [], or (B) in the case of a commissioned officer who would be liable for training and service under the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 [ et seq.] but for the operation of section 6(b)(3) thereof (50 U.S.C. App. 456(b)(3)) [now ], before (if it occurs later than the close of such 24th month) the close of the 90th day after the day upon which he has completed his 24th month of service as such officer.
“(3)
(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any commissioned officer of the Public Health Service who, pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), elects to transfer to a position in the Agency which is subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ‘transferring officer’), shall receive a pay rate of the General Schedule grade of such position which is not less than the sum of the following amounts computed as of the day preceding the date of such election:
“(i)
the basic pay, the special pay, the continuation pay, and the subsistence and quarters allowances, to which he is annually entitled as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service pursuant to title 37, United States Code;
“(ii)
the amount of Federal income tax, as determined by estimate of the Secretary, which the transferring officer, had he remained a commissioned officer, would have been required to pay on his subsistence and quarters allowances for the taxable year then current if they had not been tax free;
“(iii)
an amount equal to the biweekly average cost of the coverages designated ‘high option, self and family’ under the Government-wide Federal employee health benefits programs plans, multiplied by twenty-six; and
“(iv)
an amount equal to 7 per centum of the sum of the amounts determined under clauses (i) through (iii), inclusive.
“(B)
A transferring officer shall in no event receive, pursuant to subparagraph (A), a pay rate in excess of the maximum rate applicable under the General Schedule to the class of position, as established under chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, to which such officer is transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).
“(4)
(A)
42 U.S.C. 212(d) A transferring officer shall be credited, on the day of his transfer pursuant to his election under paragraphs (1) and (2), with one hour of sick leave for each week of active service, as defined by section 211(d) of the Public Health Service Act [].
“(B)
section 6304 of title 5 The annual leave to the credit of a transferring officer on the day before the day of his transfer, shall, on such day of transfer, be transferred to his credit in the Agency on an adjusted basis under regulations prescribed by the Civil Service Commission. The portion of such leave, if any, that is in excess of the sum of (i) 240 hours, and (ii) the number of hours that have accrued to the credit of the transferring officer during the calendar year then current and which remain unused, shall thereafter remain to his credit until used, and shall be reduced in the manner described by subsection (c) of , United States Code.
“(5)
section 474 of title 37 A transferring officer who is required to change his official station as a result of his transfer under this subsection shall be paid such travel, transportation, and related expenses and allowances, as would be provided pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, in the case of a civilian employee so transferred in the interest of the Government. Such officer shall not (either at the time of such transfer or upon a subsequent separation from the competitive service) be deemed to have separated from, or changed permanent station within, a uniformed service for purposes of [former] , United States Code.
“(6)
Each transferring officer who prior to , was insured pursuant to the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Act of 1954, and who subsequently waived such insurance, shall be entitled to become insured under chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, upon his transfer to the Agency regardless of age and insurability.
“(7)
(A)
42 U.S.C. 212(d)42 U.S.C. 212(a)(4)(B)42 U.S.C. 401 Effective as of the date a transferring officer acquires competitive status as an employee of the Agency, there shall be considered as the civilian service of such officer for all purposes of chapter 83, title 5, United States Code, (i) his active service as defined by section 211(d) of the Public Health Service Act [], or (ii) any period for which he would have been entitled, upon his retirement as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, to receive retired pay pursuant to section 211(a)(4)(B) of such Act []; however, no transferring officer may become entitled to benefits under both subchapter III of such chapter and title II of the Social Security Act [ et seq.] based on service as such a commissioned officer performed after 1956, but the individual (or his survivors) may irrevocably elect to waive benefit credit for the service under one such law to secure credit under the other.
“(B)
A transferring officer on whose behalf a deposit is required to be made by subparagraph (C) and who, after transfer to a competitive position in the Agency under paragraphs (1) and (2), is separated from Federal service or transfers to a position not covered by subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, shall not be entitled, nor shall his survivors be entitled, to a refund of any amount deposited on his behalf in accordance with this section. In the event he transfers, after transfer under paragraphs (1) and (2), to a position covered by another Government staff requirement system under which credit is allowable for service with respect to which a deposit is required under subparagraph (C), no credit shall be allowed under such subchapter III with respect to such service.
“(C)
section 8331(1) of title 5section 8334(e) of title 5 The Secretary shall deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, on behalf of and to the credit of such transferring officer, an amount equal to that which such individual would be required to deposit in such fund to cover the years of service credited to him for purposes of his retirement under subparagraph (A), had such service been service as an employee as defined in , United States Code. The amount so required to be deposited with respect to any transferring officer shall be computed on the basis of the sum of each of the amounts described in paragraph (3)(A) which were received by, or accrued to the benefit of, such officer during the years so credited. The deposits which the Secretary is required to make under this subparagraph with respect to any transferring officer shall be made within two years after the date of his transfer as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), and the amounts due under this subparagraph shall include interest computed from the period of service credited to the date of payment in accordance with , United States Code.
“(8)
(A)
42 U.S.C. 212(d) A commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, who, upon the day before the effective date of the plan, is on active service therewith primarily assigned to the performance of functions described in paragraph (1)(A), shall, while he remains in active service, as defined by section 211(d) of the Public Health Service Act [], be assigned to the performance of duties with the Agency, except as the Secretary and the Administrator may jointly otherwise provide.”
–(8)(A), , , as amended by , , ; , , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

80 Stat. 1610 section 202 of this titleFunctions of Public Health Service, Surgeon General of Public Health Service, and all other officers and employees of Public Health Service, and functions of all agencies of or in Public Health Service transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. , 31 F.R. 8855, , set out as a note under . Office of Surgeon General, abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, , 52 F.R. 11754.

section 3501 of this titleFunctions of Federal Security Administrator transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and all agencies of Federal Security Agency transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out as a note under . Federal Security Agency and office of Administrator abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953.