                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
                      CHAPTER 4--TARIFF ACT OF 1930
 
                 SUBTITLE III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
 
                     Part V--Enforcement Provisions
 
Sec. 1631. Use of private collection agencies


(a) In general

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, under 
such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall 
enter into contracts and incur obligations with one or more persons for 
collection services to recover indebtedness arising under the customs 
laws and owed the United States Government, but only after the Customs 
Service has exhausted all administrative efforts, including all claims 
against applicable surety bonds, to collect the indebtedness.

(b) Contract requirements

    Any contract entered into under subsection (a) of this section shall 
provide that--
        (1) the Secretary retains the authority to resolve a dispute, 
    compromise a claim, end collection action, and refer a matter to the 
    Attorney General to bring a civil action; and
        (2) the person is subject to--
            (A) section 552a of title 5 to the extent provided in 
        subsection (m) of such section; and
            (B) laws and regulations of the United States Government and 
        State governments related to debt collection practices.

(c) Payment of costs

    The debtor shall be assessed and pay any and all costs associated 
with collection efforts pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding 
section 3302(b) of title 31, any sum so collected shall be used to pay 
the costs of debt collection services.

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, Sec. 631, as added Pub. L. 103-182, 
title VI, Sec. 671, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2217; amended Pub. L. 104-
295, Sec. 3(a)(9), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3516; Pub. L. 106-36, title 
I, Sec. 1001(b)(5)(A), June 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 132.)

                       References in Text

    The customs laws, referred to in subsec. (a), are classified 
generally to this title.


                               Amendments

    1999--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106-36 amended directory language of Pub. 
L. 104-295. See 1996 Amendment note below.
    1996--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104-295, as amended by Pub. L. 106-36, 
added subsec. (c).


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 104-295 applicable as of Dec. 8, 1993, see 
section 3(b) of Pub. L. 104-295, set out as a note under section 1321 of 
this title.
