
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-433 Section 2]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-433 Section 3]
[CITE: 31USC3327]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                   SUBTITLE III--FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
 
            CHAPTER 33--DEPOSITING, KEEPING, AND PAYING MONEY
 
                         SUBCHAPTER II--PAYMENTS
 
Sec. 3327. General authority to issue checks and other drafts

    (a) The Secretary of the Treasury may issue a check or other draft 
on public money in the Treasury to pay an obligation of the United 
States Government. When the Secretary decides it is convenient to a 
public creditor and in the public interest, the Secretary may designate 
a depositary to issue a check or other draft on public money held by the 
depositary to pay an obligation of the Government. As directed by the 
Secretary, each depositary shall report to the Secretary on public money 
paid and received by the depositary.
    (b) The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as are 
necessary to ensure that Social Security account numbers (including 
derivatives of such numbers) are not visible on or through unopened 
mailings of checks or other drafts described in subsection (a) of this 
section.

(Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 952; Pub. L. 106-433, Sec. 2, 
Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1910.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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           Revised Section                   Source (U.S. Code)                
Source (Statutes at Large)
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3327.................................  31:526.                         R.S. Sec
.  3644.
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    The words ``Secretary of the Treasury'' are substituted for 
``Treasurer'' because of the source provisions restated in section 
321(c) of the revised title. The words ``may issue a check or other 
draft'' are substituted for ``shall be subject to the draft of'' for 
consistency in the revised title. The words ``public money'' are 
substituted for ``moneys'' because section 10 of the Act of August 6, 
1846 (ch. 90, 9 Stat. 61), from which section 3644 of the Revised 
Statutes is derived, used the term ``public money''. The words 
``obligation of the United States Government'' are substituted for ``on 
the public account'', and the words ``may designate a depositary to 
issue a check or draft on public money held by the depositary to pay an 
obligation of the Government'' are substituted for ``is authorized to 
draw upon any of the depositaries'' for clarity and consistency. The 
words ``at such times and in such forms . . . shall be'' are omitted as 
surplus. The words ``United States Postal Service'' and ``Postmaster 
General'' are omitted because of 39:410. The words ``report to the 
Secretary on public money paid and received by the depositary'' are 
substituted for ``so drawn upon shall make returns to the Treasury 
Department'' for clarity and consistency.


                               Amendments

    2000--Pub. L. 106-433 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) 
and added subsec. (b).


         Effective Date of 2000 Amendment and Transitional Rule

    Pub. L. 106-433, Sec. 3, Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1910, provided 
that:
    ``(a) In General.--The amendments made by this Act [amending this 
section] shall apply with respect to all mailings of checks or other 
drafts issued on or after the date which is 3 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 2000].
    ``(b) Phase-in of Amendments.--Effective on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall commence 
procedures to gradually implement the amendments made by this Act in 
advance of the effective date described in subsection (a). Not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter for each of the next 2 years, the Secretary shall transmit to 
each House of the Congress a report describing the manner and extent to 
which the requirements of the preceding sentence have been carried 
out.''
