
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 31USC3723]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                   SUBTITLE III--FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
 
                           CHAPTER 37--CLAIMS
 
       SUBCHAPTER III--CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
 
Sec. 3723. Small claims for privately owned property damage or 
        loss
        
    (a) The head of an agency (except a military department of the 
Department of Defense or the Coast Guard) may settle a claim for not 
more than $1,000 for damage to, or loss of, privately owned property 
that--
        (1) is caused by the negligence of an officer or employee of the 
    United States Government acting within the scope of employment; and
        (2) may not be settled under chapter 171 of title 28.

    (b) A claim under this section may be allowed only if it is 
presented to the head of the agency within one year after it accrues.
    (c) A claim under this section may be paid as provided in section 
1304 of this title only if the claimant accepts the amount of the 
settlement in complete satisfaction of the claim against the Government.

(Pub. L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 975.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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---------------------------------
           Revised Section                   Source (U.S. Code)                
Source (Statutes at Large)
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---------------------------------
3723(a)..............................  31:215(1st sentence), 216.      Dec. 28,
 1922, ch. 17, Secs.  1-3, 42
                                                                        Stat. 1
066.
                                       31:216(note).                   July 3, 
1943, ch. 189, Sec.  4, 57 Stat.
                                                                        373.
                                       31:216(note).                   Dec. 28,
 1945, ch. 597, Sec.  4(words
                                                                        before 
3d comma), 59 Stat. 662.
                                       31:216(note).                   Dec. 28,
 1945, ch. 597, 59 Stat. 662,
                                                                        Sec.  5
(last sentence); added Mar. 20,
                                                                        1946, c
h. 104, 60 Stat. 56.
                                       ..............................  Aug. 2, 
1946, ch. 753, Sec.  424(a)(last
                                                                        par. on
 p. 846), 60 Stat. 846.
3723(b)..............................  31:215(last sentence proviso).
3723(c)..............................  31:215(last sentence less
                                        proviso), 217.
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---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), before clause (1), the text of 31:216(words 
before semicolon) is omitted as unnecessary because of section 102 of 
the revised title. The words ``acting on behalf of the Government of the 
United States'' in 31:215 are omitted as unnecessary. The word 
``settle'' is substituted for ``consider, ascertain, adjust, and 
determine'' for consistency. The words ``after April 6, 1917'' are 
omitted as executed.
    In subsection (c), the words ``A claim under this section may be 
paid'' are added for clarity. The words ``as provided in section 1304 of 
this title'' are substituted for 31:215(last sentence less proviso) 
because 31:215(last sentence less proviso) is superseded by section 201 
of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1978 (Pub. L. 95-240, 92 Stat. 
116). The words ``of the settlement'' are substituted for ``determined 
under the provisions of sections 215 and 216 of this title'' in 31:217 
for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. The word 
``complete'' is substituted for ``full'' for consistency. The word 
``satisfaction'' is substituted for ``settlement'' for clarity.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1304 of this title.
