
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC11606]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
           CHAPTER 121--INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION REMEDIES
 
Sec. 11606. United States Central Authority


(a) Designation

    The President shall designate a Federal agency to serve as the 
Central Authority for the United States under the Convention.

(b) Functions

    The functions of the United States Central Authority are those 
ascribed to the Central Authority by the Convention and this chapter.

(c) Regulatory authority

    The United States Central Authority is authorized to issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out its functions under the 
Convention and this chapter.

(d) Obtaining information from Parent Locator Service

    The United States Central Authority may, to the extent authorized by 
the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], obtain information from 
the Parent Locator Service.

(e) Grant authority

    The United States Central Authority is authorized to make grants to, 
or enter into contracts or agreements with, any individual, corporation, 
other Federal, State, or local agency, or private entity or organization 
in the United States for purposes of accomplishing its responsibilities 
under the Convention and this chapter.

(Pub. L. 100-300, Sec. 7, Apr. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 439; Pub. L. 105-277, 
div. G, title XXII, Sec. 2213, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-812.)

                       References in Text

    The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is act Aug. 14, 
1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended, which is classified generally 
to chapter 7 (Sec. 301 et seq.) of this title. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title 
and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105-277 added subsec. (e).

  Ex. Ord. No. 12648. Implementation of Convention on Civil Aspects of 
                      International Child Abduction

    Ex. Ord. No. 12648, Aug. 11, 1988, 53 F.R. 30637, provided:
    The United States of America deposited its instrument of 
ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 
International Child Abduction (``Convention'') on April 29, 1988. The 
Convention entered into force for the United States on July 1, 1988. 
Article 6 of the Convention imposes upon Contracting States an 
obligation to designate a ``Central Authority'' for the purpose of 
discharging certain specified functions.
    In order that the Government of the United States of America may 
give full and complete effect to the Convention, and pursuant to section 
7 of the International Child Abduction Remedies Act, Public Law No. 100-
300 (1988) [42 U.S.C. 11606], it is expedient and necessary that I 
designate a Central Authority within the Executive branch of said 
Government:
    NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President 
by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 
301 of Title 3 of the United States Code and section 7 of the 
International Child Abduction Remedies Act, it is ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Designation of Central Authority. The Department of State 
is hereby designated as the Central Authority of the United States for 
purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International 
Child Abduction. The Secretary of State is hereby authorized and 
empowered, in accordance with such regulations as he may prescribe, to 
perform all lawful acts that may be necessary and proper in order to 
execute the functions of the Central Authority in a timely and efficient 
manner.
                                                          Ronald Reagan.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 663, 11602 of this title.
