§950 Designation, powers, and accountability of deputy disbursing officials

Summary

A Coast Guard disbursing official can name a deputy to act for them. The deputy can make payments, sign checks on disbursing accounts with the Secretary of the Treasury, and do other duties required by law. The Secretary must approve the appointment. The deputy faces the same penalties for misconduct that the disbursing official would. If the disbursing official dies, becomes disabled, or leaves office, the deputy can keep handling the accounts and payments in the former official’s name until the final day of the second month after the month when the death, disability, or separation happens. The accounts will be audited and settled as the law requires, and the Secretary of the Treasury must honor checks signed in the former official’s name. The deputy, not the former official or the estate, is responsible for the deputy’s actions. If the Coast Guard is operating under section 2773 of title 10, this section generally does not apply, but any deputy appointments made before that change keep working under section 2773 until the original appointing official or an official authorized under subsection (a)(3) of section 2773 of title 10 ends them.