10 U.S.C. § 2773a: Departmental accountable…

Summary

Lets the Secretary of Defense pick certain DoD civilians or service members and name them in writing as "departmental accountable officials." The people chosen are those who give information, data, or services that a certifying official directly uses to approve payment vouchers and who are not already legally responsible under subtitle III of title 31 or other law. If a payment turns out to be illegal, improper, or wrong, the Secretary can make a designated official pay back money if the payment happened because the certifying official relied on that person’s information and the error was that person’s fault or negligence. The financial rules that apply are the same as for officials covered by subtitle III of title 31, and any money owed can be shared so others who are liable can also be held responsible for the loss. A certifying official is the employee who has the duties listed in 31 U.S.C. 3528(a).

Title 10, §2773a

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Designation by Secretary of Defense.—

The Secretary of Defense may designate any civilian employee of the Department of Defense or member of the armed forces under the Secretary’s jurisdiction who is described in subsection (b) as an employee or member who, in addition to any other potential accountability, may be held accountable through personal monetary liability for an illegal, improper, or incorrect payment made by the Department of Defense described in subsection (c). Any such designation shall be in writing. Any employee or member who is so designated may be referred to as a “departmental accountable official”.

(b)Covered Employees and Members.—

An employee or member of the armed forces described in this subsection is an employee or member who—

(1)is responsible in the performance of the employee’s or member’s duties for providing to a certifying official of the Department of Defense information, data, or services that are directly relied upon by the certifying official in the certification of vouchers for payment; and

(2)is not otherwise accountable under subtitle III of title 31 or any other provision of law for payments made on the basis of such vouchers.

(c)Pecuniary Liability.—

(1)The Secretary of Defense may subject a departmental accountable official to pecuniary liability for an illegal, improper, or incorrect payment made by the Department of Defense if the Secretary determines that such payment—

(A)resulted from information, data, or services that that official provided to a certifying official and upon which that certifying official directly relies in certifying the voucher supporting that payment; and

(B)was the result of fault or negligence on the part of that departmental accountable official.

(2)Pecuniary liability under this subsection shall apply in the same manner and to the same extent as applies to an official accountable under subtitle III of title 31.

(3)Any pecuniary liability of a departmental accountable official under this subsection for a loss to the United States resulting from an illegal, improper, or incorrect payment is joint and several with that of any other officer or employee of the United States or member of the uniformed services who is pecuniarily liable for such loss.

(d)Certifying Official Defined.—

In this section, the term “certifying official” means an employee who has the responsibilities specified in section 3528(a) of title 31.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–163 inserted “by” after “incorrect payment made”.

§2773a Departmental Accountable Officials

Summary

Title 10, §2773a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata