Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110
§1226a Contingent Extension of Programs
Title 20 › CHAPTER 31 — GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION › SUBCHAPTER II — APPROPRIATIONS AND EVALUATIONS › Part 1 — Appropriations › § 1226a
Summary
If a program’s authorization would end, it keeps going for one more fiscal year unless Congress passes a law before that final fiscal year starts to change or end it. The extra year uses the same amount of money that was authorized for that final fiscal year, and any actions the Secretary must take to keep the program running must be done during the extra year. This does not apply to a commission, council, or committee that a law says must end on a specific date.
Full Legal Text
Title 20, §1226a
Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Automatic extension
The authorization of appropriations for, or duration of, an applicable program shall be automatically extended for one additional fiscal year unless Congress, in the regular session that ends prior to the beginning of the terminal fiscal year of such authorization or duration, has passed legislation that becomes law and extends or repeals the authorization or duration of such program.
(b)Amount of appropriation
The amount authorized to be appropriated for the period of automatic extension under subsection (a) of an applicable program shall be the amount authorized to be appropriated for such program for the terminal fiscal year of the applicable program.
(c)Acts and determinations necessary for program continuation
If the Secretary is required, in the terminal fiscal year of an applicable program, to carry out certain acts or make certain determinations that are necessary for the continuation of such program, such acts or determinations shall be required to be carried out or made during the period of automatic extension under subsection (a).
(d)Application to commissions, councils, and committees required by law to terminate
This section shall not apply to the authorization of appropriations for a commission, council, or committee which is required by an applicable statute to terminate on a date certain.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 422 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 431, and is classified to section 1231a of this title. Another prior section 422 of Pub. L. 90–247 was renumbered section 438, and is classified to section 1232a of this title.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–382, § 233, amended section generally, revising and restating former subsecs. (a) and (b) as subsecs. (a) to (c) and adding subsec. (d). 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–374 inserted provisions for the automatic extension of an authorization or duration of two additional fiscal years for any applicable program authorized to be included in the Appropriation Act for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which appropriations are available for obligation.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–374 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 1393(a) of Pub. L. 96–374, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title. Additional Extensions Not Permitted Pub. L. 114–105, § 2(c), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2220, provided that: “section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1226a) shall not apply to further extend the duration of the authority under paragraph (1) of section 461(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087aa(b)), as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section, beyond
September 30, 2017, on the basis of the extension under such subsection.” Indochinese Refugee Children Education Assistance Programs; Applicability of Contingent Extension ProvisionsApplicability of contingent extension provisions to any program of financial assistance for educational purposes for Indochinese refugee children, see section 327 of Pub. L. 94–482, set out as a note under section 1225 of this title. Limitation on Extension of Programs Pub. L. 94–328, § 2(d),
June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 727, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending section 1070a, 1074, 1078 and 1078a of this title] shall not be deemed to authorize the automatic extension of the programs so amended, under section 414 [now 422] of the General Education Provisions Act [this section], beyond the date specified in such
Amendments
.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1226a
Title 20, Education
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110