Title 20EducationRelease 119-73not60

§3479 Use of Facilities

Title 20 › Chapter 48— DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Subchapter IV— ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part B— General Administrative Provisions › § 3479

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can use the research, equipment, services, or facilities of other federal, state, local, or foreign governments if those parties agree, and may or may not pay them back. The Secretary can let public or private groups or people use land, buildings, or improvements the Department controls. Uses must be on public-interest terms and rates and cannot last more than five years. Users may have to repair and maintain what they use at their own cost. Reimbursements can be put back into the fund that paid for the equipment or facilities or returned if needed. Any property interests bought under this chapter must be in the name of the United States Government. This does not apply to excess property as defined in section 102(3) of title 40.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §3479

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)With their consent, the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement, use the research, equipment, services, and facilities of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, of any State or political subdivision thereof, or of any foreign government, in carrying out any function of the Secretary or the Department.
(b)The Secretary is authorized to permit public and private agencies, corporations, associations, organizations, or individuals to use any real property, or any facilities, structures, or other improvements thereon, under the custody and control of the Secretary for Department purposes. The Secretary shall permit the use of such property, facilities, structures, or improvements under such terms and rates and for such period as may be in the public interest, except that the periods of such uses may not exceed five years. The Secretary may require permittees under this section to recondition and maintain, at their own expense, the real property, facilities, structures, and improvements used by such permittees to a standard satisfactory to the Secretary. This subsection shall not apply to excess property as defined in section 102(3) of title 40.
(c)Proceeds from reimbursements under this section may be credited to the appropriation of funds that bear or will bear all or part of the cost of such equipment or facilities provided or to refund excess sums when necessary.
(d)Any interest in real property acquired pursuant to this chapter shall be acquired in the name of the United States Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification “section 102(3) of title 40” substituted in subsec. (b) for “section 3(e) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949” on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works.

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–145 struck out par. (1) designation and par. (2) which provided for treatment of personnel, upon

Transfer of Functions

and personnel from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of Education, as employees of the Department of Defense for the purpose of access to services and facilities provided by the Department of Defense.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 3479

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60