§1342 — Title 31 Money and Finance | U.S. Code

Summary

Federal and District of Columbia officers and employees may not take unpaid help or hire people beyond what the law allows, except in true emergencies to save lives or protect property. The rule does not apply to a corporation that gets funds to make loans (except paid‑in capital) when the United States is not legally liable. "Emergencies" do not include normal government work that can be paused without an immediate danger to life or property.

Title 31, §1342

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An officer or employee of the United States Government or of the District of Columbia government may not accept voluntary services for either government or employ personal services exceeding that authorized by law except for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. This section does not apply to a corporation getting amounts to make loans (except paid in capital amounts) without legal liability of the United States Government. As used in this section, the term “emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property” does not include ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 134231:665(b).R.S. § 3679(b), (d)(2)(last sentence related to voluntary services); Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1484, § 4(1st par.), 33 Stat. 1257; Feb. 27, 1906, ch. 510, § 3, 34 Stat. 48; restated Sept. 6, 1950, ch. 896, § 1211, 64 Stat. 765. 31:665(d)(2)(last sentence related to voluntary services). The words “District of Columbia government” are added because of section 47–105 of the D.C. Code.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–92 temporarily amended section by inserting “All officers and employees of the United States Government or the District of Columbia government shall be deemed to be performing services relating to emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.” after first sentence and by striking out at end “As used in this section, the term ‘emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property’ does not include ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property”. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1996 Amendment note below. 1990—Pub. L. 101–508 inserted at end “As used in this section, the term ‘emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property’ does not include ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–92, title III, § 310(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 20, provided that the amendment made by that section is for the period Dec. 15, 1995, through Jan. 26, 1996.

§1342 Limitation on Voluntary Services