42 U.S.C. § 3796c : The Public Health And Welfare — Justice System Improvement — Public Safety Officers’ Death Benefits — Death Benefits — Administrative Provisions

(a) Rules, regulations, and procedures

The Bureau is authorized to establish such rules, regulations, and procedures as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. Such rules, regulations, and procedures will be determinative of conflict of laws issues arising under this subchapter. Rules, regulations, and procedures issued under this subchapter may include regulations governing the recognition of agents or other persons representing claimants under this subchapter before the Bureau. The Bureau may prescribe the maximum fees which may be charged for services performed in connection with any claim under this subchapter before the Bureau, and any agreement in violation of such rules and regulations shall be void.

(b) Use of State and local administrative and investigative assistance

In making determinations under section 3796 of this title, the Bureau may utilize such administrative and investigative assistance as may be available from State and local agencies. Responsibility for making final determinations shall rest with the Bureau.

(c) Use of appropriated funds to conduct appeals

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Bureau is authorized to use appropriated funds to conduct appeals of public safety officers’ death and disability claims.

(d) References to provisions outside this subchapter

Unless expressly provided otherwise, any reference in this subchapter to any provision of law not in this subchapter shall be understood to constitute a general reference under the doctrine of incorporation by reference, and thus to include any subsequent amendments to the provision.

(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 1205, formerly § 1204, as added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 609F, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2100; renumbered § 1205, Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6106(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4341; amended Pub. L. 105–180, § 2(b), June 16, 1998, 112 Stat. 511; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1086(b)(1)(F), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1967.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3796c, Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 1204, as added Pub. L. 96–157, § 2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1221, contained provisions similar to this section, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by section 609F of Pub. L. 98–473.

Another prior section 3796c, Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 704, as added Pub. L. 94–430, § 2, Sept. 29, 1976, 90 Stat. 1347, contained provisions similar to this section, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–157.

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–239 added subsec. (d).

1998—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–180 added subsec. (c).

Effective Date of 2013 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–239 effective Jan. 2, 2013, and applicable to matters pending on Jan. 2, 2013, or filed or accruing after that date, with certain exceptions, see section 1086(d) of Pub. L. 112–239, set out as a note under section 3791 of this title.