1. (a) Active duty pay and allowances, amounts due for accrued or accumulated leave, or retired or retainer pay, that are otherwise payable to a member to whom this chapter applies and who, in the opinion of a board of medical officers or physicians, is mentally incapable of managing his affairs, may be paid for that member’s use or benefit to any person designated by the Secretary concerned, or by any officer to whom he delegates his authority under this section, without the appointment in judicial proceedings of a committee, guardian, or other legal representative.

2. (b) The board shall consist of at least three qualified medical officers or physicians, one of whom is specially qualified in the treatment of mental disorders, appointed from available medical officers or physicians under his jurisdiction by the head of whichever of the following is providing medical treatment for the member, or by a person designated by that head—

   1. (1) Department of the Army;
   2. (2) Department of the Navy;
   3. (3) Department of the Air Force;
   4. (4) Department of Health and Human Services; or
   5. (5) Department of Veterans Affairs.

   If the hospitalization or medical care of the member is not provided by the United States, the board shall be appointed by the Secretary of the department having jurisdiction of the member.

3. (c) A payment made to a person who is designated under this section discharges the obligation of the United States as to the amount paid.
4. (d) A person serving in a legal, medical, fiduciary, or other capacity, may not demand or accept a fee, commission, or other charge for any service performed under this chapter.
5. (e) This section does not apply in any case in which a legal committee, guardian, or other representative has been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, except as to payments made before the paying agency of the department concerned receives notice of that appointment.
6. (f) A person who is designated to receive payments under this section shall furnish satisfactory assurance that the amounts received by him will be applied to the use and benefit of the incompetent member, and, where the payments may reasonably be expected to be more than $1,000, shall provide a suitable bond to be paid for out of amounts due the incompetent member.

(Pub. L. 87–649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 483; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 516(17), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2939; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(b)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1604.)

In subsection (a), the words “or persons” and “or officers” are omitted, since, under section 1 of title 1, “words importing the singular include and apply to several persons, parties, or things”. The words “to whom he delegates his authority under this section” are substituted for the words “as the respective Secretaries may designate for such purposes” to obviate confusion between persons “designated to receive payments and those who perform the Secretary’s functions under the section. The words “the necessity of” are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (c), the words “or persons” are omitted for the reasons given in the preceding paragraph. The words “discharges the obligation” are substituted for the words “shall constitute a complete discharge”.

In subsection (d), the words “under the authority of” are omitted as surplusage.

In subsection (e), the words “have been” and “including a requirement” are omitted as surplusage. The words “or persons” are omitted for the reason stated in the explanation under subsection (a), above.

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1980—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Department of Health and Human Services” for “Department of Health, Education, and Welfare”.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.