22 U.S.C. § 2715 — Procedures regarding major disasters and

Page 1152 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2715 of the Treasury, the Secretary of State shall not issue a passport to any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt described in such section. (B) Emergency and humanitarian situations Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in emergency circumstances or for humani- tarian reasons, to an individual described in such subparagraph. (2) Revocation (A) In general The Secretary of State may revoke a pass- port previously issued to any individual de- scribed in paragraph (1)(A). (B) Limitation for return to United States If the Secretary of State decides to revoke a passport under subparagraph (A), the Sec- retary of State, before revocation, may— (i) limit a previously issued passport only for return travel to the United States; or (ii) issue a limited passport that only permits return travel to the United States. (3) Hold harmless The Secretary of the Treasury, the Sec- retary of State, and any of their designees shall not be liable to an individual for any ac- tion with respect to a certification by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue under sec- tion 7345 of title 26. (f) Revocation or denial of passport in case of in- dividual without social security account number (1) Denial (A) In general Except as provided under subparagraph (B), upon receiving an application for a pass- port from an individual that either— (i) does not include the social security account number issued to that individual, or (ii) includes an incorrect or invalid so- cial security number willfully, inten- tionally, negligently, or recklessly pro- vided by such individual, the Secretary of State is authorized to deny such application and is authorized to not issue a passport to the individual. (B) Emergency and humanitarian situations Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in emergency circumstances or for humani- tarian reasons, to an individual described in subparagraph (A). (2) Revocation (A) In general The Secretary of State may revoke a pass- port previously issued to any individual de- scribed in paragraph (1)(A). (B) Limitation for return to United States If the Secretary of State decides to revoke a passport under subparagraph (A), the Sec- retary of State, before revocation, may— (i) limit a previously issued passport only for return travel to the United States; or (ii) issue a limited passport that only permits return travel to the United States. (g) Removal of certification from record when debt ceases to be seriously delinquent If pursuant to subsection (c) or (e) of section 7345 of title 26 the Secretary of State receives from the Secretary of the Treasury a notice that an individual ceases to have a seriously delin- quent tax debt, the Secretary of State shall re- move from the individual’s record the certifi- cation with respect to such debt. (h) Omitted (i) Effective date The provisions of, and amendments made by, this section shall take effect on December 4, 2015. (Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXII, § 32101, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1729.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT For the amendments made by this section, referred to in subsec. (i), see Codification note below. CODIFICATION Section is comprised of section 32101 of Pub. L. 114–94. Subsections (a) to (d) and (h) of section 32101 of Pub. L. 114–94 made the following amendments: subsection (a) enacted section 7345 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code; subsection (b) amended sections 6320 and 6331 of Title 26; subsection (c) amended section 6103 of Title 26; sub- section (d) amended section 7508 of Title 26; and sub- section (h) amended the analysis for subchapter D of chapter 75 of Title 26. § 2715. Procedures regarding major disasters and incidents abroad affecting United States citi- zens (a) Authority In the case of a major disaster or incident abroad which affects the health and safety of citizens of the United States residing or trav- eling abroad, the Secretary of State shall pro- vide prompt and thorough notification of all ap- propriate information concerning such disaster or incident and its effect on United States citi- zens to the next-of-kin of such individuals. Noti- fication shall be provided through the most ex- peditious means available, including telephone communications, and shall include timely writ- ten notice. The Secretary, through the appro- priate offices of the Department of State, shall act as a clearinghouse for up-to-date informa- tion for the next-of-kin and shall provide other services and assistance. Assistance shall include liaison with foreign governments and persons and with United States air carriers concerning arrangements for the preparation and transport to the United States of the remains of citizens who die abroad, as well as disposition of per- sonal estates pursuant to section 2715c of this title. (b) Definitions For purposes of this section and sections 2715b and 2715c of this title, the term ‘‘consular offi- Page 1153 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2715b cer’’ includes any United States citizen em- ployee of the Department of State who is des- ignated by the Secretary of State to perform consular services pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. (Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 43, as added Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 115(c)(2), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 23; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 235], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–429.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 43 of act Aug. 1, 1956, was renumbered section 44 by section 115(c)(1) of Pub. L. 101–246, and subsequently renumbered, and set out as a Short Title of 1956 Amendment note under section 2651 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 111(1), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 654. AMENDMENTS 1999—Pub. L. 106–113 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted subsec. heading, substituted ‘‘dis- position of personal estates pursuant to section 2715c of this title’’ for ‘‘disposition of personal effects’’, and added subsec. (b). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 115(d), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 23, provided that: ‘‘(1) The Secretary of State shall enter into discus- sions with international air carriers and other appro- priate entities to develop standardized procedures which will assist the Secretary in implementing the provisions of section 43 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended by subsection (c) [22 U.S.C. 2715]. ‘‘(2) The Secretary of State shall consider the feasi- bility of establishing a toll-free telephone number to facilitate inquiries by the next-of-kin in cases of major disasters or incidents abroad which affect the health and safety of citizens of the United States residing or traveling abroad.’’ § 2715a. Provision of information on certain vio- lent crimes abroad to victims and victims’ families (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) it is in the national interests of the United States to provide information regard- ing the killing, abduction, torture, or other se- rious mistreatment of United States citizens abroad to the victims of such crimes, or the families of victims of such crimes if they are United States citizens; and (2) the provision of such information is suffi- ciently important that the discharge of the re- sponsibility for identifying and disseminating such information should be vested in a cabi- net-level officer of the United States Govern- ment. (b) Responsibility The Secretary of State shall take appropriate actions to ensure that the United States Gov- ernment takes all appropriate actions to— (1) identify promptly information (including classified information) in the possession of the departments and agencies of the United States Government regarding the killing, abduction, torture, or other serious mistreatment of United States citizens abroad; and (2) subject to subsection (c), promptly make such information available to— (A) the victims of such crimes; or (B) when appropriate, the family members of the victims of such crimes if such family members are United States citizens. (c) Limitations The Secretary shall work with the heads of ap- propriate departments and agencies of the United States Government in order to ensure that information relevant to a crime covered by subsection (b) is promptly reviewed and, to the maximum extent practicable, without jeopard- izing sensitive sources and methods or other vital national security interests, or without jeopardizing an on-going criminal investigation or proceeding, made available under that sub- section unless such disclosure is specifically pro- hibited by law. (Pub. L. 105–107, title III, § 307, Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2252.) § 2715b. Notification of next of kin; reports of death (a) In general Whenever a United States citizen or national dies abroad, a consular officer shall endeavor to notify, or assist the Secretary of State in noti- fying, the next of kin or legal guardian as soon as possible, except that, in the case of death of any Peace Corps volunteer (within the meaning of section 2504(a) of this title), any member of the Armed Forces, any dependent of such a vol- unteer or member, or any Department of De- fense employee, the consular officer shall assist the Peace Corps or the appropriate military au- thorities, as the case may be, in making such notifications. (b) Reports of death or presumptive death The consular officer may, for any United States citizen who dies abroad— (1) in the case of a finding of death by the appropriate local authorities, issue a report of death or of presumptive death; or (2) in the absence of a finding of death by the appropriate local authorities, issue a report of presumptive death. (c) Implementing regulations The Secretary of State shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. (Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 43A, as added Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 234(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–426.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 234(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–429, provided that: ‘‘The repeal and amendment made by this section [enacting this section and section 2715c of this title and repealing section 4195 of this title] shall take effect six months after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999].’’