14 U.S.C. § 510 — Conveyance of Coast Guard vessels for

Page 47 TITLE 14—COAST GUARD § 510 tired members of reserve components who, but for being under the eligibility age applicable under section 12731 of title 10, would be eligi- ble for retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10. (4) Subject to subsection (f), veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as total. (5) Such categories of dependents of individ- uals described in paragraphs (1) through (3) as the Commandant shall specify in the policy under subsection (a)(2), under such conditions and circumstances as the Commandant shall specify in such policy. (6) Such other categories of individuals as the Commandant considers appropriate. (d) REQUIREMENTS.—In operating the program, the Commandant shall— (1) in the sole discretion of the Com- mandant, establish an order of priority for transportation for categories of eligible indi- viduals that is based on considerations of mili- tary necessity, humanitarian concerns, and enhancement of morale; (2) give priority in consideration of transpor- tation to the demands of members of the armed forces in the regular components and in the reserve components on active duty and to the need to provide such members, and their dependents, a means of respite from such de- mands; and (3) implement policies aimed at ensuring cost control (as required under subsection (b)) and the safety, security, and efficient proc- essing of travelers, including limiting the ben- efit under the program to 1 or more categories of otherwise eligible individuals, as the Com- mandant considers necessary. (e) TRANSPORTATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), in establishing space-available transpor- tation priorities under the program, the Com- mandant shall provide transportation for an individual described in paragraph (2), and a single dependent of the individual if needed to accompany the individual, at a priority level in the same category as the priority level for an unaccompanied dependent over the age of 18 years traveling on environmental and mo- rale leave. (2) INDIVIDUALS COVERED.—Subject to para- graph (3), paragraph (1) applies with respect to an individual described in subsection (c)(3) who— (A) resides in or is located in a Common- wealth or possession of the United States; and (B) is referred by a military or civilian pri- mary care provider located in that Common- wealth or possession to a specialty care pro- vider for services to be provided outside of such Commonwealth or possession. (3) APPLICATION TO CERTAIN RETIRED INDIVID- UALS.—If an individual described in subsection (c)(3) is a retired member of a reserve compo- nent who is ineligible for retired pay under chapter 1223 of title 10 by reason of being under the eligibility age applicable under sec- tion 12731 of title 10, paragraph (1) applies to the individual only if the individual is also en- rolled in the TRICARE program for certain members of the Retired Reserve authorized under section 1076e of title 10. (4) PRIORITY.—The priority for space-avail- able transportation required by this sub- section applies with respect to— (A) the travel from the Commonwealth or possession of the United States to receive the specialty care services; and (B) the return travel. (5) PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER AND SPECIALTY CARE PROVIDER DEFINED.—In this subsection, the terms ‘‘primary care provider’’ and ‘‘spe- cialty care provider’’ refer to a medical or den- tal professional who provides health care serv- ices under chapter 55 of title 10. (f) LIMITATIONS ON TRAVEL.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Travel may not be provided under this section to a veteran eligible for travel pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (c) in priority over any member eligible for travel under paragraph (1) of that subsection or any dependent of such a member eligible for travel under this section. (2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Subsection (c)(4) may not be construed as— (A) affecting or in any way imposing on the Coast Guard, any armed force, or any commercial entity with which the Coast Guard or an armed force contracts, an obli- gation or expectation that the Coast Guard or such armed force will retrofit or alter, in any way, military aircraft or commercial aircraft, or related equipment or facilities, used or leased by the Coast Guard or such armed force to accommodate passengers pro- vided travel under such authority on ac- count of disability; or (B) preempting the authority of an aircraft commander to determine who boards the air- craft and any other matters in connection with safe operation of the aircraft. (g) APPLICATION OF SECTION.—The authority to provide transportation under the program is in addition to any other authority under law to provide transportation on Coast Guard aircraft on a space-available basis. (Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXII, § 11231(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4030.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 509 was renumbered section 2761 of this title. § 510. Conveyance of Coast Guard vessels for public purposes (a) IN GENERAL.—On request by the Com- mandant, the Administrator of the General Services Administration may transfer ownership of a Coast Guard vessel or aircraft to an eligible entity for educational, cultural, historical, char- itable, recreational, or other public purposes if such transfer is authorized by law. (b) CONDITIONS OF CONVEYANCE.—The General Services Administration may not convey a ves- sel or aircraft to an eligible entity as authorized by law unless the eligible entity agrees— Page 48 TITLE 14—COAST GUARD § 521 (1) to provide the documentation needed by the General Services Administration to proc- ess a request for aircraft or vessels as if the re- quest were being processed under section 102.37.225 of title 41, Code of Federal Regula- tions, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022; (2) to comply with the special terms, condi- tions, and restrictions imposed on aircraft and vessels under section 102.37.460 of such title, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022; (3) to make the vessel available to the United States Government if it is needed for use by the Commandant in time of war or a national emergency; and (4) to hold the United States Government harmless for any claims arising from exposure to hazardous materials, including asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls, that occurs after conveyance of the vessel, except for claims arising from use of the vessel by the United States Government under paragraph (3). (c) OTHER OBLIGATIONS UNAFFECTED.—Nothing in this section amends or affects any obligation of the Coast Guard or any other person under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) or any other law regarding use or dis- posal of hazardous materials including asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls. (d) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a State or local government, nonprofit corporation, edu- cational agency, community development orga- nization, or other entity that agrees to comply with the conditions established under this sec- tion. (Added and amended Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXII, § 11258(a), (c), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4057.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The date of the enactment of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), (2), is the date of enactment of div. K of Pub. L. 117–263, which was approved Dec. 23, 2022. The Toxic Substances Control Act, referred to in sub- sec. (c), is Pub. L. 94–469, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2003, which is classified generally to chapter 53 (§ 2601 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classi- fication of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2601 of Title 15 and Tables. CODIFICATION Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, § 914, Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3018, formerly set out as a note under section 501 of this title, was redesignated as this section, transferred to appear after section 509 of this title, and amended so that the enumerator, section catchline, typeface, and typestyle conformed to those appearing in other sec- tions of this title by Pub. L. 117–263, § 11258(a). PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 510 was renumbered section 2762 of this title. For redesignation of prior sections 511 to 520, see Table Showing Redesignations Made by Title I of Pub. L. 115–282 preceding section 101 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11258(c)(1), amend- ed subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘Whenever the transfer of ownership of a Coast Guard vessel or aircraft to an eligible entity for use for educational, cultural, historical, charitable, recreational, or other public purposes is authorized by law or declared excess by the Commandant, the Coast Guard shall transfer the vessel or aircraft to the Gen- eral Services Administration for conveyance to the eli- gible entity.’’ Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11258(c)(2)(A), inserted ‘‘as if the request were being processed’’ after ‘‘vessels’’ and ‘‘, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022’’ after ‘‘Code of Federal Regulations’’. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11258(c)(2)(B), inserted ‘‘, as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022’’ after ‘‘such title’’. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 117–263, § 11258(c)(2)(C), struck out ‘‘of the Coast Guard’’ after ‘‘Commandant’’. SUBCHAPTER II—LIFE SAVING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 105(c)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4202, inserted subchapter II designation and head- ing. § 521. Saving life and property (a) In order to render aid to distressed individ- uals, vessels, and aircraft on and under the high seas and on and under the waters over which the United States has jurisdiction and in order to render aid to individuals and property imperiled by flood, the Coast Guard may: (1) perform any and all acts necessary to res- cue and aid individuals and protect and save property; (2) take charge of and protect all property saved from marine or aircraft disasters, or floods, at which the Coast Guard is present, until such property is claimed by individuals legally authorized to receive it or until other- wise disposed of in accordance with law or ap- plicable regulations, and care for bodies of those who may have perished in such catas- trophes; (3) furnish clothing, food, lodging, medi- cines, and other necessary supplies and serv- ices to individuals succored by the Coast Guard; and (4) destroy or tow into port sunken or float- ing dangers to navigation. (b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Coast Guard may render aid to individuals and protect and save property at any time and at any place at which Coast Guard facilities and personnel are available and can be effectively utilized. (2) The Commandant shall make full use of all available and qualified resources, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and individuals licensed by the Secretary pursuant to section 8904(b) of title 46, United States Code, in rendering aid under this subsection in nonemergency cases. (c) An individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard or causes the Coast Guard to at- tempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is— (1) guilty of a class D felony; (2) subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000; and