### §4069–1. Qualified former wives and husbands

#### (a) Construction with provisions relating to compatibility between retirement systems; effective dates

Notwithstanding section 4(h) of the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984, section 4067 of this title shall apply with respect to section 8339(j), section 8341(e), and section 8341(h) of title 5, and section 4 (except for subsection (b)) of the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984 to the extent that those sections apply to a qualified former wife or husband. For the purposes of this section any reference in the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984 to the effective date of that Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the effective date of this section.

#### (b) Payments to other persons as provided in court order or spousal agreement

(1) Payments pursuant to this section which would otherwise be made to a participant or former participant based upon his service shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the Secretary of State to another person if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of any court order or spousal agreement. Any payment under this paragraph to a person bars recovery by any other person.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall only apply to payments made by the Secretary of State under this subchapter after the date of receipt by the Secretary of State of written notice of such court order or spousal agreement and such additional information and documentation as the Secretary of State may prescribe.

#### (c) "Qualified former wife or husband" defined

For the purposes of this section, the term "qualified former wife or husband" means a former wife or husband of an individual if—

(1) such individual performed at least 18 months of civilian service creditable under this subchapter; and

(2) the former wife or husband was married to such individual for at least 9 months but not more than 10 years.

#### (d) Promulgation of regulations

Regulations issued pursuant to section 4067 of this title to implement this section shall be submitted to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. Such regulations shall not take effect until 60 days after the date on which such regulations are submitted to the Congress.

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, §830, as added Pub. L. 100–238, title II, §202(a), Jan. 8, 1988, 101 Stat. 1768.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

The Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 98–615, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3195. Section 4 of that Act is set out as a note under section 8341 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1984 Amendment note set out under section 8331 of Title 5 and Tables.

For effective date of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), see Effective Date note set out below.

#### Codification

Another section 830 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 was enacted by Pub. L. 100–204 and is classified to section 4069a of this title.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Change of Name

Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9. 2004.

#### Effective Date

Section applicable to any individual who, on or after Jan. 8, 1988, is married to a participant or former participant, see section 261(b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–238, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 4054 of this title.

#### Abolition of House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of House of Representatives abolished by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. References to Committee on Post Office and Civil Service treated as referring to Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives, see section 1(b) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999. Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.