Thrift Savings Plan Technical Amendments Act of 1990
PL 101-335 (H.R.2514), enacted 07/17/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
104 STAT. 319 
Public Law 101-
101st Congress 
335 
An Act 
Amending subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Thrift Savings Plan Technical 
Amendments Act of 1990". 
SEC. 2. CORRECTION OF EMPLOYING AGENCY ERRORS RELATING TO THE 
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 84.—Chapter 84 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8432 the 
following: 
"§ 8432a. Payment of lost earnings 
"(aXD The Executive Director shall prescribe regulations under 
which an employing agency shall be required to pay to the Thrift 
Savings Fund amounts representing lost earnings resulting from 
errors (including errors of omission) made by such agency in carry-
ing out this subchapter, subject to paragraph (2). 
"(2) If the error involves an employing agency's failure to deduct 
from basic pay contributions (in whole or in part) on behalf of an 
individual in accordance with section 8432(a), the regulations shall 
not provide for the payment of any lost earnings which would be 
attributable to— 
"(A) the contributions that the agency failed to deduct from 
basic pay in accordance with section 8432(a); or 
"(B) any related contributions under section 8432(cX2) that 
the emplojdng agency is not required (by statute or otherwise) 
to make up. 
"(b) The regulations— 
"(1) shall include— 
"(A) procedures for computing lost earnings; and 
"(B) procedures under which amounts paid to the Thrift 
Savings Fund under this section shall be credited to appro-
priate accounts; 
"(2) may provide for exceptions from the requirements of this 
section to the extent that correction of an error is not adminis-
tratively feasible; 
"(3) may require an employing gigency to reimburse the Thrift 
Savings Fund for costs incurred by the Thrift Savings Fund in 
implementing corrections of employing agency errors under this 
section; and 
"(4) may include such other provisions as the Executive Direc-
tor determines appropriate to carry out this section. 
"(c) Any amounts required to be paid by an employing agency 
under t h ^ section shall be paid from the appropriation or fund 
July 17, 1990 
[H.R. 2514] 
Thrift 
Savings Plan 
Technical 
Amendments 
Act of 1990. 
Grovernment 
organization and 
employees. 
Retirement, 
5 u s e 8401 note. 
Regulations. 
-194 0 - 9 1 
; QL 3 Part 1 
104 STAT. 320 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
available to the employing agency for pa3rment of salaries of the 
psirticipant's office or establishment. If a participant in the legisla-
tive branch is paid by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the 
Clerk may pay from the contingent fund of the House of Representa-
tives the amount required to be paid to correct errors relating to the 
Thrift Savings Fund that otherwise would be paid from the appro-
priation or fund used to pay the participant." 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chap-
ter 84 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 8432 the following: 
"8432a. Pajmient of lost earnings." 
5 use 8432a 
(b) AppucABiLTTY.—The amendments made by this section shall 
'^o*®- 
apply with respect to lost earnings attributable to errors made 
before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO THE INVESTMENT OF 
AMOUNTS IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8438 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (e) and redesignating subsections (f) 
through (i) as subsections (e) through (h), respectively; 
(2) in subsection (bXlXA), by striking "subsection (f)" and 
inserting "subsection (e)"; 
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking "Subject to subsection (e), 
the" and inserting "The"; 
(4) in subsection (dXD, by striking "and not subject to subsec-
tion (e)"; 
(5) in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (g) (as so redesig-
nated by paragraph (1)), by striking "subsection (f)" and insert-
ing "subsection (e)", and in paragraph (3) of subsection (g) (as so 
redesignated), by striking "subsection (fX2)" and inserting 
"subsection (eX2)'^'; 
(6) in subsection (gX6) (as so redesignated by paragraph (1)), by 
striking "subsection (i)" and inserting "subsection (h)"; and 
(7) in paragraph (1) of subsection (h) (as so redesignated by 
paragraph (1)), by striking "subsection (h)" and inserting 
"subsection (g)", and in paragraph (2) of subsection (h) (as so 
redesignated), by striking "subsection (f)" and inserting "subsec-
tion (e)". 
(b) 
REMOVAL OF INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING 
C S R S 
PARTICIPANTS AND OTHERS.— 
(1) CSRS PARTICIPANTS.—Section 8351(bX8) of title 5, United 
States Code, is repealed. 
(2) JUSTICES AND JUDGES.—Subsection (b) of the first section 
8440a of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
paragraph (6) and redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6). 
(3) BANKRUPTCY JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES.—Section 8440b(b) 
of title 5, United States Code (as so redesignated by section 9) is 
amended by striking paragraph (7) and redesignating paragraph 
(8) as paragraph (7). 
5 use 8438 note. 
(4) OTHERS.—Any Other provision of law, in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act, which provides that any amounts 
contributed to the Thrift Savings Fund, or earnings thereon, 
may be invested or reinvested only in the Government Securi-
ties Investment Fund established under section 8438(bXlXA) of 
title 5, United States Code, shall cease to be effective. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
104 STAT. 321 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a) and (b), and the amendments 5 use 8351 note, 
made by such subsections, shall be effective as of the second election 
period described in section 8432(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, or as of such 
earlier date as the Executive Director may by regulation prescribe. 
SEC. 4. EXEMPTION OF THRIFT SAYINGS PLAN ANNUITIES FROM STATE 
AND LOCAL PREMIUM TAXES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8434 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(eXD No tax, fee, or other monetary payment may be imposed or 
collected by any State, the District of Columbia, or the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, or by any political subdivision or other 
governmental authority thereof, on, or with respect to, any amount 
paid to purchase an annuity contract under this section. 
"(2) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to exempt any company 
or other entity issuing an annuity contract under this section from 
the imposition, pajmient, or collection of a tax, fee, or other mone-
tary pajnnent on the net income or profit accruing to or realized by 
that entity from the sale of an annuity contract under this section if 
that tax, fee, or payment is applicable to a broad range of business 
activity." 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 5 use 8434 note. 
shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. CLARIFYING 
AMENDMENTS 
RELATING 
TO 
AN 
ANNUITY'S 
COMMENCEMENT DATE. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 8433.— 
(1) RELATING TO DEADUNE FOR CHANGING AN ELECTION.—Sec-
tion 8433(fK3XA) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking "an annuity elected by the former employee or Member 
commences." and inserting "an annuity contract is purchased 
to provide for the annuity elected by the former employee or 
Member." 
(2) RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS CONCERNING DEFERRED ANNU-
ITIES.—Section 8433(fK3XB) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
"(B) A modification of a date may not be made under 
paragraph (2) on or after the date on which an annuity 
contract is purchased to provide for the annuity involved, 
and may not specify a date for the commencement of em 
annuity earlier than 90 days after the date on which the 
modification is submitted to the Executive Director (or such 
period shorter than 90 days as the Executive Director may 
by regulation prescribe)." 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 8434.— 
(1) RELATING TO DEADLINE FOR CHANGING AN ELECTION.—Sec-
tion 8434(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking "the annuity commences," and inserting "an annuity 
contract is purchased to provide for that annuity, . 
(2) RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS.—Sec-
tion 8434(dXl) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking "At the time an annuity is to commence under this 
subchapter," and inserting "Not earlier than 90 days (or such 
shorter period as the Executive Director may by regulation 
prescribe) before an annuity is to commence under this 
subchapter,". 
104 STAT. 322 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
(c) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 8435.— 
(1) DETERMINATION OF MARITAL STATUS.—Section 8435(cXl) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by inserting "an annuity contract is purchased to 
provide for" after "the date on which"; and 
(B) by striking "commences". 
(2) 
DEADUNE 
FOR 
RECEIPT 
OF 
NOTIFICATION.—Section 
8435(dX2)(BXii) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking "the annuity commences," and inserting "an ginnuity 
contract is purchased to provide for the smnuity,". 
5 use 8433 note. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall 
be effective as of April 1,1987. 
SEC. 6. PROVISIONS RELATING TO ACCOUNTS HAVING A FINAL BALANCE 
OF $3,500 OR LESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—Section 8401 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (30), by striking the final "and"; 
(B) in paragraph (31), by striking "States." and inserting 
"States; £uid"; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
"(32) the term 'nonforfeitable account balance' means any 
amounts in an account, established and maintained under sub-
chapter III, which are nonforfeitable (as determined under sec-
tion 8432(g))." 
(2) PAYMENT OF NONFORFEITABLE ACCOUNT BALANCE IN CASE OF 
NONELECTiON.—Section 8433(h) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
"(hXl) Notwithstanding subsection (d), if an employee or Member 
separates from Government employment before becoming entitled 
to a deferred annuity under subchapter II, and such employee's or 
Member's nonforfeitable account balance is $3,500 or less, the 
Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to 
the participant in a single pajonent unless the employee or Member 
elects, at such time and otherwise in such manner £is the Executive 
Director prescribes, to have the nonforfeitable account balance 
transferred to an eligible retirement plan as provided in subsec-
tion (e). 
"(2) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), if an employee or 
Member separates from (Jovernment employment under cir-
cumstances making such employee or Member eligible to make aa 
election under either of those subsections, and such employee's or 
Member's nonforfeitable account balance is $3,500 or less, the 
Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to 
the participant in a single pajmient unless the employee or Member 
elects, at such time and otherwise in such manner as the Executive 
Director prescribes, one of the options available under subsection Ot)) 
or (c), as applicable. 
"(3) Unless otherwise elected under this section, and subject to 
paragraphs (1) and (2), benefits under this subchapter shall be paid 
as an annuity commencing for an employee. Member, former em-
ployee, or former Member on February 1 of the year following the 
latest of the year in which— 
"(A) the employee. Member, former employee, or fwmer 
Member becomes 65 years of age; 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
104 STAT. 323 
"(B) occurs the tenth anniversary of the year in which the 
employee, Member, former employee, or former 
Member 
beceime subject to this subchapter; or 
"(C) the employee, Member, former employee, or former 
Member separates from Government emplojmaent." 
(3) WAIVER OF NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 8435 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsec-
tion (h) as subsection (i), and by inserting after subsection (g) the 
following: 
"(h) Except with respect to the making of loans under section 
8433(i), none of the provisions of this section requiring notification 
to, or the consent or waiver of, a spouse or former spouse of an 
employee. Member, former employee, or former Member shall apply 
in any case in which the nonforfeitable account balance of the 
employee, Member, former employee, or former Member is $3,500 or 
less." 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS,— 
(1) CSRS.—Section 8351(b) of title 5, United States Code, as 
amended by section 3(bXl), is further amended— 
(A) by adding after paragraph (7) the following: 
"(8) Notwithstanding paragraph (6), if an employee or Member 
who elects to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund under 
subsection (a) separates from Government employment before be-
coming entitled to a deferred or immediate annuity under this 
subchapter, and such employee's or Member's nonforfeitable ac-
count balance is $3,500 or less, the Executive Director shall pay the 
nonforfeitable account balance to the participant in a single pay-
ment unless the employee or Member elects, at such time and 
otherwise in such manner as the Executive Director prescribes, to 
have the nonforfeitable account balance transferred to an eligible 
retirement plan as provided in section 8433(e). 
"(9) Notwithstanding paragraphs (4) and (5), if an employee or 
Member separates from Government employment under cir-
cumstances making such employee or Member eligible to make an 
election under subsection (b) or (c) of section 8433, and such employ-
ee's or Member's nonforfeitable account balance is $3,500 or less, the 
Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to 
the participant in a single payment unless the employee or Member 
elects, at such time and otherwise in such manner as the Executive 
Director prescribes, one of the options available under such subsec-
tion (b) or (c), as applicable. 
"(10) For the purpose of this section, the term 'nonforfeitable 
account balance' has the same meaning as under section 8401(32)."; 
and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7XC) the following: 
"(D) Except with respect to the making of loans under section 
8433(i), none of the provisions of this paragraph requiring 
notification to a spouse or former spouse of an employee, 
Member, former employee, or former Member shall apply in 
any case in which the nonforfeitable account balance of the 
employee. Member, former employee, or former Member is 
$3,500 or less." 
(2) JUSTICES AND JUDGES.—Subsection (b) of the first section 
8440a of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 
3(bX2), is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(7) Notwithstanding paragraph (5), if any justice or judge who 
elects to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund under 
104 STAT. 324 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
subsection (a) resigns without having met the age and service 
requirements set forth in section 371(c) of title 28, and such justice's 
or judge's nonforfeitable account balance is $3,500 or less, the 
Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to 
the participant in a single payment unless the justice or judge 
elects, at such time and otherwise in such manner as the Executive 
Director prescribes, to have the nonforfeitable account balance 
transferred to an eligible retirement plan as provided in section 
8433(e). 
"(8) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), if any justice or judge retires 
under subsection (a) or Ob) of section 371 or section 372(a) of title 28, 
and such justice's or judge's nonforfeitable account balance is $3,500 
or less, the Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account 
balance to the participant in a single payment unless the justice or 
judge elects, at such time and otherwise in such manner as the 
Executive Director prescribes, one of the options available under 
section 8433a>)." 
(3) BANKRUPTCY JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES.—Subsection (b) of 
section 8440b of title 5, United States Code (as so redesignated 
by section 9, and as amended by section 3(bX3)) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(8) Notwithstanding paragraph (4XC), if any bankruptcy judge or 
magistrate who elects to make contributions to the Thrift Savings 
Fund under subsection (a) retires before becoming entitled to an 
immediate annuity, or an annuity upon attaining age 65, under 
section 377 of title 28 or section 2(c) of the Retirement and Survi-
vors' Annuities for Bankruptcy Judges and Magistrates Act of 1988, 
and such bankruptcy judge s or magistrate's nonforfeitable account 
balance is $3,500 or less, the Executive Director shall pay the 
nonforfeitable account balance to the participant in a single pay-
ment unless the bankruptcy judge or magistrate elects, at such time 
and otherwise in such manner as the Executive Director prescribes, 
to have the nonforfeitable account balance transferred to an eligible 
retirement plan as provided in section 8433(e). 
"(9) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4), 
if any bankruptcy judge or magistrate retires under circumstances 
making such bankruptcy judge or magistrate eligible to make an 
election under subsection (b) or (c) of section 8433, £ind such bank-
ruptcy judge's or magistrate's nonforfeitable account balance is 
$3,500 or less, the Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable 
account balance to the participant in a single pa5nnent unless the 
bankruptcy judge or magistrate elects, at such time and otherwise in 
such manner as the Executive Director prescribes, one of the options 
available under such subsection (b) or (c), as applicable." 
Regulations. 
(4) OTHERS.—The Executive Director (as appointed under sec-
5 use 8433 note. 
tion 8474(a) of title 5, United States Code) shall prescribe regula-
tions under which the purposes of the amendments made by 
this section shall be carried out with respect to any individuals 
participating in the Thrift Savings Plan who would not other-
wise be affected by this section. 
5 use 8351 note. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amendments made by 
this section, shall be effective as of the second election period 
described in section 8432(b) of title 5, United States Code, beginning 
after the date of enactment of this Act (or as of such earlier date as 
the Executive Director may by regulation prescribe), and shall apply 
with respect to separations occurring before, on, or after that effec-
tive date. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
104 STAT. 325 
SEC. 7. ELECTION TO REMAIN SUBJECT TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELAT-
ING TO CAREER APPOINTEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3392(c) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs 
(A) and (B), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (cXD; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(2) An election under paragraph (1) may also be made by any 
career appointee who is appointed to a civilian position in the 
executive branch— 
"(A) which is not in the Senior Executive Service; and 
"(B) which is covered by the Executive Schedule, or the rate of 
basic pay for which is fixed by statute at a rate equal to 1 of the 
levels of the Executive Schedule. 
An election under this paragraph shall remain effective so long as 
the appointee continues to serve in the same position." 
(b) EFFECTIVE 
DATE; ELECTION BY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY AP- 5 use 3392 note. 
POINTED.— 
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Eimendments made by this section 
shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) ELECTION BY PERSONS PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED.—The Office Regulations, 
of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations (including 
procedures and deadlines) under which an election under sec-
tion 3392(cX2) of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this 
section) may be made by any individual who— 
(A) on the date of enactment of this Act, is serving in a 
civilian position in the executive branch which— 
(i) is not in the Senior Executive Service; and 
(ii) satisfies section 3392(cX2XB) of such title 5 (as so 
amended); 
(B) was appointed to that position on or £ifter November 
1, 1986, and has served continuously in such position since 
then; 
(C) was a career appointee (within the meaning of section 
3132(aX4) of such title 5) immediately before having been so 
appointed; and 
(D) was not, based on such individual's appointment to 
the position described in subparagraph (A), eligible to make 
an election under section 3392(c) of such title 5 (as then in 
effect). 
An election under this paragraph shall be effective as of the 
date of appointment to the position described in subpara-
graph (A). 
SEC. 8. REPEAL. 
Subsection (c) of section 133 of Public Law 100-238 (5 U.S.C. 8477 
note) is repealed. 
104 STAT. 326 
PUBLIC LAW 101-335—JULY 17, 1990 
SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTION. 
(a) SECTION REDESIGNATION.—Chapter 84 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by redesignating the second section 8440a thereof 
(relating to bankruptcy judges and magistrates) as section 8440b. 
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—llie table of sections for chapter 84 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to the second section 8440a and inserting the following: 
"8440b. Bankruptcy judges and magistrates." 
Approved July 17, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2514: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-452 (Comm. on Post Office and Civil Service). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
Apr. 24, considered and passed House. 
June 27, considered cmd passed Senate.