An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance to $20,000, to provide full-time coverage thereunder for certain members of the Reserves and National Guard, to authorize the conversion of such insurance to Veterans' Group Life Insurance, to authorize allotments from the pay of members of the National Guard of the United States for group life insurance premiums, and for other purposes.
PL 93-289 (H.R.6574), enacted 05/24/1974

88 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
165 
Public Law 93-289 
AN ACT 
May 24, 1974 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of 
[H. R.6574] 
Servicemen's Group Life Insurance to $20,000, to provide full-time coverage 
thereunder for certain members of the Reserves and National Guard, to author-
ize the conversion of such insurance to Veterans' Group Life Insurance, to 
authorize allotments from the pay of members of the National Guard of the 
United States for group life insurance premiums, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
veterans- insur-
bc cited as the "Veterans' Insurance Act of 1974". 
^"3" us^c'723 
SEC. 2. (a) That section 723 of title 38, United States Code, is note. 
amended as follows: 
(1) The catchline is amended to read as follows: "Veterans' Spe-
cial Life Insurance". 
(2) Clause (4) of subsection (a) is amended to read as follows: 
"(4) all premiums and other collections on such insurance and any 
total disability provisions added thereto shall be credited to a revolv-
ing fund in the Treasury of the United States, which, together with 
interest earned thereon, shall be available for the payment of liabilities 
under such insurance and any total disability provisions added thereto, 
including payments of dividends and refunds of unearned premiums". 
(3) Clause (5) of subsection (b) is amended to read as follows: 
" (5) all premiums and other collections on insurance issued under 
this subsection and any total disability income provisions added thereto 
shall be credited directly to the revolving fund referred to in sub-
section (a) of this section, which together with interest earned thereon, 
shall be available for the payment of liabilities under such insui'ance 
and any total disability provisions added thereto, including payments 
of dividends and refunds of unearned premiums". 
(4) Subsections (d) and (e) are hereby repealed. 
Repeals, 
(b) The analysis of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by deleting 
"723. Veterans' special term insurance." 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"723. Veterans' Special Life Insurance.". 
SEC. 3. Clause (5) of section 765 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
"(5) The term'member'means— 
"Member." 
"(A) a person on active duty, active duty for training, or 
inactive duty training in the uniformed services in a com-
missioned, warrant, or enlisted rank, or grade, or as a cadet 
or midshipman of the United States Military Academy, 
United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force 
Academy, or the United States Coast Guard Academy; 
"(B) a person who volunteers for assignment to the Ready 
Reserve of a uniformed service and is assigned to a unit or 
position in which he may be required to perform active duty, 
or active duty for training, and each year will be scheduled 
to perform at least twelve periods of inactive duty training 
that is creditable for retirement purposes under chapter 67 
of title 10; 
10 use 1331. 
"(C) a person assigned to, or who upon application would 
be eligible for assignment to, the Retired Reserve of a uni-
formed service who has not received the first increment of 
166 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
10 u s e 1331. 
Persons in-
sured; amount. 
38 u s e 766. 
Ante, 
p. 165. 
Automatic 
conversion. 
eoverage, dura-
tion and termina-
tion. 
retirement pay or has not yet reached sixty-one years of age 
and has completed at least twenty years of satisfactory serv-
ice creditable for retirement purposes under chapter 67 of 
title 10; and 
"(D) a member, cadet, or midshipman of the Reserve Offi-
cers Training Corps while attending field training or practice 
cruises." 
SEC. 4. Section 767 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) is amrewded to read as follows: 
"(a) Any policy of insurance purchased by the Administrator 
under section 766 of this title shall automatically insure against 
death— 
"(1) any member of a uniformed service on active duty, active 
duty for training, or inactive duty training scheduled in advance 
by competent authority; 
"(2) any member of the Ready Reserve of a uniformed service 
who meets the qualifications set forth in section 765(5) (B) of 
this title; and 
"(8) any member assigned to, or who upon application would 
bo eligible for assignment to, the Retired Reserve of a uniformed 
service who meets the qualifications set forth in section 765(5) (C) 
of this title; 
in the amount of $20,000 unless such member elects in writing (A) 
not to be insured under this subchapter, or (B) to be insured in the 
amount of $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000. The insurance shall be effective 
the first day of active duty or active duty for training, or the begin-
ning of a period of inactive duty training scheduled in advance by 
competent authority, or the first day a member of the Ready Reserve 
meets the qualifications set forth in section 765(5) (B) of this title, 
or the first day a member of the Reserves, whether or not assigned to 
the Retired Reserve of a uniformed service, meets the qualifications of 
section 765(5) (C) of this title, or the date certified by the Adminis-
trator to the Secretary concerned as the date Servicemen's Group Life 
Insurance under this subchapter for the class or group concerned takes 
effect, whichever is the later date." 
(2) Subsection (b) is amended by deleting "ninety days" wherever 
it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof "one hundred and 
twenty days". 
('3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows: 
"(c) If any member elects not to be insured under this subchapter 
or to be insured in the amount of $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000, he may 
thereafter be insured under this subchapter or insured in the amount 
of $20,000, $15,000, or $10,000 under this subchapter, as the case may 
be, upon written application, proof of good health, and compliance 
with such other terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the 
Administrator. Any former member insured under Veterans' Group 
Life Insurance who again becomes eligible for Servicemen's Group 
Life Insurance and declines such coverage solely for the purpose of 
maintaining his Veterans' Group Life Insurance in effect shall upon 
termination of coverage under Veterans' Group Life Insurance be 
automatically insured under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance, if 
otherwise eligible therefor." 
SEC. 5. (a) Section 768 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
as follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by inserting "or while the member 
meets the qualifications set forth in section 765(5) (B) or (C) of this 
title," immediately before "and such insurance shall cease". 
STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-lVlAY 24, 1974 
167 
(2) Clauses (2) and (3) of subsection (a) are each amended by-
deleting "ninety days" wherever it appears therein and inserting in 
lieu thereof "one hundred and twenty days". 
(3) Subsection (a) is further amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following: 
"(4) with respect to a member of the Ready Reserve of a 
uniformed service Avho meets the qualifications set forth in section 
765(5) (B) of this title, one hundred and twenty days after sepa-
ration or release from such assignment— 
"(A) unless on the date of such separation or release the 
member is totally disabled, under criteria established by the 
Administrator, in which event the insurance shall cease one 
year after the date of separation or release from such assign-
ment, or on the date the insured ceases to be totally disabled, 
whichever is the earlier date, but in no event prior to the 
expiration of one hundred and twenty days after separation 
or release from such assignment; or 
"(B) unless on the date of such separation or release the 
member has completed at least twenty years of satisfactory 
service creditable for retirement purposes under chapter 67 
of title 10 and would upon application be eligible for assign-
ment to or is assigned to the Retired Reserve, in which event 
the insurance, unless converted to an individual policy under 
terms and conditions set forth in section 777(e) of this title, 
shall, upon timely payment of premiums under terms pre-
scribed by the Administrator directly to the administrative 
office established under section 766(b) of this title, continue 
in force until receipt of the first increment of retirement pay 
by the member or the member's sixty-first birthday, which-
ever occurs earlier. 
"(5) with respect to a member of the Retired Reserve who 
meets the qualifications of section 765(5) (C) of this title, and 
who was assigned to the Retired Reserve prior to the date insur-
ance luider this amendment is placed in effect for members of the 
Retired Reserve, at such time as the member receives the first 
increment of retirement pay, or the member's sixty-first birthday, 
whichever occurs earlier, subject to the timely payment of the 
initial and subsequent premiums, under terms prescribed by the 
Administrator, directly to the administrative office established 
under section 766 (b) of this title." 
(4) Subsection (b) is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Each policy purchased under this subchapter shall contain 
a provision, in terms approved by the Administrator, that, except as 
hereinafter provided. Servicemen's Group Life Insurance which is 
continued in force after expiration of the period of duty or travel 
under section 767(b) or 768(a) of this title, effective the day after 
the date such insurance would cease, shall be automatically converted 
to Veterans' Group Life Insurance subject to (1) the timely payment 
of the initial premium under terms prescribed by the Administrator, 
and (2) the terms and conditions set forth in section 777 of this title. 
Such automatic conversion shall be effective only in the case of an 
otherwise eligible member or former member who is separated or 
released from a period of active duty or active dut^ for training or 
inactive duty training on or after the date on which the Veterans' 
Group Life Insurance program (provided for under section 777 of 
this title) becomes effective. Servicemen's Group Life Insurance con-
tinued in force under section 768(a) (4)(B) or (5) of this title shall 
Ready Re-
Ante, p, 165. 
10 u s e 1331. 
Post, p. 169. 
38 u s e 
Retired 
serves. 
Ante, 
p 
766. 
R e -
165. 
eonversion. 
Ante, 
p. 166. 
Post, 
p. 169. 
Supra. 
168 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
Ante, 
p. 166. 
Post, 
p. 169. 
Repeal. 
38 u s e 768. 
38 u s e 768 
note. 
Deductions. 
38 u s e 766. 
Ready Re-
serves. 
Ante, 
p. 165. 
Revolving fund, 
payments. 
not be converted to Veterans' Group Life Insurance. However, a 
member whose insurance could be continued in force under section 768 
(a) (4) (B) of this title, but is not so continued, may, effective the 
day after his insurance otherwise would cease, convert such insurance 
to an individual policy under the terms and conditions set forth in 
section 777(e) of this title." 
(5) Section 768 (c) is hereby repealed. 
(b) The amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to 
deprive any person discharged or released from the uniformed services 
of the United States prior to the date on which the Veterans' Group 
Life Insurance program (provided for under section 777 of title 38, 
United States Code) becomes elFective of the right to convert Service-
men's Group Life Insurance to an individual policy under the pro-
visions of law in effect prior to such effective date. 
SEC. 6. Section 769 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) By deleting from paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) "is 
insured under a policy of insurance purchased by the Administrator, 
under section 766 of this title" and inserting in lieu thereof "is insured 
under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance". 
(2) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and by adding after paragraph 
(1) a new paragraph (2) as follows: 
" (2) During any month in which a member is assigned to the Ready 
Reserve of a uniformed service under conditions which meet the quali-
fications of section 765 (5) (B) of this title, or is assigned to the Reserve 
(other than the Retired Reserve) and meets the qualifications of sec-
tion 765(5) (C) of this title, and is insured under a policy of insurance 
purchased by the Administrator, under section 766 of this title, there 
shall be contributed from the appropriation made for active duty pay 
of th3 uniformed service concerned an amount determined by the 
Administrator (which shall be the same for all such members) as the 
shar3 of the cost attributable to insuring such member under this 
policy, less any costs traceable to the extra hazards of such duty in the 
uniformed services. Any amounts so contributed on behalf of any 
individual shall be collected by the Secretary concerned from such 
individual (by deduction from pay or otherwise) and shall be credited 
to the appropriation from which such contribution was made." 
(3) By deleting from the second sentence of paragraph (4) of sub-
section (a) "subsection (1) hereof, or fiscal year amount under subsec-
tion (2) hereof" and inserting in lieu thereof "paragraph (1) or (2) 
hereof, or fiscal year amount under paragraph (3) hei"eof"; and by 
deleting in such paragraph (4) "this subchapter" each time it appeare 
and "insurance under this subchapter" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"Servicemen's Group Life Insurance", 
(4) The first sentence of subsection (b) is amended by deleting 
"such insurance" and inserting in lieu thereof "Servicemen's Group 
Life Insurance"; and the second sentence of such subsection is amended 
by deleting "this subchapter" and inserting in lieu thereof "Service-
men's Group Life Insurance". 
(5) Subsection (c) is amended by deleting "any such insurance" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Servicemen's Group Life Insurance". 
(6) The last sentence of subsection (d) (1) is amended to read as 
follows: "All premium payments and extra hazard costs on Service-
men's Group Life Insurance and the administrative cost to the Veter-
ans' Administration of insurance issued under this subchapter shall 
be paid from the revolving fund.". 
Retired 
serves. 
Ante, 
p 
38 use 
R e -
165 
771. 
88 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
169 
(7) By adding at the end of such section a new subsection as 
follows: 
"(e) The premiums for Servicemen's Group Life Insurance placed 
in effect or continued in force for a member assigned to the Retired 
Reserve of a uniformed service who meets the qualifications of section 
765(5) (C) of this title, shall be established under the criteria set 
forth in sections 771 (a) and (c) of this title, except that the Admin-
istrator may provide for average premiums for such various age 
groupings as he may determine to be necessary according to sound 
actuarial principles, and shall include an amount necessary to cover 
the administrative cost of such insurance to the company or companies 
issuing or continuing such insurance. Such premiums shall be payable 
by the insureds thereunder as provided by the Administrator directly 
to the administrative office established for such insurance under section 
766(b) of this title. The provisions of sections 771 (d) and (e) of 
38 use 766. 
this title shall be applicable to Servicemen's Group Life Insurance 
continued in force or issued to a member assigned to the Retired 
Reserve of a uniformed service. However, a separate accounting may 
be required by the Administrator for insurance issued to or continued 
in force on the lives of members assigned to the Retired Reserve and 
for other insurance in force under this subchapter. In such account-
ing, the Administrator is authorized to allocate claims and other costs 
among such programs of insurance according to accepted actuarial 
principles." 
SEC. 7. Section 770 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
Beneficiaries. 
follows: 
(1) The first clause following the colon in subsection (a) is amended 
to read as follows: 
"First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries as the member or former 
member may have designated by a writing received prior to death 
(1) in the uniformed services if insured under Servicemen's Group 
Life Insurance, or (2) in the administrative office established under 
section 766(b) of this title if separated or released from service, or if 
assigned to the Retired Reserve, and insured under Servicemen's 
Group Life Insurance, or if insured under Veterans' Group Life 
Insurance;". 
(2) Subsection (e) is amended by deleting therefrom the words 
"this amendatory Act" and inserting in lieu thereof "the Veterans' 
Insurance Act of 1974". 
^"'e, p. i65. 
(3) Subsections (f) and (g) are amended by adding after "Service-
men's Group Life Insurance" wherever it appears therein "or Veter-
ans' Group Life Insurance". 
SEC. 8. -Section 771 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) Subsection (b) is amended by deleting "the policy or policies" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "Servicemen's Group Life Insurance". 
(2) The third sentence of subsection (e) is amended by deleting 
"section 766" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 769(d) (1)". 
^nte. p. i68. 
SEC. 9. (a) Subchapter I I I of chapter 19 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
sections: 
*
*
§ 777. Veterans' Group Life Insurance 
38 use 777. 
"(a) Veterans' Group Life Insurance shall be issued in the amount 
of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 only. No person may carry a 
combined amount of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance and Veterans' 
Group Life Insurance in excess of $20,000 at any one time. Any person 
eonversion. 
170 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
insured under Veterans' Group Life Insurance who again becomes 
insured under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance may within sixty 
days after becoming so insured convert any or all of his Veterans' 
Group Life Insurance to an individual policy of insurance under sub-
section (e) of this section. However, if such a person dies within the 
sixty-day period and before converting his Veterans' Group Life 
Insurance, Veterans' Gi'oup Life Insurance will be payable only if he 
is insured for less than $20,000 under Servicemen's Group Life Insur-
ance, and then only in an amount which when added to the amount 
of Servicemen's Group Life Insurance payable shall not exceed 
$20,000. 
"(b) Veterans' Group Life Insurance shall (1) provide protection 
against death; (2) be issued on a nonrenewable five-year term basis; 
(3) have no cash, loan, paid-up, or extended values; (4) except as 
otherwise provided, lapse for nonpayment of premiums; and (5) con-
tain such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines 
to be reasonable and practicable which are not specifically provided 
for in this section, including any provisions of this subchapter not 
specifically made inapplicable by the provisions of this section. 
Premiums. 
a^^^ /pj^^ prcmiums for Veterans' Group Life Insurance shall be 
established under the criteria set forth in sections 771 (a) and (c) of 
38 use 771. 
^jjjg title, except that the Administrator may provide for average 
premiums for such various age groupings as he may decide to be 
necessary according to sound actuarial principles, and shall include 
an amount necessary to cover the administrative cost of such insurance 
to the company or companies issuing such insurance. Such premiums 
shall be payable by the insureds thereunder as provided by the Admin-
istrator directly to the administrative office established for such insur-
38 use 766. 
ance under section 766(b) of this title. In any case in which a member 
or former member who was mentally incompetent on the date he first 
became insured under Veterans' Group Life Insurance dies within 
one year of such date, such insurance shall be deemed not to have 
lapsed for nonpayment of premiums and to have been in force on the 
date of death. Where insurance is in force under the pi'cceding sen-
tence, any unpaid premiums may be deducted from the proceeds of 
the insurance. Any person who claims eligibility for Veterans' Group 
Life Insurance based on disability incurred during a period of duty 
shall be required to submit evidence of qualifying health conditions 
and, if required, to submit to physical examinations at their own 
expense. 
"(d) Any amount of Veterans' Group Life Insurance in fores on 
any person on the date of his death shall be paid, upon the establish-
ment of a valid claim therefor, pursuant to the provisions of section 
770 of this title. However, any designation of beneficiary or benefi-
ciaries for Servicemen's Group Life Insurance filed with a uniformed 
service until changed, shall be considered a designation of beneficiary 
or beneficiaries for Veterans' Group Life Insurance, but not for more 
than sixty days after the effective date of the insured's Veterans' 
Group Insurance, unless at the end of such sixty-day period, the 
insured is incompetent in which event such designation may continue 
in force until the disability is removed but not for more than five years 
after the effective date of the insured's Veterans' Group Life Insurance. 
Except as indicated above in incompetent cases, after such sixty-day 
period, any designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries for Veterans' 
Group Life Insurance to be effective must be by a writing signed by 
the insured and received by the administrative office established under 
section 766(b) of this title. 
. . . . . , , . ; , , . 
, 
Death 
ments. 
Ante, 
pay-
P . 16 
88 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
171 
"(e) An insured under Veterans' Group Life Insurance shall have 
the right to convert such insurance to an individual policy of life 
insurance upon written application for conversion made to the par-
ticipating company he selects and payment of the required premiums. 
The individual policy will be issued without medical examination on a 
plan then currently written by such company which does not provide 
for the payment of any sum less than the face value thereof or for the 
payment of an additional amount as premiums in the event the insured 
performs active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty train-
ing. The individual policy will be effective the day after the insured's 
Veterans' Group Life Insurance terminates by expiration of the five-
year term period, except in a case where the insured is eligible to 
convert at an earlier date by reason of again having become insured 
under Servicemen's Group Life Insurance, in which event the effective 
date of the individual policy may not be later than the sixty-first day 
after he again became so insured. Upon request to the administrative 
office established under section 766(b) of this title, an insured under 
Veterans' Group Life Insurance shall be furnished a list of life insur-
ance companies participating in the program established under this 
subchapter. In addition to the life insurance companies participating 
in the program established under this subchapter, the list furnished 
to an insured under this section shall include additional life insurance 
companies (not so participating) which meet qualifying criteria, terms, 
and conditions established by the Administrator and agree to sell 
insurance to former members in accordance with the provisions of 
this section. 
"(f) The provisions of sections 771 (d) and (e) of this title shall be 
applicable to Veterans' Group Life Insurance. However, a separate 
accounting shall be required for each program of insurance authorized 
under this subchapter. In such accounting, the Administrator is 
authorized to allocate claims and other costs among such programs of 
insurance according to accepted actuarial principles. 
"(g) Any person whose Servicemen's Group Life Insurance was 
continued in force after termination of duty or discharge from service 
under the law as in effect prior to the date on which the Veterans' 
Group Life Insurance program (provided for under section 777 of 
this title) became effective, and whose coverage under Servicemen's 
Group Life Insurance terminated less than.four years prior to such 
date, shall be eligible within one year from the effective date of the 
Veterans' Group Life Insurance program to apply for and be granted 
Veterans' Group Life Insurance in an amount equal to the amount of 
his Servicemen's Group Life Insurance which was not converted to an 
individual policy under prior law. Veterans' Group Life Insurance 
issued under this subsection shall be issued for a term period equal to 
five years, less the time elapsing between the termination of the appli-
cant's Servicemen's Group Life Insurance and the effective date on 
which the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program became effective. 
Veterans' Group Life Insurance under this subsection shall only be 
issued upon application to the administrative office established under 
section 766(b) of this title, payment of the required premium, and 
proof of good health satisfactory to that office, which proof shall be 
submitted at the applicant's own expense. Any person who cannot 
meet the good health requirements for insurance under this subsection 
solely because of a service-connected disability shall have such dis-
ability waived. For each month for M^hich any eligible veteran, whose 
service-connected disabilities are waived, is insured under this subsec-
Conversion. 
Participating 
life insurance 
companies, list 
38 u s e 766. 
38 u s e 771. 
Separate ac-
counting proce-
dures. 
Servicemen's 
Group Life Insur-
ance, conversion. 
Service-
connected dis-
ability, waiver,, 
eontribution. 
38 use 778. 
38 use 779 
38 use 773 
172 
PUBLIC LAW 93-289-MAY 24, 1974 
[88 STAT. 
tion there shall be contributed to the insurer or insurers issuing the 
policy or policies from the appropriation 'Compensation and Pen-
sions, Veterans' Administration' an amount necessary to cover the cost 
of the insurance in excess of the premiums established for eligible 
veterans, including the cost of the excess mortality attributable to such 
veteran's service-connected 
disabilities. The Administrator 
may 
establish, as he may determine to be necessary according to sound 
actuarial principles, a separate premium, age groupings for premium 
purposes, accounting, and reserves, for persons granted insurance 
under this subsection different from those established for other persons 
Appropriation, 
granted insurance under this section. Appropriations to carry out the 
purpose of this section are hereby authorized. 
*'§778. Reinstatement 
"Reinstatement of insurance coverage granted under this subchapter 
but lapsed for nonpayment of premiums shall be under terms and 
conditions prescribed by the Administrator. 
"§ 779. Incontestability 
"Subject to the provision of section 77H of this title, insurance cover-
age granted under this subchapter shall be incontestable from the date 
of issue, reinstatement, or conversion except for fraud or nonpayment 
of premium." 
(b) The analysis of subchapter I I I of chapter 19 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"777. Veterans' Group Life Insurance. 
"778. Reinstatement. 
"779. Incontestability.". 
SEC. 10. Chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as 
follows: 
(1) By striking out "Environmental Science Services Administra-
tion" wherever it appears in section 765 and inserting in lieu thereof 
"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". 
(2) By striking out "General operating expenses, Veterans' Admin-
istration" in clause 3 of subsection (d) of section 769 and inserting in 
lieu thereof "General Operating Expenses, Veterans' Administration". 
38 use 774. 
^^^ j^y striking out "Bureau of the Budget" in section 774 and 
inserting in lieu thereof "Office of Management and Budget". 
SEC. 11. (a) Chapter 13 of title 37, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end thereof a new section as follows: 
37 use 707. 
«§ 707. Allotments: members of the National Guard 
"(a) The Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force, 
as ths case may be, may allow a member of the National Guard who is 
not on active duty to make allotrnents from his pay under sections 204 
37 use 204, 
g^j^^ 206 of this title for the payment of premiums under a group life 
insurance program sponsored by the military department of the State 
in which such member holds his National Guard membership or by the 
National Guard association of such State if the State or association 
concerned has agreed in writing to reimburse the United States for 
all costs incurred by the United States in providing for such allot-
ments. The amount of such costs and procedures for reimbursements 
shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense and his determination 
shall be conclusive. All amounts of reimbursements for such costs 
received by the United States from a State or an association shall be 
credited to the appropriations or funds against which charges have 
been made for such costs." 
38 u s e 765. 
38 u s e 769. 
206 
88 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 93-290-IVlAY 24, 1974 
173 
(b) The United States shall not be liable for any losses or damages 
gy^usc^Vo? 
suffered by any person as the result of any error made by any officer note. 
or employee of the United States in administering the allotment pro-
gram authorized under subsection (a). 
(c) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 13 of such title 
is amended by adding at the end thereof a new item as follows: 
"707. Allotments: members of the National Guard.". 
SEC. 12. This Act shall become effective as follows: 
as^usc''? 23^*^"' 
(1) The amendments made by section % relating to Veterans' Special note. 
Life Insurance, shall become effective upon the date of enactment of 
this Act except that no dividend on such insurance shall be paid prior 
to January 1,1974. 
(2) The amendments relating to Servicemen's Group Life Insurance 
38 use 765 
coverage on a full-time basis for certain members of the Reserves and 
National Guard shall become effective upon the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(3) The amendments increasing the maximum amount of Service-
men's Group Life Insurance shall become effective upon the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(4) The amendments made by sections 5(a) (4) and (5) of this 
^s use 768 
Act, and those enacting a Veterans' Group Life Insurance program 
shall become effective on the first day of the third calendar month 
following the month in which this Act is enacted. 
Approved May 24, 1974. 
Public Law 93-290 
AN ACT 
May 24, 1974 
To amend section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to establish uniform original 
[H. R. 3418] 
enlistment qualifications for male and female persons. 
note. 
38 use 767 
note. 
Armed Forces. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and Ho'tise of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. (a) The first sentence of section 505(a) of title 10, United me^'t'qu^ifi^a-*" 
States Code, is amended by striking out "in the case of male persons tions. 
and not less than eighteen years of age in the case of female persons". 
(b) The second sentence of section 505(a) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking out "male" and by striking out ", or 
female person under twenty-one years of age,". 
SEC. 2. Section 505(c) of title 10, United State Code, is amended 
(1) inserting "of persons for the duration of their minority 
or for a period of two, three, four, five, or six years," after 
"enlistments"; 
(2) inserting a period after "be" and by striking out the dash 
after "be"; and 
(3) striking out paragraph (1) and paragraph (2). 
Approved May 24, 1974.