An Act to amend certain administrative provisions of title 38, United States Code, relating to the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the Veterans Administration
PL 87-574 (H.R.8992), enacted 08/06/1962

308 
PUBLIC LAW 87-574-AUG. 6, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
August 6, 1962 
[H. R. 8992] 
Public Law 87-574 
AN ACT 
To amend certain administrative provisions of title 38, United States Code, relat-
ing to the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the Veterans' Adminis-
tration. 
Veterans' Ad-
ministration. 
Dept. of Medi-
cine and Surgery. 
72 Stat. 1116. 
Employees' per-
sonal property. 
Reimbursement 
for damage. 
Hospitals. 
Patients and 
members. 
Utilization of 
services. 
38 u s e 610-617. 
Specialist rat-
ings. 
Part-time per-
sonnel. 
72 Stat. 1246. 
72 Stat. 1244. 
Post, 
p. 309. 
72 Stat. 1244. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Refresentativen 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That title 38 of the 
United States Code is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 233 is amended— 
(A) by adding the following at the end of the catchline: 
"; personal property"; 
(B) by striking out "and" at the end of subparagraph (3) and 
inserting "; and" in lieu of the period at the end of subparagraph 
(4) ; and 
(C) by adding the following new subparagraph: 
"(5) reimburse employees for the cost of repairing or replac-
ing their personal property damaged or destroyed by patients or 
domiciliary members while such employees are engaged in the 
performance of their official duties." 
(2) The analysis of chapter 3 regarding section 233 is amended 
by inserting the following before the period at the end thereof: 
''; personal property". 
SEC. 2. Chapter 17 of title 38 of the United States Code is amended 
as follows: 
(1) By adding at the end of subchapter II the following new-
section : 
"§ 618. Therapeutic and rehabilitative activities 
"The Administrator, upon the recommendation of the Chief Medical 
Director, may utilize the services of patients and members in Veterans' 
Administration hospitals and domiciliaries for therapeutic and re-
habilitative purposes, at nominal remuneration, and such patients and 
members shall not under these circumstances be held or considered as 
employees of the United States for any purpose. The Administrator 
shall prescribe the conditions for the utilization of such services." 
(2) The analysis of subchapter II is amended by inserting immedi-
ately below 
•'617. Invalid lift for pensioners." 
^. , -
the following: 
'•618. Therapeutic and rehabilitative activities." 
SEC. 3. Section 4108(a) of title 38 of the United States Code is 
amended as follows: 
"(a) Within the restrictions herein imposed, the Chief Medical 
Director may rate any physician appointed under paragraph (1) of 
section 4104, or on a temporary full-time or part-time basis under 
section 4114(a), of this title as a medical or surgical specialist, and, 
upon the recommendation of the Assistant Chief Medical Director for 
Dentistry, may rate any doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine, 
appointed under paragraph (1) of section 4104, or on a temporary 
full-time or part-time basis under section 4114(a), of this title as a 
dental specialist; however, no person shall at any time hold more than 
one such rating." 
SEC. 4. Title 38 of the United States Code is further amended as 
follows: 
(1) Section 4105 is amended by inserting immediately after the 
words "United States" in paragraph (1) the following: ", except as 
provided in section 4114". 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-574-AUG. 6, 1962 
309 
(2) Section 4114 is amen ded— 
(A) by adding the following at the end of the catchline: 
"; residencies and internships"; 
(B) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 
" (a) (1) The Administrator, upon the recommendation of the-'Chief 
Medical Director, may employ, without regard to civil service or 
classification laws, rules, or regulations— 
"(A) physicians, dentists, nurses, dietitians, social workers, 
librarians, and other professional, clerical, technical, and unskilled 
personnel (including interns, residents, trainees, and students in 
medical support programs) on a temporary full-time or part-
time basis; and 
"(B) physicians, dentists, nurses, and other professional and 
technical personnel on a fee basis. 
"(2) Personnel employed under paragraph (1) of this subsection 
shall be in addition to personnel described in section 4103, paragraph 
(1) of section 4104, and section 4111 of this title and shall be. paid 
such rates of pay as the Administrator may prescribe. 
"(3) (A) Temporary full-time appointments of physicians, den-
tists, and nurses may exceed ninety days only if the Chief Medical 
Director finds that circumstances render it impracticable to obtain the 
necessary services through appointments under paragraph (1) of sec-
tion 4104 of this title. Temporary full-time appointments of other 
personnel shall not exceed ninety days. 
"(B) No part-time appointment shall be for a period of more than 
one year, except for appointments of physicians, dentists, nurses and 
interns, and residents and other trainees in medical support programs." 
(C) By adding the following new subsection: 
"(c) When the Chief Medical Director determines that it is not 
possible to recruit qualified citizens for the necessary services, appoint-
ments under this section may be made without regard to the citizen-
ship requirements of section 4105 of this title or of any other law 
prohibiting the employment of, or payment of compensation to, a 
person who is not a citizen of the United States." 
(3) The analysis of chapter 73 regarding section 4114 is amended 
by inserting the following before the period at the end thereof:"; resi-
dencies and internships". 
SEC. 5. Section 4103 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking out the word "Any" at the beginning of subsec-
tion (g) and inserting in lieu thereof "Except as provided in 
subsection (i), any"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof a new subsection as follows: 
"(i) The Administrator may designate a member of the Chaplain 
Service of the Veterans Administration as Director, Chaplain Service, 
for a period of two years, subject to removal by the Administrator for 
cause. During the period that any such member serves as Director, 
Chaplain Service, he shall be paid a salary, as determined by the 
Administrator, within the minimum and maximum salary limitations 
prescribed for Grade GS-15 positions by the Classification Act of 
1949, as amended. 
Redesignations under this subsection may be made 
for successive like periods. An individual designated as Director, 
Chaplain Service, shall at the end of his period of service as Director 
revert to the position, grade, and status which he held immediately 
prior to being designated Director, Chaplain Service, and all service 
as Director, Chaplain Service, shall be creditable as service in the 
former position." 
Approved August 6, 1962. 
72 Stat. 1247. 
Medical support 
programs. 
Employment of 
trainees. 
72 Stat. 1243; 
74 Stat. 300. 
72 Stat. 1244, 
1247. 
Appointments of 
physicians, etc. 
Duration ex-
tended. 
Employment of 
noncitizens. 
72 Stat. 1244. 
38 u s e 4101-
4115. 
Director, Chap-
lain Service. 
74 Stat. 298. 
5 u s e 1113.