Panama Canal Commission Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1986
PL 99-223 (H.R.1784), enacted 12/28/1985

99 STAT. 1738 
PUBLIC LAW 99-223—DEC. 28, 1985 
Public Law 99-223 
99th Congress 
An Act 
Dec. 28, 1985 
[H.R. 1784] 
Panama Canal 
Commission 
Authorization 
Act, Fiscal Year 
1986. 
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1986 for the operation and maintenance 
of the Panama Canal, and for other purposes. 
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 "Panama Canal Commission 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1986". 
SEC. 2. OPERATING EXPENSES. 
There is authorized to be appropriated from the Panama Canal 
Commission Fund to the Panama Canal Commission (hereafter in 
this Act referred to as the "Commission") for the fiscal year begin-
ning October 1, 1985, not more than $436,784,000, for necessary 
expenses of the Commission incurred under the Panama Canal Act 
of 1979 (Public Law 96-70; 22 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), including expenses 
for— 
(1) the hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; 
(2) the purchase of passenger motor vehicles as may be nec-
essary for fiscal year 1986, the number and price of which may 
not exceed the amount provided in appropriation Acts; except 
that large heavy duty passenger sedans used to transport 
employees of the Commission across the Isthmus of Panama 
may be purchased for the fiscal year 1986 without regard to 
price limitations set forth in applicable regulations of any 
department or agency of the United States; 
(3) official receptions and representation expenses, except 
that not more than $33,000 may be made available for such 
expenses, of which (A) not more than $8,000 may be made 
available for such expenses of the Supervisory Board of the 
Commission, and (B) not more than $25,000 may be made 
available for such expenses of the Administrator of the Commis-
sion; 
(4) the procurement of expert and consultant services as 
provided in section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; 
(5) a residence for the Administrator of the Commission; 
(6) uniforms, or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 
5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code; 
(7) disbursements by the Administrator of the Commission for 
employee recreation and community projects; and 
(8) the operation of guide services. 
SEC. 3. CAPITAL OUTLAY. 
Of any funds appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this Act, not 
more than $26,500,000 (which is authorized to remain available until 
expended) may be made available for the acquisition, construction, 
replacement, and improvement of facilities, structures, and equip-
ment required by the Commission. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-223—DEC. 28, 1985 
99 STAT. 1739 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
In addition to the amount authorized to be appropriated by sec-
tion 2 of this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Commission for the fiscal year 1986 such amounts as may be nec-
essary for— 
(1) increases in salary, pay, retirement, and other employee 
benefits provided by law; 
(2) covering payments to Panama under paragraph 4(a) of 
article XIII of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, as provided by 
section 1341(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 
3751(a)); and 
(3) increased costs for fuel. 
SEC. 5. BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES. 
(a) EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL BENEFITS.—Section 1207(bX2) of 
the 
Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3647(bX2)) is amended by 
striking out "one round trip" and inserting in lieu thereof "two 
round trips". 
(b) TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES.— 
(1) EXPENSES ALLOWABLE.—Subchapter I of chapter 2 of title I 
of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3641 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES 
"SEC. 1210. The Commission may pay the expenses of vacation 
22 use 3650. 
leave travel for an employee of the Commission to whom section 
1206 of this Act applies and for transportation of employee's family 
22 use 3646. 
from the employee's post of duty in Panama to the place of the 
employee's actual residence at the time of appointment to the post 
of duty. The authorization of expenses under this section shall be in 
accordance with subchapter II of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, and the regulations issued under that subchapter, except that 
5 USC 5721. 
the Commission may prescribe required periods of service notwith-
standing section 5722 of title 5, United States Code, and the regula-
tions issued under subchapter II of chapter 57 of such title.". 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents of the 
Panama Canal Act of 1979 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 1209 the following: 
"1210. Travel and transportation expenses.". 
(c) USE OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATIONAL 
SERVICES.—Section 1321(e) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 
U.S.C. 3731(e)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(e) The appropriations or funds of the Commission, or of any 
other department or agency of the United States conducting oper-
ations in the Republic of Panama, shall be available to defray the 
cost of— 
"(1) health care services to elderly or disabled persons who 
were eligible to receive such services before the effective date of 
this Act, less amounts payable by such persons, and 
(2) educational services provided by schools in the Republic of 
Panama, which are not operated by the United States, to 
employees of the Commission who are citizens of the United 
States and persons who were receiving such services at the 
expense of the Canal Zone Government before the effective date 
of this Act". 
99 STAT. 1740 
PUBLIC LAW 99-223—DEC. 28, 1985 
SEC. 6. COMPENSATION FOR NON-GOVERNMENT BOARD MEMBERS. 
Section 1102(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 
3612(b)) is amended in the last sentence by inserting immediately 
before the period at the end thereof the following: ", except that, in 
addition to such travel or transportation expenses, members of the 
Board who hold no other office with either the (Jovernment of the 
United States or the Republic of Panama for which they receive pay 
are authorized to be compensated at the daily equivalent of the 
annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each 
day during which they are traveling to or from or attending meet-
ings of the Board as provided in subsection (c) of this section". 
SEC. 7. NOTIFICATION OF TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. 
Section 1504(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 
37840t>)) is amended in the second sentence by striking out "At least 
180 days before" and inserting in lieu thereof "Before". 
22 use 3612 
SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
Section 5 and section 6 of the Act shall be effective as of October 1, 
1985. 
Approved December 28, 1985. 
* •• 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1784: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 99-59 (Coram, on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 99-207 (Coram, on Arraed Services). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
May 14, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 12, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Dec. 17, House concurred in Senate amendments.