A bill to amend title 32, United States Code, to modify the system of accountability and responsibility for property of the United States issued to the National Guard.
PL 96-328 (H.R.5748), enacted 08/08/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-328—AUG. 8, 1980 
94 STAT. 1027 
Public Law 96-328 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 32, United States Code, to modify the system of accountability and 
responsibility for property of the United States issued to the National Guard. 
Aug. 8, 1980 
[H.R. 5748] 
U.S. property, 
issuance to 
National Guard. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) subsections 
0)) and (c) of section 710 of title 32, United States Code, are amended 
to read as follows: 
"Qo) The Secretary of the Army shall prescribe regulations for Regulations 
accounting for property issued by the United States to the Army 
National Guard and for the fixing of responsibility for that property. 
The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe regulations for ac-
counting for property issued by the United States to the Air National 
Guard and for the fixing of responsibility for that property. So far as 
practicable, regulations prescribed under this section shall be uni-
form among the components of each service. 
"(c) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned Liability. 
under subsection (b), liability for the value of property issued by the 
United States to the National Guard that is lost, damaged, or 
destroyed may be charged (1) to a member of the Army National 
Guard or the Air National Guard when in similar circumstances a 
member of the Army or Air Force serving on active duty would be so 
charged, or (2) to a State or Territory, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, or 
the District of Columbia when the property is lost, damaged, or 
destroyed incident to duty directed pursuant to the laws of, and in 
support of the authorities of, such jurisdiction. Liability charged to a 
member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard shall 
be paid out of pay due to the member for duties performed as a 
member of the National Guard, unless the Secretary concerned shall 
for good cause remit or cancel that liability. Liability charged to a 
State or Territory, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, or the District of 
Columbia shall be paid from its funds or from any other non-Federal 
funds.". 
OJXD The section heading for such section is amended to read as 
follows: 
*'§ 710. Accountability for property issued to the National Guard". 
(2) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 7 of title 32, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
"710. Accountability for property issued to the National Guard.". 
94 STAT. 1028 
PUBLIC LAW 96-328—AUG. 8, 1980 
Effective date. 
SEC. 2. The amendment made by subsection (a) of the first section of 
notY^^ ^^^ 
^^^^ ^^^ ®^^^^ apply to liability for property issued by the United 
States to the National Guard that is lost, damaged, or destroyed on or 
after October 1, 1980. Liability for such property that is lost, dam-
aged, or destroyed before such date shall be governed by the provi-
sions of section 710 of title 32, United States Code, as in effect on the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Approved August 8, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-627 (Comm. on Armed Services). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-849 (Comm. on Armed Services). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 125 (1979): Nov. 27, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 126 (1980): July 25, considered and passed Senate.