[Federal Register: October 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 197)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 59501-59504]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09oc08-10]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[DOD-2007-OS-0025]
RIN 0790-AI08

32 CFR Part 112

 
Indebtedness of Military Personnel

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This part contains uniform Department of Defense policies for 
indebtedness of military personnel. This updated rule contains 
editorial changes only as required for internal Department of Defense 
mandated reconsideration every five years.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective November 10, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Colonel Tom Williams, 
Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Program 
Integration, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-4000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published on April 17, 
2007 at 72 FR 19136. One editorial

[[Page 59502]]

comment was received and accepted. The rule is therefore adopted as 
published below.

Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review''

    It has been determined that 32 CFR part 112 is not a significant 
regulatory action. The rule does not:
    1. Have an annual effect to the economy of $100 million or more or 
adversely affect in a material way the economy; a section of the 
economy; productivity; competition; jobs; the environment; public 
health or safety; or State, local, or tribal governments or 
communities;
    2. Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another Agency;
    3. Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, 
user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of 
recipients thereof; or
    4. Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
this Executive Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (Sec. 202, Pub. L. 104-4)

    It has been certified that this rule does not contain a Federal 
mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal 
governments, in aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or 
more in any one year.

Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. 601)

    It has been certified that this rule is not subject to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities.

Public Law 96-511, ``Paperwork Reduction Act'' (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)

    It has been certified that this rule does not impose reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism''

    It has been certified that this rule does not have federalism 
implications, as set forth in Executive Order 13132. This rule does not 
have substantial direct effects on:
    1. The States;
    2. The relationship between the National Government and the States; 
or
    3. The distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 112

    Claims, Credit, Military personnel.

0
Accordingly, 32 CFR Part 112 is revised as follows:

PART 112--INDEBTNESS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL

Sec.
112.1 Purpose.
112.2 Applicability and Scope.
112.3 Definitions.
112.4 Policy.
112.5 Processing of Debt Complaints.
112.6 Processing of Involuntary Allotments.
112.7 Responsibilities.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5520a(k) and 10 U.S.C. 113(d).


Sec.  112.1  Purpose.

    This part:
    (a) Updates DoD policies and assigns responsibilities governing 
delinquent indebtedness of members of the Military Services and 
prescribes policy for processing involuntary allotments from the pay of 
military members to satisfy judgment indebtedness in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 5520a(k).
    (b) Establishes responsibility for procedures implementing 5 U.S.C. 
5520a(k), 15 U.S.C. 1601 note, 1601-1614, 1631-1646, 1661-1665a, 1666-
1666j, and 1667-1667e (``Truth in Lending Act''), and 15 U.S.C. 1601 
note, and 1692-1692o (``Fair Debt Collection Practices Act'').


Sec.  112.2  Applicability and Scope.

    (a) This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 
the Military Departments (including the Coast Guard when it is not 
operating as a Service in the Navy, under agreement with the Department 
of Homeland Security), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the 
Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, 
and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense 
(hereafter referred to collectively as the ``DoD Components'').
    (b) This part does not apply to:
    (1) Indebtedness of a member of the Military Services to the 
Federal Government.
    (2) Processing of indebtedness claims to enforce judgments against 
military members for alimony or child support.
    (3) Claims by State or municipal governments under the processing 
guidelines for complaints, including tax collection actions.


Sec.  112.3  Definitions.

    (a) Absence. A member's lack of an ``appearance,'' at any stage of 
the judicial process, as evidenced by failing to physically attend 
court proceedings; failing to be represented at court proceedings by 
counsel of the member's choosing; or failing to timely respond to 
pleadings, orders, or motions.
    (b) Court. A court of competent jurisdiction within any State, 
territory, or possession of the United States.
    (c) Debt Collector. An agency or agent engaged in the collection of 
debts described under 15 U.S.C. 1601 note and 1692-1692o (``Fair Debt 
Collection Practices Act'').
    (d) Exigencies of Military Duty. A military assignment or mission-
essential duty that, because of its urgency, importance, duration, 
location, or isolation, necessitates the absence of a member of the 
Military Services from appearance at a judicial proceeding or prevents 
the member from being able to respond to a notice of application for an 
involuntary allotment. Exigency of military duty is normally presumed 
during periods of war, national emergency, or when the member is 
deployed.
    (e) Judgment. A final judgment must be a valid, enforceable order 
or decree, by a court from which no appeal may be taken, or from which 
no appeal has been taken within the time allowed, or from which an 
appeal has been taken and finally decided. The judgment must award a 
sum certain amount and specify that the amount is to be paid by an 
individual who, at the time of application for the involuntary 
allotment, is a member of the Military Services.
    (f) Just Financial Obligation. A legal debt acknowledged by the 
military member in which there is no reasonable dispute as to the facts 
or the law; or one reduced to judgment that conforms to Sections 501-
591 of title 50 Appendix, United States Code (The Servicemembers Civil 
Relief Act, as amended), if applicable.
    (g) Member of the Military Services. For the purposes of this part, 
any member of the Regular Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast 
Guard, and any member of a Reserve component of the Army, Air Force, 
Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard (including the Army National Guard 
of the United States and the Air National Guard of the United States) 
on active duty pursuant to a call or order for a period in excess of 
180 days at the time an application for involuntary allotment is 
received by the Director, DFAS, or Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Pay 
and Personnel Center. The following shall not be considered members:
    (1) Retired personnel, including those placed on the temporary or 
permanent disabled retired list; and
    (2) Personnel in a prisoner of war or missing in action status, as 
determined

[[Page 59503]]

by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.


Sec.  112.4  Policy.

    (a) Members of the Military Services are expected to pay their just 
financial obligations in a proper and timely manner. A Service member's 
failure to pay a just financial obligation may result in disciplinary 
action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. 801-940) 
or a claim pursuant to Article 139 of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice. Except as stated in this section, and in paragraphs (a)(1) and 
(a)(2) of this section, the DoD Components have no legal authority to 
require members to pay a private debt or to divert any part of their 
pay for satisfaction of a private debt.
    (1) Legal process instituted in civil courts to enforce judgments 
against military personnel for the payment of alimony or child support 
shall be acted on pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 651-665, and Chapter 50, of 
Department of Defense Regulation 7000.14-R Volume 7A.\1\
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    \1\ Copies may be obtained from the DoD Directives Web page at: 
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.
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    (2) Involuntary allotments under 5 U.S.C. 5520a(k) shall be 
established in accordance with this part.
    (b) Whenever possible, indebtedness disputes should be resolved 
through amicable means. Claimants may contact military members by 
having correspondence forwarded through the military locator services 
for an appropriate fee.


Sec.  112.5  Processing of Debt Complaints.

    (a) Debt complaints meeting the requirements of this part and 
procedures established by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel 
and Readiness, as required by Sec.  112.7(a)(1) shall receive prompt 
processing assistance from commanders.
    (b) Assistance in indebtedness matters shall not be extended to 
those creditors:
    (1) Who have not made a bona fide effort to collect the debt 
directly from the military member;
    (2) Whose claims are patently false and misleading; or
    (3) Whose claims are obviously exorbitant.
    (c) Some States have enacted laws prohibiting creditors from 
contacting a debtor's employer about indebtedness or communicating 
facts on indebtedness to an employer unless certain conditions are met. 
The conditions that must be met to remove this prohibition are 
generally such things as reduction of a debt to judgment or obtaining 
written permission of the debtor.
    (1) At DoD installations in States having such laws, the processing 
of debt complaints shall not be extended to those creditors who are in 
violation of the State law. Commanders may advise creditors that this 
rule has been established because it is the general policy of the 
Military Services to comply with State law when that law does not 
infringe upon significant military interests.
    (2) The rule in paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall govern even 
though a creditor is not licensed to do business in the State where the 
debtor is located. A similar practice shall be started in any State 
enacting a similar law regarding debt collection.
    (3) Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1601 note and 1692-1692o (``Fair Debt 
Collection Practices Act''), contact by a debt collector with third 
parties, such as commanding officers, for aiding debt collection is 
prohibited without a court order or the debtor's prior consent given 
directly to the debt collector. Creditors are generally exempt from 
this requirement, but only when they collect on their own behalf.


Sec.  112.6  Processing of Involuntary Allotments.

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5520a(k): (a) In those cases in which the 
indebtedness of a military member has been reduced to a judgment, an 
application for an involuntary allotment from the member's pay may be 
made under procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller). Such procedures shall provide the exclusive remedy 
available.
    (b) An involuntary allotment from a member's pay shall not be 
permitted in any indebtedness case in which:
    (1) Exigencies of military duty caused the absence of the member 
from the judicial proceeding at which the judgment was rendered; or
    (2) There has not been compliance with the procedural requirements 
of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 50, U.S.C. Appendix, sections 
501-591.


Sec.  112.7  Responsibilities.

    (a) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 
shall:
    (1) In consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller), establish procedures for the processing of debt 
complaints.
    (2) Have policy oversight on the assistance to be provided by 
military authorities to creditors of military personnel who have 
legitimate debt complaints.
    (b) The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall:
    (1) In consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Personnel and Readiness establish procedures for processing debt 
complaints, and administer and process involuntary allotments from the 
pay of members of the Military Services. This includes the authority to 
promulgate forms necessary for the efficient administration and 
processing of involuntary allotments.
    (2) Ensure that the Director, Defense Finance and Accounting 
Service:
    (i) Implements procedures established by the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller).
    (ii) Considers whether Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 50 U.S.C. 
Appendix, sections 501-591 has been complied with pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
5520a(k) prior to establishing an involuntary allotment against the pay 
of a member of the Military Services.
    (iii) Publishes, prints, stocks, redistributes, and revises DoD 
forms necessary to process involuntary allotments.
    (c) The Heads of the DoD Components shall urge military personnel 
to meet their just financial obligations, since failure to do so 
damages their credit reputation and affects the public image of all DoD 
personnel. See DoD Directive 5500.7.\2\
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    \2\ See footnote 1 to Sec.  112.4(a)(1).
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    (d) The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall:
    (1) Establish, as necessary, procedures to administer and process 
involuntary allotments from the pay of members of the Military 
Services. This includes designating those commanders, or other 
officials who may act in the absence of the commander, who shall be 
responsible for determining whether a member's absence from a judicial 
proceeding was caused by exigencies of military duty, and establishing 
appeal procedures regarding such determinations.
    (2) Require commanders to counsel members to pay their just debts, 
including complying, as appropriate, with court orders and judgments 
for the payments of alimony or child support.
    (3) Emphasize prompt command action to assist with the processing 
of involuntary allotment applications.
    (e) The Chief, Office of Personnel and Training, for the Coast 
Guard shall:
    (1) Establish, as necessary, procedures supplemental to those 
promulgated by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness or the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) to administer 
and process involuntary allotment from the pay of members of the 
Military Services; this includes the authority to promulgate forms 
necessary for the efficient administration and processing of 
involuntary allotments.

[[Page 59504]]

    (2) Ensure that the Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Pay and 
Personnel Center:
    (i) Implements procedures established by the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Under Secretary of Defense 
(Comptroller), and Chief, Office of Personnel and Training.
    (ii) Considers whether the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, as 
amended (50 U.S.C. Appendix, sections 501-591) has been complied with 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5520a(k) prior to establishing an involuntary 
allotment against the pay of a member of the Military Services.
    (iii) Acts as the Coast Guard manager for forms necessary to 
process involuntary allotments.

    Dated: September 30, 2008.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E8-23977 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]

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