Public Law 596.

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68 Stat. 732 Public Law 596 chapter 741 AN ACT To amend the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, as amended.August 16, 1954[[S. 1585](/us/bill/83/s/1585)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,D. C. Traffic Act, 1925, amendments.Operator’s permit.[62 Stat. 173](/us/stat/62/173). That paragraph

(1)of subsection

(a)of section 7 of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121), as amended (sec. 40–301

(a)(1), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended

(a)by striking from the first sentence thereof so much as reads “Upon application made under oath and the payment of the fee hereinafter prescribed, the Commissioners or their designated agent shall issue a motor vehicle operator’s permit to any individual” and inserting in lieu thereof “The Commissioners or their designated agent shall, upon application, the payment of a fee of $3, and compliance with such regulations as the Commissioners or their designated agent may prescribe, issue a motor vehicle operator’s permit valid for a period not in excess of three years, to any individual sixteen years of age or over”;

(b)by inserting in the second sentence thereof after “give a practical demonstration” the following “, or produce evidence acceptable to the Commissioners or their designated agent,”;

(c)by striking from the second sentence thereof so much as reads “and in the presence of such individuals as may be authorized to conduct the demonstration”;

(d)by striking therefrom the fourth, fifth, and sixth sentences; and

(e)by striking from the last sentence thereof the colon and proviso, and inserting in lieu thereof “and not for compensation.” Sec. 2. Paragraph

(2)of subsection

(a)of section 7 of such Act (43 [62 Stat. 173](/us/stat/62/173).Stat. 1121), as amended (sec. 40–301

(a)(2), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended to read as follows: " “(2) The Commissioners or their designated agent may, uponLearner’s permit. application and the payment of a fee of $1, issue a learner’s permit, valid for a period of sixty days, to any applicant for a motor vehicle operator’s permit, sixteen years of age or over, who has successfully passed all parts of the examination other than the driving demonstration test. Such permit shall entitle the permittee, while having such permit in his immediate possession, to operate a passenger motor vehicle, used solely for purposes of pleasure and not for compensation, when accompanied by the holder of a valid District motor vehicle operator’s permit who is occupying a seat beside such permittee.” " Sec. 3. Subsection

(a)of section 7 of such Act (43 Stat. 1121), as amended (sec. 40–301 (a), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph to read as follows: " “(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the CommissionersMilitary duty outside D. C.Permit extension. or their designated agent may, upon compliance with such regulations as they or their designated agent may prescribe, extend for a period not in excess of six years the validity of the operator’s permit of any person who is a resident of the District and who is on active duty outside the District in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Marine of the United States and who was at the time of leaving the District the holder of a valid operator’s permit.” " Sec. 4. Subsection

(b)of section 7 of such Act (43 Stat. 1122), as amended (sec. 40–301 (b), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended to read: " “(b) Each operator’s permit shall state the name and address ofContents of permit. the permittee, together with such other matter as the Commissioners or their designated agent may by regulation prescribe, and shall bear the signature of the permittee.” " Sec. 5. Subsection

(d)of section 7 of such Act (43 Stat. 1122), asRepeal. amended (sec. 40–301 (d), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is repealed, and 68 Stat. 733subsections

(e)and

(f)of section 7 of such Act, as amended, are redesignated subsections

(d)and (e), respectively. Sec. 6. Subsection

(a)of section 8 of such Act (43 Stat. 1123), as amended (sec. 40–303 (a), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended to read as follows: " “(a) The owner or operator of any motor vehicle who is not a legal Nonresidents.Exemption from registration, etc.resident of the District, and who has complied with the laws of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or of a foreign country or political subdivision thereof, in respect of the registration of motor vehicles and the licensing of operators thereof, shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be exempt from compliance with section 7 and with any provision of law or regulation requiring the registration of motor vehicles or the display of identification tags in the District. Such exemption shall cover the period immediatelyPeriod of exemption.Reciprocal agreements. following the entrance of such owner or operator into the District equal to the period for which the Commissioners or their designated agent have previously found that a similar privilege is extended to legal residents of the District by such State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or foreign country or political subdivision thereof. The Commissioners or their designated agent shall from time to time ascertain such privileges and cause their or his findings to be promulgated. When the laws of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States or of a foreign country or of a political subdivision thereof contain a reciprocity provision similar to that hereinabove set forth, or the privilege extended to a legal resident of the District is for the remaining portion of the current District of Columbia registration year, then the owner of any motor vehicle who is a legal resident of such State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or of a foreign country or political subdivision thereof shall comply with the provisions of section 7 of this Act and with every other provision of law or regulation requiring the registration of motor vehicles and the display of identification tags in the District at the time of the expiration of the current motor vehicle registration issued to such owner by such State, Territory, or possession of the United States or a foreign country or political subdivision thereof, unless the Commissioners or their designated agent shall have entered into a reciprocal agreement or arrangement with the duly authorized representatives of such State, Territory, or possession of the United States or a foreign country or political subdivision thereof, further to limit or to extend the period of time during which the validity of the motor vehicle registration and identification tags of such State, Territory, or possession of the United States or foreign country or political subdivision thereof shall be recognized by the District. The Commissioners or their designated agent are hereby authorized and empowered to enter into reciprocal agreements and arrangements as aforesaid. The following persons shall, with respect to the registration of motor vehicles and the licensing of operators thereof, if they have complied with the laws of the State, Territory, or possession from which they have been elected or appointed, or of which they are legal residents, be exempt during their respective terms of office or during the period of their employment as administrative employees from compliance with section 7 and with any other provision of law or regulation requiring the registration of motor vehicles and the display of identification tags in the District: Senators and Representatives in Congress: Delegates to Congress: Resident Commissioners; administrativeCongressmen, etc. employees of Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners who are legal residents of the State, Territory, or possession from which said Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners have been elected or appointed; and 68 Stat. 734officers of the executive branch of the Government of the United States who are not domiciled within the District of Columbia, whose appointment to the office held by them was by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and whose tenure of office is at the pleasure of the President.” " Sec. 7. Subsection

(b)of section 10 of such Act (43 Stat. 1124), asFlight from scene of accident. amended (sec. 40–609 (b), D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended by striking the third sentence thereof. Sec. 8. Section 10 of such Act (43 Stat. 1124), as amended (sec. 40–609, D. C. Code, 1951 edition), is amended by adding two new subsections “(d)” and “(e)”, to read as follows: " “(d) The Commissioners or their designated agent shall revoke theRevocation of operator’s permit, etc. operator’s permit or the privilege to drive a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia, or revoke both such permit and privilege, of any person who is convicted in the District of any of the following offenses: “(1) Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug. “(2) Any homicide committed by means of a motor vehicle. “(3) Leaving the scene of an accident in which the motor vehicle driven by him was involved and in which there is bodily injury, without giving assistance or making known his identity and address and the identity and address of the owner of said vehicle. “(4) Reckless driving involving bodily injury. “(5) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is involved. “(e) Whenever a judgment of conviction of any offense set forth in subsection

(d)has become final, the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered shall certify such conviction to the Commissioners or their designated agent, who shall thereupon take the action required by subsection

(d)of this section. A judgment of conviction shall be deemed to have become final for the purposes of this subsection— “(1) if no appeal is taken from the judgment, upon the expiration of the time within which an appeal could have been taken, or “(2) if an appeal is taken from the judgment, the date upon which the judgment, having been sustained, can no longer be appealed from or reviewed on a writ of certiorari.” " Sec. 9. This Act shall become effective thirty days after itsEffective date. enactment. Approved August 16, 1954. Public Law 597: To make the provisions of the Act of August 28, 1937, relating to the conservation of water resources in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States, applicable to the entire United States, and to increase and revise the limitation on aid available under the provisions of the said Act, and for other purposes. Public Law 597 Public Law 597 68 Stat. 734 1954-08-17 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-12 83 2 public Public Law 597 chapter 751 AN ACT To make the provisions of the Act of August 28, 1937, relating to the conservation of water resources in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States, applicable to the entire United States, and to increase and revise the limitation on aid available under the provisions of the said Act, and for other purposes.August 17, 1954[[S. 3137](/us/bill/83/s/3137)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Water facility loans. That the Act entitled “An Act to promote conservation in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States by aiding in the development of facilities for water storage and utilization, and for other purposes”, approved August 28, [16 USC 590r–590x](/us/usc/t16/s590r/590x).[16 USC 590r](/us/usc/t16/s590r).1937 (50 Stat. 869), is amended—

(1)By deleting the phrase “in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States” from the first sentence in the first section; 68 Stat. 735

(2)By deleting the phrase “in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States” in the last sentence of the first section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “in the United States, including the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii, and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands”.

(3)By deleting the phrase “in the said areas” wherever it appears in section 2.[16 USC 590s](/us/usc/t16/s590s).

(4)By inserting at the end of said Act the following new sections: " “Sec. 8. No aid shall be extended under the provisions of this Act Limitations.which will result in any individual, partnership, trust, estate, corporation engaged in fanning, or unincorporated association becoming indebted to the United States in a principal amount outstanding at any time in excess of $25,000, or which will result in any other corporation or agency becoming indebted in a principal amount outstanding at any time in excess of $250,000, or which after January 1, 1954, shall provide for construction work, other than technical assistance, being done by the Secretary. “Sec. 9. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, upon suchFarm land improvement. terms and conditions as he shall prescribe, to make loans for the purposes of financing the improvement of farm land by soil or water conserving or drainage facilities, structures or practices, improvement of soil fertility, establishment of improved permanent pasture, sustained yield afforestation or reforestation, or other erosion preventatives, and such other related measures as may be determined from time to time by the Secretary. “Sec. 10.

(a)In order to establish a program of insuring loansLoans by other than U. S.Insurance program. made by lenders other than the United States which comply with the requirements of this Act and are in furtherance of its objectives, the Secretary of Agriculture— “(1) is authorized to insure and make commitments to insure such loans on such terms and conditions as he may prescribe; “(2) is authorized to include in insurance contracts agreements to service loans insured thereunder and to purchase such loans which are not in default on such terms and conditions as he may prescribe; “(3) shall utilize the insurance fund (hereinafter called the Fund) created by section 11 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant[60 Stat. 1072](/us/stat/60/1072).[7 USC 1005a, 1005c](/us/usc/t7/s1005a/1005c). Act, as amended, and the provisions of sections 13

(b)and

(c)of the said Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act to discharge obligations under insurance contracts made pursuant to this Act; “(4) shall require the borrower to pay such insurance charges as he deems proper, taking into account the amount of the loan and prior liens: *Provided, however*, That the charge shall be payable in advance at intervals of one year or less and shall be at a rate equal to at least 1 per centum per annum of the principal outstanding on the loan insured on the due date of the charge; “(5) may utilize the Fund to pay taxes, insurance, prior liens, and other expenses to protect the security for loans which have been insured hereunder, and to acquire such security property at foreclosure sale or otherwise; “(6) shall liquidate acquired security property in such manner and on such terms as he deems will best preserve the Fund; and “(7) shall have authority to make such rules and regulations and such delegations of authority as he deems appropriate in order to carry out the provisions of this Act. “(b) Notes and the security therefor acquired by the Secretary under insurance contracts shall become a part of the Fund. The notes may be held in the Fund and collected according to their terms or 68 Stat. 736may be sold and reinsured. All proceeds from such collections, including the liquidation of security, and sales shall become a part of the Fund. “(c) One-half of all insurance charges shall become a part of the Fund and one-half shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States and shall be available for administrative expenses in connection with the insurance program authorized by this Act. “(d) Any contract of insurance executed by the Secretary under this Act shall be an obligation of the United States and incontestable except for fraud or misrepresentation of which the holder of the contract has actual knowledge. The provisions of sections 11 and [7 USC 1005a, 1005c](/us/usc/t7/s1005a/1005c).13

(b)and

(c)of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, shall be applicable and available for the purpose of providing funds for the discharge of obligations arising under the insurance program authorized by this Act. “(e) The aggregate amount of the principal obligations on loans Limitation.insured under this Act, shall not exceed $25,000,000 in any one fiscal year. “(f) The first paragraph of section 24, chapter 6, of the Federal [38 Stat. 273](/us/stat/38/273).Reserve Act, as amended (12 U. S. C., 1952 edition, 371) is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase ‘Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act’ the following: ‘, or the Act of August 28, 1937, as amended’.” " Sec. 2. Section 7 of the Act entitled “An Act authorizing constructionRepeal. of water conservation and utilization projects in the Great Plains and arid and semiarid areas of the United States”, approved August [16 USC 590z–5](/us/usc/t16/s590z/5).11, 1939, as amended (53 Stat. 1418; 54 Stat. 1119, 1124; 63 Stat 171), is repealed. Approved August 17, 1954. Public Law 598: To authorize the Civil Service Commission to make available group life insurance for civilian officers and employees in the Federal service, and for other purposes. Public Law 598 Public Law 598 68 Stat. 736 1954-08-17 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-12 83 2 public Public Law 598 chapter 752 AN ACT To authorize the Civil Service Commission to make available group life insurance for civilian officers and employees in the Federal service, and for other purposes.August 17, 1954[[S. 3681](/us/bill/83/s/3681)] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Act of 1954.Eligible employees. That this Act may be cited as the “Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Act of 1954.” Sec. 2.

(a)Except as provided in

(b)of this section, each appointive or elective officer or employee (hereinafter called employee) in or under the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of the United States Government, including a Government owned or controlled corporation (but not including any corporation under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration of which corporation any member of the board of directors is elected or appointed by private interests), and of the municipal government of the District of Columbia shall, at such time and under such conditions of eligibility as the Civil Service Commission (hereinafter called the Regulations by CSC.Commission) may by regulation prescribe, come within the purview of this Act. Such regulations may provide for the exclusion of employees on the basis of the nature and type of employment or conditions pertaining thereto such as, but not limited to, short term appointments, seasonal or intermittent employment, part-time employment, and employment of like nature, and shall be issued only after consultation with the head of the department, establishment, agency, or other employing authority concerned: *Provided*, That no employee or group of employees shall be excluded solely on the basis of the hazardous nature of employment. 68 Stat. 737

(b)This Act shall not apply to noncitizen employees whose permanentNonapplicability. duty station is located outside a State of the United States or the District of Columbia, nor shall it apply to commissioned officers and enlisted personnel on active duty in or with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States, who have indemnity coverage under the Servicemen’s Indemnity Act of 1951[38 USC 851 note](/us/usc/t38/s851). (65 Stat. 33). Sec. 3.

(a)Each employee to whom this Act applies shall beAmount. eligible to be insured for an amount of group life insurance approximating his annual compensation not exceeding $20,000 plus an equal amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, in accordance with the following schedule: If annual compensation is— The amount of group life Insurance shall be— The amount of group accidental death and dismember merit insurance shall Greater than But not greater than 0 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $3,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 9,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 11,000 11,000 11,000 11,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 12,000 13,000 13,000 13,000 13,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 13,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 19,000 19,000 10,000 19,000 -------------- 20,000 20,000

(b)Subject to the conditions and limitations of the policy orAccidental death and dismemberment payments. policies purchased by the Commission under this Act, as may be approved by the Commission, the group accidental death and dismemberment insurance shall provide payments as follows: Loss Amount payable For loss of life. Full amount shown in the schedule in

(a)of this section. Loss of one hand or of one foot or loss of sight of one eye. One-half the amount shown in the schedule in

(a)of this section. Loss of two or more such members. Full amount shown in the schedule in

(a)of this section. For any one accident the aggregate amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance that may be paid shall not exceed the amount shown in the schedule in

(a)of this section.

(c)The Commission shall by regulation provide for the conversionCompensation conversion to annual rates. of other than annual rates of compensation to an annual basis, and shall further specify the types of compensation to be included in annual compensation.

(d)Each of such amounts of insurance shall be reduced by 2 perInsurance after 65. centum thereof at the end of each full calendar month following the date the employee attains age sixty-five, subject to minimum amounts prescribed by the Commission, but not less than 25 per centum of the insurance in force immediately preceding the first reduction provided herein: *Provided*, That the amounts of insurance in force from time to time on an employee who becomes insured under this Act after having attained the age of sixty-five shall be the same as would be in force had he been insured at age sixty-five, and shall be based on the 68 Stat. 738lesser of his annual compensation

(1)at the time he becomes so insured, or

(2)at age sixty-five, provided he was eligible at that time to be insured under this Act. Sec. 4. Any amount of group life insurance and group accidentalDeath claims, payment. death insurance in force on any employee at the date of his death shall be paid, upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, to the person or persons surviving at the date of his death, in the following Order of precedence.order of precedence: First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries as the employee may have designated by a writing received in the employing office prior to death; Second, if there be no such beneficiary, to the widow or widower of such employee; Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of such employee and descendants of deceased children by representation; Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of such employee or the survivor of them; Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of such employee; Sixth, if none of the above, to other next of kin of such employee entitled under the laws of domicile of such employee at the time of his death. If any person otherwise entitled to payment under this section does not make claim therefor within one year after the death of the employee, or if payment to such person within that period is prohibited by Federal statute or regulation, payment may be made in the order of precedence as if such person had predeceased the employee, and any such payment shall be a bar to recovery by any other person. Sec. 5.

(a)During any period in which an employee under ageWithholding of premium cost from salary. sixty-five is insured under a policy of insurance purchased by the Commission as authorized in section 7 of this Act, there shall be withheld from each salary payment of such employee, as his share of the cost of his group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, an amount determined by the Commission, but not to exceed the rate of 25 cents biweekly for each $1,000 of his group life insurance: *Provided*, That an employee who is paid on other than a biweekly basis shall have an amount so withheld, determined at a proportionate rate, which rate shall be adjusted to the nearest cent. Any policy of insurance purchased by the Commission as authorizedAutomatic insurance. in section 7 of this Act shall provide that all employees eligible under the terms of this Act will be automatically insured thereunder Notice of desire not to be insured.commencing on the date they first become so eligible: *Provided*, That any employee desiring not to be so insured shall, on an appropriate form to be prescribed by the Commission, give written notice to his employing office that he desires not to be insured. If such notice is received before the employee shall have become insured under such policy, he shall not be so insured; if it is received after he shall have become insured, his insurance under the policy will cease effective with the end of the pay period during which the notice is received by the employing office.

(b)For each period in which an employee is insured under a policyGovernment contribution. of insurance purchased by the Commission as authorized in section 7 of this Act, there shall be contributed from the respective appropriation or fund which is used for payment of his salary, wage, or other compensation (or, in the case of an elected official, from such appropriation or fund as may be available for payment of other salaries of the same office or establishment) a sum computed at a rate determined by the Commission, but not to exceed one-half the amount withheld from the employee under this section. 68 Stat. 739

(c)The sums withheld from employees under subsection

(a)andDeposits; fund. the sums contributed from appropriations and funds under subsection

(b)shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of a fund which is hereby created. Said fund is hereby made available without fiscal year limitation for premium payments under any insurance policy or policies purchased as authorized in sections 7 and 10 of this Act, and for any expenses incurred by the Commission in the administration of this Act within such limitations as may be specified annually in appropriation acts: *Provided*, That appropriationsAdministrative expenses of Commission. available to the Commission for salaries and expenses for the fiscal year 1955 shall be available on a reimbursable basis for necessary administrative expenses of carrying out the purposes of this Act until said fund shall be sufficient to provide therefor. The income derivedDividends or rate adjustments. from any dividends or premium rate adjustments received from insurers shall constitute a part of said fund. Sec. 6. Each policy purchased under this Act shall contain a provision,Termination of insurance. in terms approved by the Commission, to the effect that any insurance thereunder on any employee shall cease upon his separation from the service or twelve months after discontinuance of his salary payments, whichever first occurs, subject to a provision which shall be contained in the policy for temporary extension of coverage and for conversion to an individual policy of life insurance under conditions approved by the Commission, except that if upon such date as the insurance would otherwise cease the employee

(a)retires on an immediate annuity, and

(b)unless retired for disability, has had fifteen years of creditable civilian service, as determined by the Commission, his life insurance only may, under conditions determined by the Commission, be continued without cost to him in the amounts for which he would have been insured from time to time had his salary payments continued at the same rate as on the date of cessation. Sec. 7.

(a)The Commission is authorized, without regard to sectionPurchase of policies.[41 USC 5](/us/usc/t41/s5). 3709 of the Revised Statutes as amended, to purchase from one or more life insurance companies, as determined by it, a policy or policies of group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance to provide the benefits specified in this Act: *Provided*, That any such companyRequirements. must meet the following requirements:

(1)Be licensed under the laws of forty-eight of the States of the United States and the District of Columbia to transact life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and

(2)the amount of its employee group life insurance on the most recent December 31 for which information is available to the Commission shall on that date equal at least 1 per centum of the total amount of employee group life insurance in the United States in all life insurance companies.

(b)The life insurance company or companies issuing such policyAdministrative office. or policies shall establish an administrative office under a name to be approved by the Commission.

(c)The Commission shall arrange with the life insurance companyReinsurance. or companies issuing any policy or policies purchased under this Act to reinsure, under conditions approved by it, portions of the total amount of insurance under the policy or policies, determined as provided in subsection

(d)of this section, with such other life insurance companies as may elect to participate in such reinsurance.

(d)The Commission shall determine a formula so that the amountFormula for apportioning reinsurance. of insurance-in force to be retained by each issuing company after ceding reinsurance and the total amount of reinsurance ceded to each reinsuring company shall be in proportion to the total amount of each such company’s group life insurance in force in the United States on December 31, 1953: *Provided*, That in determining such proportions, 68 Stat. 740that portion of any company’s group life insurance in force on December 31, 1953, which is in excess of $100,000,000 shall be reduced by 25 per centum of the first $100,000,000 of such excess, 50 per centum of the second $100,000,000 of such excess, 75 per centum of the third $100,000,000 of such excess, and 95 per centum of any excess thereafter: *Provided further*, That the amount retained by or ceded to any company shall not exceed 25 per centum of the amount of that company’s total life insurance in force in the United States on December 31, 1953: *Provided further*, That if, at the end of one year following the date of enactment of this Act, in the case of any issuing company or reinsurer which insured employees of the Federal Government on December 31, 1953, under policies issued to an association of Federal employees, the amount which results from the application of this formula is less than the decrease, if any, in the amount of such company’s insurance under such policies, the amount allocated to such company shall, upon the first reallocation as provided in subsection Fraternal benefit associations.(e) of this section, be increased to the amount of such decrease: *And provided further*, That any fraternal benefit association which is licensed under the laws of a State of the United States or the District of Columbia to transact life insurance and is engaged in issuing insurance certificates on the lives of employees of the Federal Government exclusively shall be eligible to act as a reinsuring company and may be allocated an amount of reinsurance equal to 25 per centum of its total life insurance in force on employees of the Federal Government on December 31, 1953.

(e)The companies eligible to participate as reinsurers, and theEligibility redetermination, etc. amount of insurance under the policy or policies to be allocated to each issuing company or reinsurer may be redetermined by the Commission for and in advance of any policy year after the first, on a basis consistent with subsections

(c)and

(d)of this section, with any modifications thereof it deems appropriate to carry out the intent of such subsections, and based on each participating company’s group life insurance in force, excluding that under any policy or policies purchased under this Act except in the case of companies covered in the third proviso of subsection (d), in the United States on the most recent December 31 for which information is available to it, and shall be so redetermined in a similar manner not less often than every three years or at any time that any participating company withdraws from participation.

(f)The Commission may at any time discontinue any policy orPolicy discontinuance. policies it has purchased from any insurance company. Sec. 8.

(a)Each policy or policies purchased under this Act shallBasic tables of premium rates. include, for the first policy year, basic tables of premium rates as follows:

(1)For group life insurance, a schedule of basic premium rates byLife insurance. age which the Commission shall have determined on a basis consistent with the lowest schedule of basic premium rates generally charged for new group life insurance policies issued to large employers, this schedule of basic premium rates by age to be applied, except as otherwise provided in this section, to the distribution by age of the amounts of group life insurance under the policy at its date of issue to determine an average basic premium rate per $1,000 of life insurance, and

(2)For group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, aAccidental death and dismemberment. basic premium rate which the Commission shall have determined on a basis consistent with the lowest rate generally charged for new group accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies issued to large employers. 68 Stat. 741 Each policy so purchased shall also include provisions whereby theReadjustment of rates. basic rates of premium determined for the first policy year shall be continued for subsequent policy years, except that they may be readjusted for any subsequent year, based on the experience under the policy, such readjustment to be made by the insurance company or companies issuing the policy on a basis determined by the Commission in advance of such year to be consistent with the general practice of life insurance companies under policies of group life and group accidental death and dismemberment insurance issued to large employers.

(b)Each policy so purchased shall include a provision that, in theTentative average premium rate. event the Commission determines that ascertaining the actual age distribution of the amounts of group life insurance in force at the date of issue of the policy or at the end of the first or any subsequent year of insurance thereunder would not be possible except at a disproportionately high expense, it may approve the determination of tentative average group life premium rate, for the first or any subsequent policy year, in lieu of using the actual age distribution. Such tentative average premium rate shall be redetermined by the Commission during any policy year upon request by the insurance company or companies issuing the policy, if experience indicates that the assumptions made in determining the tentative average premium rate for that policy year were incorrect.

(c)Each policy so purchased shall contain a provision stipulatingMaximum expense and risk charges. the maximum expense and risk charges for the first policy year, which charges shall have been determined by the Commission on a basis consistent with the general level of such charges made by life insurance companies under policies of group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance issued to large employers. Such maximum charges shall be continued from year to year, except that the Commission may redetermine such maximum charges for any year either by agreement with the insurance company or companies issuing the policy or upon written notice given by it to such companies at least one year in advance of the beginning of the year for which such redetermined maximum charges will be effective.

(d)Each such policy shall provide for an accounting to the Yearly accounting.Commission not later than ninety days after the end of each policy year, which shall set forth, in a form approved by the Commission,

(1)the amounts of premiums actually accrued under the policy from its date of issue to the end of such policy year,

(2)the total of all mortality and other claim charges incurred for that period, and

(3)the amounts of the insurers’ expense and risk charges for that period. Any excess of the total of item

(1)over the sum of items

(2)and

(3)shall be held by theSpecial contingency reserve. insurance company or companies issuing the policy as a special contingency reserve to be used by such insurance company or companies for charges under such policy only, such reserve to bear interest at a rate to be determined in advance of each policy year by the insurance company or companies issuing the policy, which rate shall be approved by the Commission as being consistent with the rates generally used by such company or companies for similar funds held under other group life insurance policies: *Provided*, That, if and when the Commission determines that such special contingency reserve has attained an amount estimated by it to make satisfactory provision for adverse fluctuations in future charges under the policy, any further such excess shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the fund. If and when such policy is discontinued, and if after all charges have been made, there is any positive balance remaining in such special contingency reserve, such balance shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the 68 Stat. 742fund, subject to the right of the insurance company or companies issuing the policy to make such deposit in equal monthly installments over a period of not more than two years. Sec. 9. The Commission shall arrange to have each employee insuredBenefit certificates. under such policy receive a certificate setting forth the benefits to which the employee is entitled thereunder, to whom such benefits shall be payable, to whom claims should be submitted, and summarizing the provisions of the policy principally affecting the employee. Such certificate shall be in lieu of the certificate which the insurance company or companies would otherwise be required to issue. Sec. 10.

(a)The Commission is authorized to arrange with any nonprofitRetired employees’ insurance agreements, etc.Assumption by fund. association of Federal employees for the assumption by the fund of any existing life insurance agreements of such association with its members retired or otherwise separated from the Federal service and to insure the obligations assumed with any company or companies meeting the requirements of section 7 (a).

(b)Any such arrangement shall provide that payments by suchPayments. insured members for life insurance only shall thereafter be made at the same rates to the fund, under such conditioners the Commission may prescribe.

(c)Any such arrangement shall further provide that there be transferredTransfer of assets or liability amount. to and deposited in the fund the lesser of the following amounts:

(1)The total assets of the life insurance fund of such association; or

(2)The amount required to meet the liabilities under life insurance agreements assumed, taking into account the payments as provided in paragraph (b). The determination of this amount shall be based on an actuarial valuation satisfactory to the Commission, procured by the association without expense to the Commission.

(d)The arrangements authorized by this section shall be made onlyRestrictions. with those associations which terminate life insurance agreements with all of their members within one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and such arrangements shall apply only to life insurance granted to any member by any such association before January 1, 1954.

(e)In any case in which the fund assumes a liability for life insurance as provided in this section in respect to a person who

(1)subsequently becomes eligible to be insured as an employee under this Act, and

(2)does not give notice, as provided in section 5 (a), of his desire not to be so insured, the life insurance provided under this section shall terminate as of the date such person becomes insured as an employee. Sec. 11. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Commission isPromulgation of regulations. hereby authorized to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary and proper to give effect to the intent, purposes, and provisions of this Act. Sec. 12.

(a)There is hereby established an Advisory CouncilAdvisory Council on Group insurance. on Group Insurance consisting of the Secretary of the Treasury as Chairman, the Secretary of Labor, and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, who shall serve without additional compensation. The Council shall meet once a year, or oftener at the call of the Commission, and shall review the operations of this Act and advise the Commission on matters of policy relating to its activities thereunder.

(b)The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint a committeeCommittee. composed of five employees insured under this Act, who shall serve without compensation, to advise the Commission regarding matters of concern to employees under this Act. 68 Stat. 743 Sec. 13. The Commission shall report annually to Congress upon theReport to Congress, operation of this Act. Sec. 14. The district courts of the United States shall have originalCourt jurisdiction. jurisdiction, concurrent with the Court of Claims, of any civil action or claim against the United States founded upon this Act. Sec. 15. The insurance provided by this Act and the withholdingsEffectivity. and contributions for that purpose shall become effective when directed by the Commission. Approved August 17, 1954. Public Law 599: To authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to promulgate special regulations for the period of The American Legion National Convention of 1954, to authorize the granting of certain permits to The American Legion 1954 Convention Corporation on the occasion of such convention, and for other purposes. Public Law 599 Public Law 599 68 Stat. 743 1954-08-18 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-12 83 2 public Public Law 599 chapter 753 JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to promulgate special regulations for the period of The American Legion National Convention of 1954, to authorize the granting of certain permits to The American Legion 1954 Convention Corporation on the occasion of such convention, and for other purposes.August 18, 1954[[H. J. Res. 560](/us/bill/83/hjres/560)] *Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,American Legion National Convention.D. C. permits, etc. That for The American Legion National Convention to be held in the District of Columbia for the period from August 25 to September 7, 1954, both inclusive, the Commissioners are authorized and directed to make all reasonable regulations necessary to secure the preservation of public order and protection of life, health, and property; to make special regulationsVehicles. respecting the standing, movement, and operation of vehicles of whatever character or kind during said period; and to grant under such conditions as they may impose, special licenses to peddlers and vendorsVendors. for the privilege of selling goods, wares, and merchandise in such places in the District of Columbia, and to charge such fees for such privilege, as they may deem proper. Sec. 2. For the purposes of this joint resolution, the term “Commissioners”Definitions. means the Commissioners of the District of Columbia or their designated agent or agents; the term “corporation” means The American Legion 1954 Convention Corporation of the District of Columbia; and the term “convention” means The American Legion National Convention of 1954 to be held in Washington, District of Columbia, on August 29, 30, and 31 and September 1 and 2, 1954. Sec. 3. The Superintendent of National Capital Parks with theUse of grounds. approval of such officer as may exercise jurisdiction over any of the Federal reservations or grounds in the District of Columbia, other than those areas under the jurisdiction of the Congress or any committee thereof, is authorized to grant to the corporation permits for the use of such reservations or grounds during the convention, including a reasonable time prior and subsequent thereto; the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to grant like permits for the use of those areas under the jurisdiction of the Congress or any committee thereof; and the Commissioners are authorized to grant like permits for the use of public space under their jurisdiction, including the grounds and stadia of the public schools. Each such permit shall be subjectRestrictions. to such restrictions, terms, and conditions as may be imposed by the grantor of such permit. No stand or other structure shall be built on any sidewalk, street, park, reservation or other public grounds in the District of Columbia, except with the approval of the corporation, and with the approval of the Superintendent of National Capital Parks, the Architect of the Capitol, or the Commissioners, as the case may be, depending on the location of such stand. The reservations, grounds, or public spaces occupied by the stands or other structures shall, after the convention, be promptly restored to their previous condition. The corporation shall indemnify and save harmless the Dis-68 Stat. 744trict of Columbia and the appropriate agency or agencies of the Federal Government against any loss or damage to such property and against any liability arising from the use of such property, either by the corporation or a licensee of the corporation. Sec. 4. The Commissioners are authorized to permit the corporationLighting, etc. to install suitable overhead conductors and install suitable lighting or other electrical facilities, with adequate supports, for illumination or other purposes. If it should be necessary to place wires for illuminating or other purposes over any park or reservation in the District of Columbia, such placing of wires and their removal shall be under the supervision of the official in charge of said park or reservation. Such conductors with their supports shall be removed on or before September 15, 1954. The Commissioners, or such other officials as may have jurisdiction in the premises, shall enforce the provisions of this joint resolution, take needful precautions for the protection of the public, and insure that the pavement of any street, sidewalk, avenue, or alley which is disturbed or damaged is restored to its previous condition. No expense or damage from the installation, operation, or removal of said temporary overhead conductors or said illumination or other electrical facilities shall be incurred by the United States or the District of Columbia, and the corporation shall indemnify and save harmless the District of Columbia and the appropriate agency or agencies of the Federal Government against any loss or damage and against any liability whatsoever arising from any act of the corporation or any agent, licensee, servant, or employee of the corporation. Sec. 5. Such agencies of the Department of Defense as the SecretaryLoan of tents, camp appliances, etc. of Defense may designate are authorized to lend to the corporation such hospital tents, smaller tents, camp appliances, hospital furniture, ensigns, flags, ambulances, drivers, stretchers, and Red Cross flags and poles (except battle flags) as may be spared without detriment to the public service, and under such conditions as they may prescribe: *Provided*, That such loan shall be returned by the 15th day of September 1954, and the corporation shall indemnify the Government for any loss or damage to any of such property, and no expense shall be incurred by the United States Government for the delivery, return, rehabilitation, replacement, or operation of such equipment. The corporation shall give a good and sufficient bond for the safe return of such property in good order and condition, and the whole without expense to the United States. Sec. 6. The Commissioners, the Architect of the Capitol, the SuperintendentOverhead wires. of National Capital Parks, and the corporation are authorized to permit telegraph, telephone, radiobroadcasting, and television companies to extend overhead wires to such points along the line of any parade as shall be deemed convenient for use in connection with such parade and other convention purposes. Such wires shall be removed within ten days after the conclusion of the convention. Sec. 7. The regulations and licenses authorized by this Act shall beEffectivity of regulations, etc.Newspaper Publication. in full force and effect only during the period August 25 to September 7, 1954, both inclusive. Such regulations shall be published in one or more of the daily newspapers published in the District of Columbia and no penalty prescribed for the violation of any such regulation shall be enforced until five days after such publication. Penalties.Any person violating any regulation promulgated by the Commissioners under the authority of this Act shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Each and every day a violation of any such regulation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and the penalty prescribed herein shall be applicable to each such separate offense. Approved August 18, 1954. Public Law 600: To permit the compelling of testimony under certain conditions and to grant immunity from prosecution in connection therewith. Public Law 600 Public Law 600 68 Stat. 745 1954-08-20 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2026-01-12 83 2 public

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