Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/709

 PUBLIC LAW 105-205-JULY 22, 1998 112 STAT. 683 Public Law 105-205 105th Congress An Act To amend chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to the order July 22, 1998 of precedence to be applied in the payment of life insurance benefits. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS. Section 8705 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking "(a) The" and inserting "(a) Except as provided in subsection (e), the"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(e)(1) Any amount which would otherwise be paid to a person determined under the order of precedence named by subsection (a) shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the Office to another person if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of any court order or court-approved property settlement agreement incident to any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation. "(2) For purposes of this subsection, a decree, order, or agreement referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be effective unless it is received, before the date of the covered employee's death, by the employing agency or, if the employee has separated from service, by the Office. "(3) A designation under this subsection with respect to any person may not be changed except— "(A) with the written consent of such person, if received as described in paragraph (2); or "(B) by modification of the decree, order, or agreement, as the case may be, if received as described in paragraph (2). "(4) The Office shall prescribe any regulations necessary to Regulations. carry out this subsection, including regulations for the application of this subsection in the event that two or more decrees, orders, or agreements, are received with respect to the same amount.". SEC. 2. DIRECTED ASSIGNMENT. Section 8706(e) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking "(e)" and inserting "(e)( 1)"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(2) A court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of a court-approved property settlement agreement incident to any court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, may direct that an insured employee or former employee
 * H.R. 1316]

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