Us Code § 499a - Transfer of title to movable property; use of appropriations
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 499a — Transfer of title to movable property; use of appropriations, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 499a. Transfer of title to movable property; use of appropriations
Whenever an irrigation district, municipality, or water users' organization assumes operation and maintenance of works constructed to furnish or distribute a water supply pursuant to a contract entered into with the United States in accordance with the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto), the Secretary of the Interior may transfer to said district, municipality, or organization title to movable property which has been purchased with funds advanced by the district, municipality, or organization or which, in the case of property purchased with appropriated funds, is necessary to the operation and maintenance of such works and the value of which is to be repaid under a contract with the district, municipality, or organization. In order to encourage the assumption by irrigation districts, municipalities, and water users' organizations of the operation and maintenance of works constructed to furnish or distribute a water supply, the Secretary is authorized to use appropriated funds available for the project involved to acquire movable property for transfer under the terms and conditions hereinbefore provided, at the time operation and maintenance is assumed.
(July 29, 1954, ch. 616, 68 Stat. 580; Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 884, 70 Stat. 940; Pub. L. 89–48, §1, June 24, 1965, 79 Stat. 172.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
1965—Pub. L. 89–48, which directed that section 1 of the Act of July 29, 1954, be amended generally, was executed by amending generally this section which comprised all of the Act of July 29, 1954, as the probable intent of Congress, notwithstanding that such Act did not have any section designations. Prior to amendment, this section read as follows: "Whenever an irrigation district or water users' organization assumes operation and maintenance of irrigation works pursuant to a contract entered into with the United States in accordance with the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto), the Secretary of the Interior may transfer to said district or organization title to movable property which has been purchased with funds advanced by the district or organization or which, in the case of property purchased with appropriated funds, is necessary to the operation and maintenance of such works and the value of which is to be repaid under a contract with the district or organization. In order to encourage the assumption by irrigation districts and water users' organizations of the operation and maintenance of irrigation works, the Secretary is authorized to use appropriated funds available for the project involved to acquire movable property for transfer at the time operation and maintenance is assumed under the terms and conditions hereinbefore provided."
1956—Act Aug. 2, 1956, authorized Secretary to use appropriated funds for a project to acquire movable property for transfer to irrigation districts and other water users' organizations to encourage them to take over operation and maintenance of reclamation projects as soon as they are completed.
Short Title
This section is popularly known as the "Title to Movable Property Act".
About This Section
43 U.S.C. § 499a is part of Title 43 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 43 U.S.C. § 499a. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.