MARSHALL ISLANDS

CHAPTER 2

NUCLEAR CLAIMS COMPENSATION PROTECTION

Section.

201. Short Title.
202. Decree and Policy.
203. Deduction from Compensation Monies Prohibited.
204. Prohibition of certain assignments.
205. Violation and Liability.
206. Punishment.
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An Act to protect the financial interests of persons affected by the Nuclear Testing Program who receive compensation under the 177 Provision of the Compact of Free Association.

Commencement: September 14, 1993 
Source: P.L. 1993-50

§ 201. Short Title.

This Chapter may be cited as the Nuclear Claims Compensation Protection Act of 1992.
[P.L. 1993-50, § 1.]

§ 202. Decree and Policy.

(1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Republic that no compensation monies shall be paid or received directly or indirectly for any legal or other services or obligation except as provided by this Chapter. This prohibition shall not apply to the spending decisions of the individual recipients of compensation monies.

(2) It is further declared to be the policy of the Republic regarding assignments under Article III, Section 3(b) of the Section 177 Agreement that only those assignments which further the purposes of the Section 177 Agreement will be considered consistent with the Agreement. Any assignment of proceeds for the purpose of payment of legal fees shall be deemed a use inconsistent with the Section 177 Agreement. [P.L. 1993-50,§ 2.]

§ 203. Deduction from Compensation Monies Prohibited.

No deduction from the compensation funds paid to individual claimants shall be made by the Distribution Authority or Local Council except through taxation as may be established by law or ordinance.
[P.L. 1993-50, § 3.]

§ 204. Prohibition of certain assignments.

Any assignment of the right to receive funds which has as its ultimate purpose the payment of legal fees is hereby prohibited. 
[P.L. 1993-50, § 4.]

§ 205. Violation and Liability.

Any person or organization unlawfully paying or receiving monies out of the Compensation Fund as specified in this Chapter, or assigning or attempting to assign monies as specified in this Chapter, as an individual or as a member of an organization, shall be individually and personally in violation of this Chapter and liable for punishment as specified herein. [P.L. 1993-50, § 5.]

§ 206. Punishment.

Any person convicted of a violation of this Chapter shall be fined not less than $5,000 and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than two years, or both. [P.L. 1993-50, § 6.]

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