---
kind: "range"
citation: "42 U.S.C. §§ 267–269"
title: "42"
from: "267"
to: "269"
count: 3
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/267..269"
---

# §267. Quarantine stations, grounds, and anchorages

- (a) **Control and management—** Except as provided in title II[^1] of the Act of June 15, 1917, as amended, the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) shall control, direct, and manage all [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) quarantine stations, grounds, and anchorages, designate their boundaries, and designate the quarantine officers to be in charge thereof. With the approval of the President he shall from time to time select suitable sites for and establish such additional stations, grounds, and anchorages in the [States](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) and [possessions](/usc/42/201.md?p=g) of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) as in his judgment are necessary to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases into the [States](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) and [possessions](/usc/42/201.md?p=g) of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
- (b) **Hours of inspection—** The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) shall establish the hours during which quarantine [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall be performed at each quarantine station, and, upon application by any interested party, may establish quarantine [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) during the twenty-four hours of the day, or any fraction thereof, at such quarantine stations as, in his opinion, require such extended [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a). He may restrict the performance of quarantine [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) to hours of daylight for such arriving [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) as cannot, in his opinion, be satisfactorily inspected during hours of darkness. No [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) shall be required to undergo quarantine [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) during the hours of darkness, unless the quarantine officer at such quarantine station shall deem an immediate [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) necessary to protect the public health. Uniformity shall not be required in the hours during which quarantine [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) may be obtained at the various ports of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
- (c) **Overtime pay for employees of Service—** The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) shall fix a reasonable rate of extra compensation for overtime [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) of [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) Public Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), Foreign Quarantine Division, performing overtime duties including the operation of [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i), in connection with the [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) or quarantine [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) (passengers and crews), conveyances, or goods arriving by land, water, or air in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, hereinafter referred to as “[employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the Public Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a)”, when required to be on duty between the hours of 6 o’clock postmeridian and 6 o’clock antemeridian (or between the hours of 7 o’clock postmeridian and 7 o’clock antemeridian at stations which have a declared workday of from 7 o’clock antemeridian to 7 o’clock postmeridian), or on Sundays or holidays, such rate, in lieu of compensation under any other provision of law, to be fixed at two times the basic hourly rate for each hour that the overtime extends beyond 6 o’clock (or 7 o’clock as the case may be) postmeridian, and two times the basic hourly rate for each overtime hour worked on Sundays or holidays. As used in this subsection, the term “basic hourly rate” shall mean the regular basic rate of pay which is applicable to such [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) for work performed within their regular scheduled tour of duty.
- (d) **Payment of extra compensation to United States; bond or deposit to assure payment; deposit of moneys to credit of appropriation—**
  - (1) The said extra compensation shall be paid to the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) by the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4), agent, consignee, operator, or master or other [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) in charge of any conveyance, for whom, at his request, [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) as described in this subsection (hereinafter referred to as overtime [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a)) are performed. If such [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) have been ordered to report for duty and have so reported, and the requested [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) are not performed by reason of circumstances beyond the control of the [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) concerned, such extra compensation shall be paid on the same basis as though the overtime [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) had actually been performed during the period between the time the [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) were ordered to report for duty and did so report, and the time they were notified that their [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) would not be required, and in any case as though their [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) had continued for not less than one hour. The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) may prescribe [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) requiring the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4), agent, consignee, operator, or master or other [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) for whom the overtime [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) are performed to file a bond in such amounts and containing such conditions and with such sureties, or in lieu of a bond, to deposit money or obligations of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) in such amount, as will assure the payment of charges under this subsection, which bond or deposit may cover one or more transactions or all transactions during a specified period: Provided, That no charges shall be made for [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) performed in connection with the [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) of (1) [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) arriving by international highways, ferries, bridges, or tunnels, or the conveyances in which they arrive, or (2) [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) arriving by aircraft or railroad trains, the operations of which are covered by published schedules, or the aircraft or trains in which they arrive, or (3) [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) arriving by [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) operated between Canadian ports and ports on Puget Sound or operated on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways, the operations of which are covered by published schedules, or the [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) in which they arrive.
  - (2) Moneys collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) to the credit of the appropriation charged with the expense of the [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and the appropriations so credited shall be available for the payment of such compensation to the said [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) for [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) so rendered.

# §268. Quarantine duties of consular and other officers

- (a) Any consular or medical officer of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), designated for such purpose by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), shall make reports to the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b), on such forms and at such intervals as the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) may prescribe, of the health conditions at the port or place at which such officer is stationed.
- (b) It shall be the duty of the customs officers and of Coast Guard officers to aid in the enforcement of quarantine rules and [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d); but no additional compensation, except actual and necessary traveling expenses, shall be allowed any such officer by reason of such [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).

# §269. Bills of health

- (a) **Detail of medical officer; conditions precedent to issuance; consular officer to receive fees—** Except as otherwise prescribed in [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d), any [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) at any foreign port or place clearing or departing for any port or place in a [State](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) or [possession](/usc/42/201.md?p=g) shall be required to obtain from the consular officer of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) or from the Public Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) officer, or other medical officer of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) designated by the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b), at the port or place of departure, a bill of health in duplicate, in the form prescribed by the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b). The President, from time to time, shall specify the ports at which a medical officer shall be stationed for this purpose. Such bill of health shall set forth the sanitary history and condition of said [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i), and shall [state](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) that it has in all respects complied with the [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) prescribed pursuant to [subsection (c)](#c). Before granting such duplicate bill of health, such consular or medical officer shall be satisfied that the matters and things therein stated are true. The consular officer shall be entitled to demand and receive the fees for bills of health and such fees shall be established by regulation.
- (b) **Collectors of customs to receive originals; duplicate copies as part of ship’s papers—** Original bills of health shall be delivered to the collectors of customs at the port of entry. Duplicate copies of such bills of health shall be delivered at the time of [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) to quarantine officers at such port. The bills of health herein prescribed shall be considered as part of the ship’s papers, and when duly certified to by the proper consular or other officer of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k), over his official signature and seal, shall be accepted as evidence of the statements therein contained in any court of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
- (c) **Regulations to secure sanitary conditions of vessels—** The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) shall from time to time prescribe [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d), applicable to [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section for the purpose of preventing the introduction into the [States](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) or [possessions](/usc/42/201.md?p=g) of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) of any communicable disease by securing the best sanitary condition of such [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i), their cargoes, passengers, and crews. Such [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) shall be observed by such [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) prior to departure, during the course of the voyage, and also during [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12), disinfection, or other quarantine procedure upon arrival at any [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) quarantine station.
- (d) **Vessels from ports near frontier—** The provisions of subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) of this section shall not apply to [vessels](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) plying between such foreign ports on or near the frontiers of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) and ports of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) as are designated by treaty.
- (e) **Compliance with regulations—** It shall be unlawful for any [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) to enter any port in any [State](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) or [possession](/usc/42/201.md?p=g) of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) to discharge its cargo, or land its passengers, except upon a certificate of the quarantine officer that [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) prescribed under [subsection (c)](#c) have in all respects been complied with by such officer, the [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i), and its master. The master of every such [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) shall deliver such certificate to the collector of customs at the port of entry, together with the original bill of health and other papers of the [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i). The certificate required by this subsection shall be procurable from the quarantine officer, upon arrival of the [vessel](/usc/42/201.md?p=i) at the quarantine station and satisfactory [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) thereof, at any time within which quarantine [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) are performed at such station.