110 STAT. 352 PUBLIC LAW 104-106—FEB. 10, 1996 (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ", in a case to which section 555 of this title applies," after "When the Secretary concerned"; and (C) in subsection (h)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking out "status" and inserting in lieu thereof "pay"; and (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting "in a case to which section 555 of this title applies" after "under this section". (d) DESIGNATION OF PERSONS HAVING INTEREST IN STATUS OF SERVICE MEMBERS.— (1) Chapter 37 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "§655. Designation of persons having interest in status of a missing member "(a) The Secretary concerned shall, upon the enlistment or appointment of a person in the armed forces, require that the person specify in writing the person or persons, if any, other than that person's primary next of kin or immediate family, to whom information on the whereabouts and status of the member shall be provided if such whereabouts and status are investigated under chapter 76 of this title. The Secretary shall periodically, and whenever the member is deployed as part of a contingency operation or in other circumstances specified by the Secretary, require that such designation be reconjfirmed, or modified, by the member. "(b) The Secretary concerned shall, upon the request of a member, permit the member to revise the person or persons specified by the member under subsection (a) at any time. Any such revision shall be in writing. ". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "655. Designation of persons having interest in status of a missing member.". 5 USC 5561 note. (e) ACCOUNTING FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AND CONTRACTORS OF THE UNITED STATES.—(1) The Secretary of State shall carry out a comprehensive study of the provisions of subchapter VII of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the "Missing Persons Act of 1942") (5 U.S.C. 5561 et seq.) and any other law or regulation establishing procedures for the accounting for of civilian employees of the United States or contractors of the United States who serve with or accompany the Armed Forces in the field. The purpose of the study shall be to determine the means, if any, by which those procedures may be improved. (2) The Secretary of State shall carry out the study required under paragraph (1) in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the heads of such other departments and agencies of the United States as the President designates for that purpose. (3) In carrying out the study, the Secretary of State shall examine the procedures undertaken when a civilian employee referred to in paragraph (1) becomes involuntarily absent as a result of a hostile action, or under circumstances suggesting that the involuntary absence is a result of a hostile action, and whose status is undetermined or who is unaccounted for, including procedures for— (A) search and rescue for the employee; (B) determining the status of the employee; (C) reviewing and changing the status of the employee;
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