110 STAT. 1321-377 PUBLIC LAW 104-134—APR. 26, 1996 electronic funds transfer payments through each institution or agent designated under paragraph (1)."; and (B) by adding after subsection (h) (as so redesignated) the following new subsections: "(i)( 1) The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe regulations that the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this section. "(2) Regulations under this subsection shall ensure that individuals required under subsection (g) to have an account at a financial institution because of the application of subsection (f)(1)— "(A) will have access to such an account at a reasonable cost; and "(B) are given the same consumer protections with respect to the account as other account holders at the same financial institution, "(j) For purposes of this section— "(1) The term 'electronic funds transfer' means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by cash, check, or similar paper instrument, that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape, for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit an account. The term includes Automated Clearing House transfers. Fed Wire transfers, transfers made at automatic teller machines, and point-of-sale terminals. "(2) The term 'Federal agency' means— "(A) an agency (as defined in section 101 of this title); and "(B) a Government corporation (as defined in section 103 of title 5). "(3) The term 'Federal payments' includes— "(A) Federal wage, salary, and retirement payments; "(B) vendor and expense reimbursement payments; and "(C) benefit payments. Such term shall not include any payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986." (2) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO SUBSTITUTE CHECKS. —Section 3331 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (b), by striking "subsection (c)" and inserting "subsection (c) or (f)"; (B) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (C) by inserting Eifter subsection (e) the following new subsection: "(f) The Secretary may waive any provision of this section as may be necessary to ensure that claimants receive timely payments.". (3) PERMANENT FUNDING OF THE CHECK FORGERY INSURANCE FUND. —Section 3343 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by amending the second sentence to read as follows: "Necessary amounts are hereafter appropriated to the Fund out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and shall remain available until expended to make the payments required or authorized under this section."; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) by inserting "in the determination of the Secretary the payee or special endorse establishes that" after "without interest if;
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