[116th Congress Public Law 158]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 705]]
[[Page 134 STAT. 706]]
Public Law 116-158
116th Congress
An Act
To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend lease protections
for servicemembers under stop movement orders in response to a local,
national, or global emergency, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Aug. 14,
2020 - [S. 3637]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF LEASE PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS UNDER
STOP MOVEMENT ORDERS IN RESPONSE TO
LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR GLOBAL
EMERGENCY.
(a) Termination.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 305 of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) the date of the lessee's stop movement order
described in paragraph (1)(C) or (2)(C) of subsection
(b), as the case may be.''.
(b) Covered Leases.--
(1) Leases of premises.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of
such section is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) <<NOTE: Time periods.>> the servicemember,
while in military service--
``(i) executes a lease upon receipt of
military orders for a permanent change of station
or to deploy with a military unit, or as an
individual in support of a military operation, for
a period of not less than 90 days; and
``(ii) thereafter receives a stop movement
order issued by the Secretary of Defense in
response to a local, national, or global
emergency, effective for an indefinite period or
for a period of not less than 30 days, which
prevents the servicemember or servicemember's
dependents from occupying the lease for a
residential, professional, business, agricultural,
or similar purpose.''.
[[Page 134 STAT. 707]]
(2) Leases of motor vehicles.--Paragraph (2) of such
subsection is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) the servicemember, while in military service--
``(i) executes a lease upon receipt of
military orders described in subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) <<NOTE: Time period.>> thereafter
receives a stop movement order issued by the
Secretary of Defense in response to a local,
national, or global emergency, effective for an
indefinite period or for a period of not less than
30 days, which prevents the servicemember, or the
servicemember's dependents, from using the vehicle
for personal or business transportation.''.
(c) Effective Date of Termination.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (d)
of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(1) Lease of premises.--
``(A) Entrance to military service, permanent change
of station, or deployment.--In the case of a lease
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection
(b)(1) that provides for monthly payment of rent,
termination of the lease under subsection (a) is
effective 30 days after the first date on which the next
rental payment is due and payable after the date on
which the notice under subsection (c) is delivered. In
the case of any other lease described in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1) termination of the
lease under subsection (a) is effective on the last day
of the month following the month in which the notice is
delivered.
``(B) Stop movement orders.--In the case of a lease
described in subsection (b)(1)(C), termination of the
lease under subsection (a) is effective on the date on
which the requirements of subsection (c) are met for
such termination.''.
(d) Technical Correction.--Subsection (i) is amended, in the matter
before paragraph (1), by inserting ``In this section:'' after
``Definitions.--''.
[[Page 134 STAT. 708]]
(e) <<NOTE: Effective date. 50 USC 3955 note.>> Retroactive
Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to stop
movement orders issued on or after March 1, 2020.
Approved August 14, 2020.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3637:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
June 10, considered and passed Senate.
July 20, considered and passed House.
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