---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 C.F.R. § 32.3"
title: "45"
number: "32.3"
heading: "General rule."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/45/32.3"
---

# §32.3. General rule.

- (a) Except as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, whenever a delinquent debt is owed by an individual, the Secretary, or another federal agency collecting a debt on the Department's behalf (See [45 CFR part 30](/cfr/45/part30.md)), may initiate proceedings administratively to garnish the wages of the delinquent debtor.
- (b) The Secretary may not garnish the wages of a debtor who the Secretary knows has been involuntarily separated from employment until the debtor has been re-employed continuously for at least 12 months. The debtor has the burden of informing the Secretary of the circumstances surrounding an involuntary separation from employment.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3720D, 5 U.S.C. 552, 553, E.O. 12866, 12988, 13808.

### Source

Source: 68 FR 15093, Mar. 28, 2003, unless otherwise noted.