---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12620"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12620"
heading: "Status of Corps members and Corps personnel under Federal law"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12620"
units:
  - "Chapter 129 — National and Community Service"
  - "Subchapter I — National and Community Service State Grant Program"
  - "Division E — National Civilian Community Corps"
---

# §12620. Status of Corps members and Corps personnel under Federal law

- (a) **In general—** Except as otherwise provided in this section, members of the National Civilian Community [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall not, by reason of their status as such members, be considered Federal employees or be subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment.
- (b) **Work-related injuries—**
  - (1) **In general—** For purposes of subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of title 5 relating to the compensation of Federal employees for work injuries, members of the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall be considered as employees of the United States within the meaning of the term “employee”, as defined in [section 8101](/usc/42/8101.md) of such title.
  - (2) **Special rule—** In the application of the provisions of subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of title 5 to a person referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the person shall not be considered to be in the performance of duty while absent from the person’s assigned post of duty unless the absence is authorized in accordance with procedures prescribed by the [Director](/usc/42/12626.md?p=6).
- (c) **Tort claims procedure—** A member of the [Corps](/usc/42/12626.md?p=3) shall be considered an employee of the United States for purposes of [chapter 171](/usc/28/chptVI/ch171.md) of title 28 relating to tort claims liability and procedure.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–610, title I, § 160, formerly § 195I, as added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, § 1092(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2530; renumbered § 160, Pub. L. 103–82, title I, § 104(b), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 840; amended Pub. L. 111–13, title I, § 1510, Apr. 21, 2009, 123 Stat. 1526.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 12653i of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(b).

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 160 of Pub. L. 101–610 was classified to section 12611 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–82, § 104(a).

### Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13 inserted “National” before “Civilian Community Corps”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.