Collapse to view only § 3101. General authority to employ
- § 3101. General authority to employ
- § 3102. Employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and deaf employees
- § 3103. Employment at seat of Government only for services rendered
- § 3104. Employment of specially qualified scientific and professional personnel
- § 3105. Appointment of administrative law judges
- § 3106. Employment of attorneys; restrictions
- § 3107. Employment of publicity experts; restrictions
- § 3108. Employment of detective agencies; restrictions
- § 3109. Employment of experts and consultants; temporary or intermittent
- § 3110. Employment of relatives; restrictions
- § 3111. Acceptance of volunteer service
- § 3111a. Federal internship programs
- § 3112. Disabled veterans; noncompetitive appointment
- § 3113. Restriction on reemployment after conviction of certain crimes
- § 3114. Appointment of candidates to certain positions in the competitive service by the Securities and Exchange Commission
- § 3115. Expedited hiring authority for college graduates; competitive service
- § 3116. Expedited hiring authority for post-secondary students; competitive service
§ 3101. General authority to employ
Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 414.)
§ 3102. Employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and deaf employees
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) “agency” means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) the Library of Congress; and
(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch;
(2) “handicapped employee” means an individual employed by an agency who is blind or deaf or who otherwise qualifies as a handicapped individual within the meaning of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “(29 U.S.C. 791);”.
and(3) “nonprofit organization” means an organization determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)) which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
(b)
(1) The head of each agency may employ one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee’s official duties and who shall serve without pay from the agency, without regard to—
(A) the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;
(B) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title; and
(C)section 1342 of title 31.
Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.
(2) A personal assistant, including a reading or interpreting assistant, employed under this subsection may receive pay for services performed by the assistant from the handicapped employee or a nonprofit organization, without regard to section 209 of title 18.
(c) The head of each agency may also employ or assign one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee’s official duties. Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.
(d)
(1) In the case of any handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) traveling on official business, the head of the agency may authorize the payment to an individual to accompany or assist (or both) the handicapped employee for all or a portion of the travel period involved. Any payment under this subsection to such an individual may be made either directly to that individual or by advancement or reimbursement to the handicapped employee.
(2) With respect to any individual paid to accompany or assist a handicapped employee under paragraph (1) of this subsection—
(A) the amount paid to that individual shall not exceed the limit or limits which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe by regulation to ensure that the payment does not exceed amounts (including pay and, if appropriate, travel expenses and per diem allowances) which could be paid to an employee assigned to accompany or assist the handicapped employee; and
(B) that individual shall be considered an employee, but only for purposes of chapter 81 of this title (relating to compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 (relating to tort claims).
(e) This section may not be held or considered to prevent or limit in any way the assignment to a handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) by an agency of clerical or secretarial assistance, at the expense of the agency under statutes and regulations currently applicable at the time, if that assistance normally is provided, or authorized to be provided, in that manner under currently applicable statutes and regulations.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 414; Pub. L. 90–623, § 1(3), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 95–454, title III, § 302(a), (b)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1145, 1146; Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(11), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 96–523, § 1(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3039; Pub. L. 97–258, § 3(a)(3), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 106–518, title III, § 311, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2421; Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title III, § 307], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2762, 2762A–86.)
§ 3103. Employment at seat of Government only for services rendered
An individual may be employed in the civil service in an Executive department at the seat of Government only for services actually rendered in connection with and for the purposes of the appropriation from which he is paid. An individual who violates this section shall be removed from the service.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 415.)
§ 3104. Employment of specially qualified scientific and professional personnel
(a) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may establish, and from time to time revise, the maximum number of scientific or professional positions for carrying out research and development functions which require the services of specially qualified personnel which may be established outside of the General Schedule. Any such position may be established by action of the Director or, under such standards and procedures as the Office prescribes and publishes in such form as the Director may determine (including procedures under which the prior approval of the Director may be required), by agency action.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any Senior Executive Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of this title).
(c) In addition to the number of positions authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Librarian of Congress may establish, without regard to the second sentence of subsection (a) of this section, not more than 8 scientific or professional positions to carry out the research and development functions of the Library of Congress which require the services of specially qualified personnel.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(7), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(c)(5), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 414(a)(2)(B), (C), title VIII, § 801(a)(3)(C), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1178, 1221; Pub. L. 99–386, title I, § 101(b), Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 821; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(7), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1346; Pub. L. 110–372, § 2(c)(1), Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4044.)
§ 3105. Appointment of administrative law judges
Each agency shall appoint as many administrative law judges as are necessary for proceedings required to be conducted in accordance with sections 556 and 557 of this title. Administrative law judges shall be assigned to cases in rotation so far as practicable, and may not perform duties inconsistent with their duties and responsibilities as administrative law judges.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 95–251, § 2(a)(1), (b)(2), (d)(1), Mar. 27, 1978, 92 Stat. 183, 184.)
§ 3106. Employment of attorneys; restrictions
Except as otherwise authorized by law, the head of an Executive department or military department may not employ an attorney or counsel for the conduct of litigation in which the United States, an agency, or employee thereof is a party, or is interested, or for the securing of evidence therefor, but shall refer the matter to the Department of Justice. This section does not apply to the employment and payment of counsel under section 1037 of title 10.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 415.)
§ 3107. Employment of publicity experts; restrictions
Appropriated funds may not be used to pay a publicity expert unless specifically appropriated for that purpose.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 416.)
§ 3108. Employment of detective agencies; restrictions
An individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia.
(Pub. L. 89– 554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 416.)
§ 3109. Employment of experts and consultants; temporary or intermittent
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) “agency” has the meaning given it by section 5721 of this title; and
(2) “appropriation” includes funds made available by statute under section 9104 of title 31.
(b) When authorized by an appropriation or other statute, the head of an agency may procure by contract the temporary (not in excess of 1 year) or intermittent services of experts or consultants or an organization thereof, including stenographic reporting services. Services procured under this section are without regard to—
(1) the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;
(2) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title; and
(3) section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41, except in the case of stenographic reporting services by an organization.
However, an agency subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of this title may pay a rate for services under this section in excess of the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable under section 5332 of this title only when specifically authorized by the appropriation or other statute authorizing the procurement of the services.
(c) Positions in the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service may not be filled under the authority of subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section. Such regulations shall include—
(1) criteria governing the circumstances in which it is appropriate to employ an expert or consultant under the provisions of this section;
(2) criteria for setting the pay of experts and consultants under this section; and
(3) provisions to ensure compliance with such regulations.
(e) Each agency shall report to the Office of Personnel Management on an annual basis with respect to—
(1) the number of days each expert or consultant employed by the agency during the period was so employed; and
(2) the total amount paid by the agency to each expert and consultant for such work during the period.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 416; Pub. L. 95–454, title IV, § 402(b), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 97–258, § 3(a)(4), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 100–325, § 2(b), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 581; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(8), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1347; Pub. L. 111–350, § 5(a)(4), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3841.)
§ 3110. Employment of relatives; restrictions
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) “agency” means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) an office, agency, or other establishment in the legislative branch;
(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch; and
(D) the government of the District of Columbia;
(2) “public official” means an officer (including the President and a Member of Congress), a member of the uniformed service, an employee and any other individual, in whom is vested the authority by law, rule, or regulation, or to whom the authority has been delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or advance individuals, or to recommend individuals for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in an agency; and
(3) “relative” means, with respect to a public official, an individual who is related to the public official as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
(b) A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official. An individual may not be appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in or to a civilian position in an agency if such appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement has been advocated by a public official, serving in or exercising jurisdiction or control over the agency, who is a relative of the individual.
(c) An individual appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in violation of this section is not entitled to pay, and money may not be paid from the Treasury as pay to an individual so appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations authorizing the temporary employment, in the event of emergencies resulting from natural disasters or similar unforeseen events or circumstances, of individuals whose employment would otherwise be prohibited by this section.
(e) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the appointment of an individual who is a preference eligible in any case in which the passing over of that individual on a certificate of eligibles furnished under section 3317(a) of this title will result in the selection for appointment of an individual who is not a preference eligible.
(Added Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 221(a), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 640; amended Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224.)
§ 3111. Acceptance of volunteer service
(a) For the purpose of this section, “student” means an individual who is enrolled, not less than half-time, in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution. An individual who is a student is deemed not to have ceased to be a student during an interim between school years if the interim is not more than 5 months and if such individual shows to the satisfaction of the Office of Personnel Management that the individual has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a course of study or training in the same or different educational institution during the school semester (or other period into which the school year is divided) immediately after the interim.
(b) Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the head of an agency may accept, subject to regulations issued by the Office, voluntary service for the United States if the service—
(1) is performed by a student, with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled, as part of an agency program established for the purpose of providing educational experiences for the student;
(2) is to be uncompensated; and
(3) will not be used to displace any employee.
(c)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any student who provides voluntary service under subsection (b) of this section shall not be considered a Federal employee for any purpose other than for purposes of section 7905 (relating to commuting by means other than single-occupancy motor vehicles), chapter 81 (relating to compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 (relating to tort claims).
(2) In addition to being considered a Federal employee for the purposes specified in paragraph (1), any student who provides voluntary service as part of a program established under subsection (b) of this section in the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, shall be considered an employee of the Department of the Treasury for purposes of—
(A)section 552a of this title (relating to disclosure of records);
(B) subsections (a)(1), (h)(1), (k)(6), and (l)(4) of section 6103 of title 26 (relating to confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information);
(C) sections 7213(a)(1) and 7431 of title 26 (relating to unauthorized disclosures of returns and return information by Federal employees and other persons); and
(D)section 7423 of title 26 (relating to suits against employees of the United States);
except that returns and return information (as defined in section 6103(b) of title 26) shall be made available to students under such program only to the extent that the Secretary of the Treasury or his designee determines that the duties assigned to such students so require.
(d) Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, the head of an agency may accept voluntary service for the United States under chapter 37 of this title and regulations of the Office of Personnel Management.
(e)
(1) For purposes of this section the term “agency” shall include the Architect of the Capitol. With respect to the Architect of the Capitol, the authority granted to the Office of Personnel Management under this section shall be exercised by the Architect of the Capitol.
(2) In this section, the term “agency” includes the Congressional Budget Office, except that in the case of the Congressional Budget Office—
(A) any student who provides voluntary service in accordance with this section shall be considered an employee of the Congressional Budget Office for purposes of section 203 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (relating to the level of confidentiality of budget data); and
(B) the authority granted to the Office of Personnel Management under this section shall be exercised by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title III, § 301(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1144; amended Pub. L. 97–258, § 3(a)(5), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 97–437, Jan. 8, 1983, 96 Stat. 2285; Pub. L. 107–296, title XIII, § 1314(b), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2296; Pub. L. 107–347, title II, § 209(g)(1)(A), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2931; Pub. L. 111–68, div. A, title I, § 1303(a), Oct. 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 2034; Pub. L. 113–76, div. I, title I, § 1201(a), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 426.)
§ 3111a. Federal internship programs
(a)Internship Coordinator.—The head of each agency operating an internship program shall appoint an individual within such agency to serve as an internship coordinator.
(b)Online Information.—
(1)Agencies.—The Office of Personnel Management shall make publicly available on the Internet—
(A) the name and contact information of the internship coordinator for each agency; and
(B) information regarding application procedures and deadlines for each internship program.
(2)Office of personnel management.—The Office of Personnel Management shall make publicly available on the Internet links to the websites where the information described in paragraph (1) is displayed.
(c)Definitions.—For purposes of this section—
(1) the term “internship program” means—
(A) a volunteer service program under section 3111(b);
(B) an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585);
(C) a program operated by a nongovernment organization for the purpose of providing paid internships in agencies under a written agreement that is similar to an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585); or
(D) a program that—
(i) is similar to an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585); and
(ii) is authorized under another statutory provision of law;
(2) the term “intern” means an individual participating in an internship program; and
(3) the term “agency” means an Executive agency.
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title XI, § 1109(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1614.)
§ 3112. Disabled veterans; noncompetitive appointment
Under such regulations as the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe, an agency may make a noncompetitive appointment leading to conversion to career or career-conditional employment of a disabled veteran who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title III, § 307(b)(1), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1147.)
§ 3113. Restriction on reemployment after conviction of certain crimes
An employee shall be separated from service and barred from reemployment in the Federal service, if—
(1) the employee is convicted of a violation of
(2) such violation related to conduct prohibited under section 1010(a) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960(a)).
(Added Pub. L. 105–61, title VI, § 638(a), Oct. 10, 1997, 111 Stat. 1316.)
§ 3114. Appointment of candidates to certain positions in the competitive service by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(a)Applicability.—This section applies with respect to any position of accountant, economist, and securities compliance examiner at the Commission that is in the competitive service, and any position at the Commission in the competitive service that requires specialized knowledge of financial and capital market formation or regulation, financial market structures or surveillance, or information technology.
(b)Appointment Authority.—
(1)In general.—The Commission may appoint candidates to any position described in subsection (a)—
(A) in accordance with the statutes, rules, and regulations governing appointments in the excepted service; and
(B) notwithstanding any statutes, rules, and regulations governing appointments in the competitive service.
(2)Rule of construction.—The appointment of a candidate to a position under authority of this subsection shall not be considered to cause such position to be converted from the competitive service to the excepted service.
(c)Reports.—No later than 90 days after the end of fiscal year 2003 (for fiscal year 2003) and 90 days after the end of fiscal year 2005 (for fiscal years 2004 and 2005), the Commission shall submit a report with respect to its exercise of the authority granted by subsection (b) during such fiscal years to the Committee on Government Reform and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. Such reports shall describe the changes in the hiring process authorized by such subsection, including relevant information related to—
(1) the quality of candidates;
(2) the procedures used by the Commission to select candidates through the streamlined hiring process;
(3) the numbers, types, and grades of employees hired under the authority;
(4) any benefits or shortcomings associated with the use of the authority;
(5) the effect of the exercise of the authority on the hiring of veterans and other demographic groups; and
(6) the way in which managers were trained in the administration of the streamlined hiring system.
(d)Commission Defined.—For purposes of this section, the term “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(Added Pub. L. 108–44, § 2(a), July 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 842; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, § 929G(a), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1855.)
§ 3115. Expedited hiring authority for college graduates; competitive service
(a)Definitions.—In this section:
(1)Director.—The term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(2)Institution of higher education.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(b)Appointment.—
(1)In general.—The head of an agency may appoint, without regard to any provision of sections 3309 through 3319 and 3330, a qualified individual to a position in the competitive service classified in a professional or administrative occupational category at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below.
(2)Restrictions.—An appointment under paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director.
(c)Qualifications for Appointment.—The head of an agency may make an appointment under subsection (b) only if the individual being appointed—
(1) has received a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an institution of higher education;
(2) applies for the position—
(A) not later than 2 years after the date on which the individual being appointed received the degree described in paragraph (1); or
(B) in the case of an individual who has completed a period of not less than 4 years of obligated service in a uniformed service, not later than 2 years after the date of the discharge or release of the individual from that service; and
(3) meets each minimum qualification standard prescribed by the Director for the position to which the individual is being appointed.
(d)Public Notice and Advertising.—
(1)In general.—The head of an agency making an appointment under subsection (b) shall publicly advertise positions under this section.
(2)Requirements.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the head of an agency shall—
(A) adhere to merit system principles;
(B) advertise positions in a manner that provides for diverse and qualified applicants; and
(C) ensure potential applicants have appropriate information relevant to the positions available.
(e)Limitation on Appointments.—
(1)In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the total number of employees that the head of an agency may appoint under this section during a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal to 15 percent of the number of individuals that the agency head appointed during the previous fiscal year to a position in the competitive service classified in a professional or administrative occupational category, at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below, under a competitive examining procedure.
(2)Exceptions.—Under a regulation prescribed under subsection (f), the Director may establish a lower limit on the number of individuals that may be appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection during a fiscal year based on any factor the Director considers appropriate.
(f)Regulations.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall issue interim regulations, with an opportunity for comment, for the administration of this section.
(g)Reporting.—
(1)In general.—Not later than September 30 of each of the first 3 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this section, the head of an agency that makes an appointment under this section shall submit a report to—
(A) Congress that assesses the impact of the use of the authority provided under this section during the fiscal year in which the report is submitted; and
(B) the Director that contains data that the Director considers necessary for the Director to assess the impact and effectiveness of the authority described in subparagraph (A).
(2)Content.—The head of an agency shall include in each report under paragraph (1)—
(A) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency under this section, as well as the number of such individuals who are—
(i) minorities or members of other underrepresented groups; or
(ii) veterans;
(B) recruitment sources;
(C) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency during the applicable fiscal year to a position in the competitive service classified in a professional or administrative occupational category at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below; and
(D) any additional data specified by the Director.
(h)Special Provision Regarding the Department of Defense.—
(1)Authority.—Nothing in this section shall preclude the Secretary of Defense from exercising any authority to appoint a recent graduate under section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or any applicable successor statute.
(2)Regulations.—Any regulations prescribed by the Director for the administration of this section shall not apply to the Department of Defense during the period ending on the date on which the appointment authority of the Secretary of Defense under section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or any applicable successor statute, terminates.
(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XI, § 1108(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2006.)
§ 3116. Expedited hiring authority for post-secondary students; competitive service
(a)Definitions.—In this section:
(1)Director.—The term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(2)Institution of higher education.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3)Student.—The term “student” means an individual enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher education who is pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis as determined by the institution of higher education.
(b)Appointment.—
(1)In general.—The head of an agency may make a time-limited appointment of a student, without regard to any provision of sections 3309 through 3319 and 3330, to a position in the competitive service at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below for which the student is qualified.
(2)Restrictions.—An appointment under paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Director.
(c)Public Notice.—
(1)In general.—The head of an agency making an appointment under subsection (b) shall publicly advertise positions available under this section.
(2)Requirements.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the head of an agency shall—
(A) adhere to merit system principles;
(B) advertise positions in a manner that provides for diverse and qualified applicants; and
(C) ensure potential applicants have appropriate information relevant to the positions available.
(d)Limitation on Appointments.—
(1)In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the total number of students that the head of an agency may appoint under this section during a fiscal year may not exceed the number equal to 15 percent of the number of students that the agency head appointed during the previous fiscal year to a position at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below.
(2)Exceptions.—Under a regulation prescribed under subsection (g), the Director may establish a lower limit on the number of students that may be appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection during a fiscal year based on any factor the Director considers appropriate.
(e)Conversion.—The head of an agency may, without regard to any provision of chapter 33 or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive service, convert a student serving in an appointment under subsection (b) to a permanent appointment in the competitive service within the agency without further competition if the student—
(1) has completed the course of study leading to the baccalaureate or graduate degree;
(2) has completed not less than 640 hours of current continuous employment in an appointment under subsection (b); and
(3) meets the qualification standards for the position to which the student will be converted.
(f)Termination.—The head of an agency shall, without regard to any provision of chapter 35 or 75, terminate the appointment of a student appointed under subsection (b) upon completion of the designated academic course of study unless the student is selected for conversion under subsection (e).
(g)Regulations.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall issue interim regulations, with an opportunity for comment, for the administration of this section.
(h)Reporting.—
(1)In general.—Not later than September 30 of each of the first 3 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this section, the head of an agency that makes an appointment under this section shall submit a report to—
(A) Congress that assesses the impact of the use of the authority provided under this section during the fiscal year in which the report is submitted; and
(B) the Director that contains data that the Director considers necessary for the Director to assess the impact and effectiveness of the authority described in subparagraph (A).
(2)Content.—The head of an agency shall include in each report under paragraph (1)—
(A) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency under this section, as well as the number of such individuals who are—
(i) minorities or members of other underrepresented groups; or
(ii) veterans;
(B) recruitment sources;
(C) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency during the applicable fiscal year to a position in the competitive service at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below; and
(D) any additional data specified by the Director.
(i)Special Provision Regarding the Department of Defense.—
(1)Authority.—Nothing in this section shall preclude the Secretary of Defense from exercising any authority to appoint a post-secondary student under section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or any applicable successor statute.
(2)Regulations.—Any regulations prescribed by the Director for the administration of this section shall not apply to the Department of Defense during the period ending on the date on which the appointment authority of the Secretary of Defense under section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580), or any applicable successor statute, terminates.
(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XI, § 1108(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2007; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XI, § 1115, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1604.)