Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/628

 116 STAT. 602 PUBLIC LAW 107-188-JUNE 12, 2002 any Federal agency specified in subsection (b)(2)(B), injuries sustained by such an individual, while acting within the scope of such participation, also shall be deemed 'in the performance of duty' for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (regardless of whether the individuals receive compensation for such participation). In the event of an injury to such an intermittent disaster-response appointee, the Secretary of Labor shall be responsible for making determinations as to whether the claimant is entitled to compensation or other benefits in accordance with chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code. "(3) EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.— "(A) IN GENERAL.— Service as an intermittent disasterresponse appointee when the Secretary activates the National Disaster Medical System or when the individual participates in a training program authorized by the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness or a comparable official of any Federal agency specified in subsection (b)(2)(B) shall be deemed 'service in the uniformed services' for purposes of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, pertaining to employment and reemployment rights of individuals who have performed service in the uniformed services (regardless of whether the individual receives compensation for such participation). All rights and obligations of such persons and procedures for assistance, enforcement, and investigation shall be as provided for in chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code. "(B) NOTICE OF ABSENCE FROM POSITION OF EMPLOY- MENT.— Preclusion of giving notice of service by necessity of Service as an intermittent disaster-response appointee when the Secretary activates the National Disaster Medical System shall be deemed preclusion by 'military necessity' for purposes of section 4312(b) of title 38, United States Code, pertaining to giving notice of absence from a position of employment. A determination of such necessity shall be made by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, and shall not be subject to judicial review. "(4) LIMITATION. —An intermittent disaster-response appointee shall not be deemed an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes other than those specifically set forth in this section. "(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING USE OF COMMISSIONED CORPS. — I f the Secretary assigns commissioned officers of the Regular or Reserve Corps to serve with the National Disaster Medical System, such assignments do not affect the terms and conditions of their appointments as commissioned officers of the Regular or Reserve Corps, respectively (including with respect to pay and allowances, retirement, benefits, rights, privileges, and immunities). "(g) DEFINITION. —For purposes of this section, the term 'auxiliary services' includes mortuary services, veterinary services, and other services that are determined by the Secretary to be appropriate with respect to the needs referred to in subsection (b)(3)(A). "(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of providing for the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the operations of the National Disaster Medical

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