Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1648

 PUBLIC LAW 108–136—NOV. 24, 2003

117 STAT. 1629

employee’s separation, unless this prohibition is waived by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis. ‘‘(B) An employee who receives separation pay under this section on the basis of a separation occurring on or after the date of the enactment of the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–236; 108 Stat. 111) and accepts employment with the Government of the United States, or who commences work through a personal services contract with the United States within 5 years after the date of the separation on which payment of the separation pay is based, shall be required to repay the entire amount of the separation pay to the Department of Defense. If the employment is with an Executive agency (as defined by section 105) other than the Department of Defense, the Director may, at the request of the head of that agency, waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is within the Department of Defense, the Secretary may waive the repayment if the individual involved is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is with an entity in the legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is with the judicial branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. ‘‘(7) Under this program, early retirement and separation pay may be offered only pursuant to regulations established by the Secretary, subject to such limitations or conditions as the Secretary may require. ‘‘(j) PROVISIONS RELATING TO REEMPLOYMENT.—If an annuitant receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund becomes employed in a position within the Department of Defense, his annuity shall continue. An annuitant so reemployed shall not be considered an employee for purposes of chapter 83 or 84. ‘‘(k) ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.—(1) Notwithstanding subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense, in establishing and implementing the National Security Personnel System under subsection (a), shall not be limited by any provision of this title or any rule or regulation prescribed under this title in establishing and implementing regulations relating to— ‘‘(A) the methods of establishing qualification requirements for, recruitment for, and appointments to positions; ‘‘(B) the methods of assigning, reassigning, detailing, transferring, or promoting employees; and ‘‘(C) the methods of reducing overall agency staff and grade levels, except that performance, veterans’ preference, tenure of employment, length of service, and such other factors as the Secretary considers necessary and appropriate shall be considered in decisions to realign or reorganize the Department’s workforce. ‘‘(2) In implementing this subsection, the Secretary shall comply with the provisions of section 2302(b)(11), regarding veterans’ preference requirements, as provided for in subsection (b)(3).

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