114 STAT. 1068 PUBLIC LAW 106-303 —OCT. 13, 2000 (A) the 180th day following the date of the enactment of this Act; or (B) if earlier, the date the Comptroller General issues the regulations required under such amendment. (3) SAVINGS PROVISIONS. — If, before the effective date determined under paragraph (2), specific notice of a reduction-in- force action is given to an individual in accordance with section 1 of chapter 5 of GAO Order 2351.1 (dated February 28, 1996), then, for purposes of determining such individual's rights in connection with such action, the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall be treated as if it had never been enacted, (b) AUTHORITY TO PERMIT VOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS To AVOID REDUCTIONS IN FORCE. — (1) IN GENERAL.— Section 732 of title 31, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)), is amended by adding at the end the following: "(i) The regulations under subsection (h) shall include provisions under which, at the discretion of the Comptroller General, the opportunity to separate voluntarily (in order to permit the retention of an individual occupying a similar position) shall, with respect to the General Accounting Office, be available to the same extent and in the same manner as described in subsection (f)(1)- (4) of section 3502 of title 5 (with respect to the Department of Defense or a military department).". 31 USC 732 note. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. SENIOR-LEVEL POSITIONS. (a) CRITICAL POSITIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 732 the following: § 732a. Critical positions "(a) The Comptroller General may establish senior-level positions to meet critical scientific, technical or professional needs of the General Accounting Office. AQ individual serving in such a position shall— "(1) be subject to the laws and regulations applicable to the General Accounting Office Senior Executive Service vmder section 733 of this title, with respect to rates of basic pay, performance awards, ranks, carry over of annual leave, benefits, performance appraisals, removal or suspension, and reductions in force; "(2) have the same rights of appeal to the General Accounting Office Personnel Appeals Board as are provided to the Office Senior Executive Service; "(3) be exempt from the same provisions of law as are made inapplicable to the Office Senior Executive Service under section 733(d) of this title, except for section 732(e) of this title; "(4) be entitled to discontinued service retirement under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 as if a member of the Office Senior Executive Service; and "(5) be subject to reassignment by the Comptroller General to any position in the Office Senior Executive Service under section 733 of this title, as the Comptroller General determines necessary and appropriate.
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