PUBLIC LAW 101-239—DEC. 19, 1989 103 STAT. 2287 ^'(1) There is established within the United States Claims Court an office of special masters which shall consist of not more than 8 special masters. The judges of the United States Claims Court shall appoint the special meisters, 1 of whom, by designation of the judges of the United States Claims Court, shall serve as chief special master. The appointment and re- appointment of the special masters shall be by the concurrence of a majority of the judges of the court. "(2) The chief special master and other special masters shall be subject to removal by the judges of the United States Claims Court for incompetency, misconduct, or neglect of duty or for physical or mental disability or for other good cause shown. "(3) A special master's office shall be terminated if the judges of the United States Claims Court determine, upon advice of the chief special master, that the services performed by that office are no longer needed. "(4) The appointment of any individual as a special master shall be for a term of 4 years, subject to termination under paragraphs (2) and (3). Individuals serving as special masters upon the date of the enactment of this subsection shall serve for 4 years from the date of their original appointment, subject to termination under paragraphs (2) and (3). The chief special master in office on the date of the enactment of this subsection shall continue to serve as chief special master for the balance of the master's term, subject to termination under paragraphs (2) and (3). "(5) The compensation of the special masters shall be deter- mined by the judges of the United States Claims Court, upon advice of the chief special master. The salary of the chief special master shall be the annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule, as prescribed by section 5315, title 5, United States Code. The salaries of the other special masters shall not exceed the annual rate of basic pay of level V of the Executive Schedule, as prescribed by section 5316, title 5, United States Code. "(6) The chief special master shall be responsible for the following: "(A) Administering the office of special masters and their staff, providing for the efficient, expeditious, and effective handling of petitions, and performing such other duties related to the Program as may be assigned to the chief special master by a concurrence of a majority of the United States Claims Courts judges. "(B) Appointing and fixing the salary and duties of such administrative staff as are necessary. Such staff shall be subject to removal for good cause by the chief special master. "(C) Managing and executing all aspects of budgetary and administrative affairs affecting the special masters and their staff, subject to the rules and regulations of the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Conference rules and regulations pertaining to United States msig- istrates shall be applied to the special masters. "(D) Coordinating with the United States Claims Court the use of services, equipment, personnel, information, and facilities of the United States Claims Court without re- imbursement.
�
