106 STAT. 2724 PUBLIC LAW 102-484—OCT. 23, 1992 (4) shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of any severance pay to which an individual may l^ entitled under section 5595 based on any other separation. (e) No amount shall be payable under this section based on any separation occurring after September 30, 1997. "(i) The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessa^to carry out this section.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "5 597. Separation pay,". 5 USC 5597 note. (b) SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.— <1) For fiscal years after fiscal year 1993, separation pay shall be paid by an agency out of any funds or appropriations available for salaries and expenses of such agency. (2) Of the amount authorized to be appropriated in section 301(5) for operation and maintenance for the Defense Agencies, $70,000,000 shall be made available for payment of separation Eay under section 5597 of title 5, United States Code, as added y subsection (a). 5 USC 5597 note. (c) REPORT. — At the end of each of fiscal years 1993 through 1998, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the President, the Congress, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management a report on the effectiveness and costs of c€m:ying out the amendments made by this section. 5 USC 8348 note. (d) TiMELY PROCESSING OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS.— (1) In order to ensure the timely processing of applications for retirement benefits, under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System, for civilian employees of the Department of Defense and other employees who retire when their agency is undergoing a ms^or reorganization, a major reduction in force, or a mtgor transfer of function, the costs incurred by the Office of Personnel Management in processing any such application shall be deemed to be an administrative expense described in section 8348(a)(l)(B) of title 5, United States Code. (2) This subsection shall apply with respect to applications for retirement benefits based on separations occurring before January 1, 1998. SEC. 4437. THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEES SEPA- RATED BY A REDUCTION IN FORCE. (a) BENEFITS.—Section 8433(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting "any employee who separates from Government emplo3ment pursuant to regulations under section 3502(a) of this title or procedures under section 3595(a) of this title in a reduction in force," afi^r "chapter 81 of this title,". (b) PROTECTIONS FOR SPOUSES.—Section 8435(c)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting ", or who separates from Government employment pursuant to regulations under section 3502(a) of this title or procedures under section 3595(a) of this title in a reduction in force," after "8451 of this title". (c) APPLICATION TO CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES. —Section 8351(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting ", separates from Government employment pursuant to regulations under section 3502(a) of this title or proce-
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