PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 782-OCT. 28, 1949 Conditions. Infra; pod, p . 971. "Good.' Post, p. 970. Reward for superior acuomplishment. Ante, p. 967. Delegation of au- thority. Reports. Longevity step-in- strse. Restrictions. pay period following the completion of (1) each fifty-two calendar weeks of service if his position is in a grade in which the step-increases are less than $200, or (2) each seventy-eight calendar weeks of service if his position is in a grade in which the step-increases are $200 or more, subject to the following conditions: (A) That no equivalent increase in compensation from any cause was received during such period, except increase made pursuant to section 702 or 1002; (B) That his current efficiency rating is "good" or better than "good"; (C) That the service and conduct of such officer or employee are certified as being otherwise satisfactory by the department; and (D) That the benefit of successive step-increases shall be pre- served, under regulations issued by the Commission, for officers and employees whose continuous service is interrupted in the public interest by service with the armed forces or by service in essential non-Government civilian employment during a period of war or national emergency. (b) The term "good" as used in this title shall have the same meaning as when used in the systems of efficiency rating established pursuant to title IX of this Act. SEC. 702. (a) Within the limit of available appropriations and in accordance with standards promulgated by the Commission, each department is authorized, subject to prior approval by the Commis- sion (except as provided in subsection (b)), to make additional step- increases as a reward for superior accomplishment, but no officer or employee shall be eligible for more than one such additional step- increase within each of the time periods specified in section 701 (a). (b) The Commission is authorized to delegate to any department the authority to make the additional step-increases provided for in this section, without prior approval in individual cases by the Com- mission. The Commission may withdraw or suspend such authority whenever review of such actions by the Commission indicates that standards promulgated by the Commission have not been observed, and may restore such authority whenever it is satisfied that subsequent actions will be taken in conformance with such standards. (c) Each department shall report to the Commission all actions taken under this section, together with the reasons therefor. The Com- mission shall submit an annual report to Congress covering the num- bers and types of actions taken under this section. SEC. 703. (a) Subject to subsection (b), and as a reward for long and faithful service, each department shall grant an additional step- increase (to be known as a longevity step-increase) beyond the maxi- mum scheduled rate of the grade in which his position is placed, to each officer or employee for each three years of continuous service completed by him at such maximum rate or at a rate in excess thereof authorized by this section without change of grade or rate of basic compensation except such change as may be prescribed by any pro- vision of law of general application. (b) (1) No officer or employee shall be entitled to a longevity step- increase while holding a position in any grade above grade 10 of the General Schedule. (2) No officer or employee shall receive a longevity step-increase unless his current efficiency rating is "good" or better than "good", and his service and conduct are certified as being otherwise satisfactory by the department. (3) No officer or employee shall receive more than one longevity step-increase for any three years of continuous service. 968 [63 STAT.
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