In the performance of his functions the Secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, including attorneys, as may be necessary to carry out such functions. Except as otherwise provided in this section, such officers and employees shall be appointed in accordance with the civil service laws and their compensation fixed in accordance with title 5.
(1) Subject to the limitations provided in paragraph (2) and to the extent the Secretary deems such action necessary to the discharge of his functions, he may appoint not more than three hundred eleven of the scientific, engineering, professional, and administrative personnel of the department without regard to the civil service laws, and may fix the compensation of such personnel not in excess of the maximum rate payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5.
(2) The Secretary's authority under this subsection to appoint an individual to such a position without regard to the civil service laws shall cease-
(A) when a person appointed, within four years after October 1, 1977, to fill such position under paragraph (1) leaves such position, or
(B) on the day which is four years after such date,
whichever is later.
(1) Subject to the provisions of chapter 51 of title 5 but notwithstanding the last two sentences of section 5108(a) 1 of such title, the Secretary may place at GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18, not to exceed one hundred seventy-eight positions of the positions subject to the limitation of the first sentence of section 5108(a) 1 of such title.
(2) Appointments under this subsection may be made without regard to the provisions of sections 3324 of title 5, relating to the approval by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of appointments under GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18 if the individual placed in such position is an individual who is transferred in connection with a transfer of functions under this chapter and who, immediately before October 1, 1977, held a position and duties comparable to those of such position.
(3) The Secretary's authority under this subsection with respect to any position shall cease when the person first appointed to fill such position leaves such position.
In addition to the number of positions which may be placed at GS–16, GS–17, and GS–18 under section 5108 of title 5, under existing law, or under this chapter, and to the extent the Secretary deems such action necessary to the discharge of his functions, he may appoint not more than two hundred of the scientific, engineering, professional, and administrative personnel without regard to the civil service laws and may fix the compensation of such personnel not in excess of the maximum rate payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5.
For the purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of positions which may be placed at GS–16, GS–17, or GS–18 under section 5108(a) of title 5, 63 percent of the positions established under subsections (b) and (c) shall be deemed GS–16 positions, 25 percent of such positions shall be deemed GS–17 positions, and 12 percent of such positions shall be deemed GS–18.
All positions in the Department which the Secretary determines are devoted to intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government are excepted from the competitive service, and the individuals who occupy such positions as of August 14, 1991, shall, while employed in such positions, be exempt from the competitive service.
(
Section 5108(a) of title 5, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was amended generally by
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2) and (d), was in the original "this Act", meaning
August 14, 1991, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original "the date of enactment of this Act", which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of
1991-Subsec. (f).
"Director of the Office of Personnel Management" substituted for "Civil Service Commission" in subsec. (c)(2), pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, §102, 43 F.R. 36037,
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(A)
"(B)
"(5)
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) the exercise of the authority granted under subsection (a) is consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 of title 5, United States Code; and
"(B) the Department notifies diverse professional associations and institutions of higher education, including those serving the interests of women and racial or ethnic minorities that are underrepresented in scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields, of position openings as appropriate.
"(2)
"(A) the ability to attract exceptionally well qualified scientists, engineers, and technical personnel;
"(B) the amount of total compensation paid each employee hired under the authority each calendar year; and
"(C) whether additional safeguards or measures are necessary to carry out the authority and, if so, what action, if any, has been taken to implement the safeguards or measures.
"(d)
1 See References in Text note below.