[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1761 Referred in House (RFH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1761

      To provide early out authority for Forest Service employees.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 1, 1994

       Referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
      To provide early out authority for Forest Service employees.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
    Section 1.--Forest Service Separation Pay.--(a) In order to avoid 
or minimize the need for involuntary separations, effective for the 
period beginning upon the date of enactment of this Act through and 
including September 30, 1994, the Secretary of Agriculture, under such 
regulations and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of 
Agriculture may prescribe, shall have authority to offer separation pay 
to employees of the Forest Service to the same extent the Secretary of 
Defense is authorized to offer separation pay to employees of a defense 
agency in section 5597 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) In the event that an authority is enacted to offer separation 
pay or a voluntary separation incentive similar to such section 5597 of 
title 5, United States Code, but applicable to employees in the 
executive branch generally, the authority under subsection (a) shall 
terminate.
    (c) Such payments may be made to employees who agree, during a 
continuous 90 day period designated by the agency head, beginning no 
earlier than the date of enactment of this Act and ending no later than 
September 30, 1994, to separate from service with the agency, whether 
by retirement or resignation.
    (d) An employee who has received a voluntary separation incentive 
under this section and accepts employment with the Government of the 
United States within 5 years of the date of the separation on which 
payment of the incentive is based shall be required to repay the entire 
amount of the incentive to the agency that paid the incentive.
    (e) Total outlays by the Forest Service pursuant to the cooperative 
work trust funds accounts (12-8028-0-7-302) shall not exceed 
$271,668,000 in fiscal year 1994.

            Passed the Senate November 20 (legislative day, November 
      2), 1993.

            Attest:

                                             WALTER J. STEWART,

                                                             Secretary.