[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONVERSION OF POSITIONS IN THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 432, which is S. 
1488.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1488) to convert certain excepted service 
     positions in the United States Fire Administration to 
     competitive service positions, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating thereto appear at the 
appropriate place in the Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1488) was deemed read for a third time, and passed, as 
follows:

                                S. 1488

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONVERSION OF CERTAIN EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITIONS 
                   IN THE UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION TO 
                   COMPETITIVE SERVICE POSITIONS.

       (a) In General.--No later than the date described under 
     subsection (d)(1), the Director of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency and the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management shall take such actions as necessary to convert 
     each excepted service position established before the date of 
     the enactment of this Act under section 7(c)(4) of the 
     Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 
     2206(c)(4)) to a competitive service position.
       (b) Effect on Employees.--Any employee employed on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act in an excepted service position 
     converted under subsection (a)--
       (1) shall remain employed in the competitive service 
     position so converted without a break in service;
       (2) by reason of such conversion, shall have no--
       (A) diminution of seniority;
       (B) reduction of cumulative years of service; and
       (C) requirement to serve an additional probationary period 
     applied; and
       (3) shall retain their standing and participation with 
     respect to chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code, 
     relating to Federal retirement.
       (c) Prospective Competitive Service Positions.--Section 
     7(c)(4) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
     1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(c)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(4) appoint faculty members to competitive service 
     positions and with respect to temporary and intermittent 
     services, to make appointments of consultants to the same 
     extent as is authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 
     States Code;''.
       (d) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided under paragraph 
     (2), this Act shall take effect on the first day of the first 
     pay period, applicable to the positions described under 
     subsection (a), beginning after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (2)(A) The Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall take such actions as directed under subsection (a) on 
     and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (B) Subsection (c) shall take effect on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

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