In subsection (a), the authority of the President to prescribe rules is added on authority of former section 633(1), which is carried into section 3302. The words “competitive service” are substituted for “public service” since the requirements do not apply to the excepted or uniformed service.

In subsection (b), the words “That after the expiration of six months from the passage of this act” are omitted as executed. The words “in the competitive service” are substituted for “in either of the said classes now existing, or that may be arranged hereunder pursuant to said rules” because of the definition of “competitive service” in section 2102. In the second sentence, the words “the provisions of this title governing the competitive service” are substituted for “this act”.

In subsection (c), the provisions of former section 631b(b) and (c) are combined and restated for clarity. The words “From and after the effective date of this Act” and “From and after the date of approval of this Act” are omitted as executed. The words “competitive service” are substituted for “classified civil service” in view of the definition of “competitive service” in section 2102. The words “or as a clerical employee of the Senate or House of Representatives” are omitted as included in the reference to “an individual . . . in the legislative branch in a position in which he was paid by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives”. The words “and nothing in this Act shall be construed to impair any right of retransfer provided for under civil service laws or regulations made thereunder” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (d), the word “Employees” is substituted for “collector, postmaster, and other officers of the United States”.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

The date of enactment of the Chance to Compete Act of 2024, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2), (3)(A), (4)(A), (B) and (d)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 118–188, which was approved Dec. 23, 2024.

2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(C), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(B), (2)(E)(i), redesignated subsec. (a) as (b) and inserted heading. Former subsec. (b) redesignated (h).

Subsecs. (c) to (g). Pub. L. 118–188, § 3, added subsecs. (c) to (g). Former subsecs. (c) to (g) redesignated (i) to (m), respectively.

Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(A), (2)(E)(ii), (iii), redesignated subsecs. (b) and (c) as (h) and (i), respectively, and inserted headings.

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(A), (2)(E)(iv), redesignated subsec. (d) as (j), inserted heading, and substituted “The office” for “The Office”.

Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(A), (2)(E)(v), (vi), redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (k) and (l), respectively, and inserted headings.

Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(a)(1)(A), redesignated subsec. (g) as (m).

2022—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–263 added subsec. (g).

2017—Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–46 inserted “(or, with respect to the Department of Veterans Affairs, that there exists a severe shortage of highly qualified candidates)” after “severe shortage of candidates”.

2009—Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 111–84 amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows:

“(i) the Office of Personnel Management has determined that there exists a severe shortage of candidates or there is a critical hiring need; or

“(ii) the candidate is a participant in the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Defense Education Program under section 2192a of title 10, United States Code.”

2006—Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “Defense Education Program” for “Scholarship Pilot Program” and “section 2192a of title 10, United States Code.” for “section 1105 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.”

2004—Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 108–375 added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “the Office of Personnel Management has determined that there exists a severe shortage of candidates or there is a critical hiring need.”

2002—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–296 added par. (3).

1999—Subsec. (f)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106–117, § 511(c)(2), (3), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 106–117, § 511(c)(1), (2), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “The Office of Personnel Management shall establish an appointing authority to appoint such preference eligibles and veterans.”

Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 106–117, § 511(c)(4), added par. (5).

1998—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–339 added subsec. (f).

1996—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “Chief Administrative Officer” for “Clerk”.

1995—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–65, § 16(a), (b), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which read as follows: “Notwithstanding a contrary provision of this title or of the rules and regulations prescribed under this title for the administration of the competitive service, an individual who served—

“(1) for at least 3 years in the legislative branch in a position in which he was paid by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives; or

“(2) for at least 4 years as a secretary or law clerk, or both, to a justice or judge of the United States;

acquires a competitive status for transfer to the competitive service if he is involuntarily separated without prejudice from the legislative or judicial branch, passes a suitable noncompetitive examination, and transfers to the competitive service within 1 year of the separation from the legislative or judicial branch. For the purpose of this subsection, an individual who has served for at least 2 years in a position in the legislative branch described by paragraph (1) of this subsection and who is separated from that position to enter the armed forces is deemed to have held that position during his service in the armed forces.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–65, § 17(a), which directed amendment of this section by adding subsec. (d) at the end thereof, was executed by adding subsec. (d) after subsec. (c) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 104–65, § 16(b), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c).

1986—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 99–586 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).

1978—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “the Office of Personnel Management” for “a Civil Service Commission board of examiners”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.

Pub. L. 106–117, title V, § 511(d)(2), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1576, provided that: “If pursuant to subsection (a) [113 Stat. 1575] the amendments specified in subsection (c) [amending this section] are made, those amendments shall take effect as of October 31, 1998, as if included in subsection (f) [now (l)] of section 3304 of title 5, United States Code, as enacted by section 2 of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–339; 112 Stat. 3182).”

Pub. L. 104–65, § 16(c), Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 703, provided that: “The repeal and amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1995].”

Pub. L. 104–65, § 17(b), Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 703, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1995], except the Office of Personnel Management shall—

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Pub. L. 118–188, § 5, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2649, provided that:

[For definitions of terms used in section 5 of Pub. L. 118–188, set out above, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 118–188, set out below.]

Pub. L. 118–188, § 7, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2651, provided that:

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XI, § 1139, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2470, provided that: “The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall permit an agency with delegated examining authority under [section] 1104(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code, to use direct-hire authority under section 3304(a)(3) [now 3304(b)(3)] of such title for a permanent or non-permanent position or group of positions in the competitive services at GS–15 (or equivalent) and below, or for prevailing rate employees, if the Director determines that there is either a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for such positions.”

Pub. L. 118–188, § 2(b), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2646, provided that: “In this Act [see sections 5 and 7 of Pub. L. 118–188, set out as notes above]—