LIMITED APPOINTMENTS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

SEC. 409. LIMITED APPOINTMENTS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE. Section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3949), is amended—(1) in subsection (a) by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsections (b) and (c)”;(2) in subsection (b)—(A) in paragraph (3)—(i) by striking “if continued service” and inserting the following: “if—“(A) continued service”;(ii) in such subparagraph (A) (as so inserted and designated by clause (i) of this subparagraph), by inserting “or” after the semicolon at the end; and(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:“(B) the individual is serving in the uniformed services (as defined in section 4303 of title 38, United States Code) and the limited appointment expires in the course of such service;”;(B) in paragraph (4), by striking “and” at the end;(C) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(6) in exceptional circumstances if the Secretary determines the needs of the Service require the extension of—“(A) a limited noncareer appointment for a period not to exceed 1 year; or130 STAT. 1931“(B) a limited appointment of a career candidate for the minimum time needed to resolve a grievance, claim, investigation, or complaint not otherwise provided for in this section.”; and(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) noncareer employees who have served for 5 consecutive years under a limited appointment under this section may be reappointed to a subsequent noncareer limited appointment if there is at least a 1-year break in service before such new appointment.“(2) The Secretary may waive the 1-year break requirement under paragraph (1) in cases of special need.”.