Pub. L. 93-508, tit. IV, sec. 403

Sec. 403. (a) Chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: “§ 2014. Employment within the Federal Government “(a) It is the policy of the United States and the purpose of this section to promote the maximum of employment and job advancement opportunities within the Federal Government for qualified disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. “(b) To further this policy, veterans of the Vietnam era shall be eligible, in accordance with regulations which the Civil Service Commission shall prescribe, for veterans readjustment appointments up to and including the level GS-5, as specified in subchapter II of chapter 51 of title 5, and subsequent career-conditional appointments, under the terms and conditions specified in Executive Order Numbered 11521 (March 26, 1970), except that in applying the one-year period of eligibility specified in section 2(a) of such order to a veteran or disabled veteran who enrolls, within one year following separation from the Armed Forces or following release from hospitalization or treatment immediately following separation from the Armed Forces, in a program of education (as defined in section 1652 of this title) on more than a half-time basis (as defined in section 1788 of this title), the time spent in such program of education (including customary periods of vacation and permissible absences) shall not be counted. The eligibility of such a veteran for a readjustment appointment shall continue for not less than six months after such veteran first ceases to be enrolled therein on more than a half-time basis. No veterans readjustment appointment may be made under authority of this subsection after June 30, 1978. 88 Stat. 1594 “(c) Each department, agency, and instrumentality in the executive branch shall include in its affirmative action plan for the hiring, placement, and advancement of handicapped individuals in such department, agency, or instrumentality as required by section 501(b) of Public Law 93–112 (87 Stat. 391), a separate specification of plans (in accordance with regulations which the Civil Service Commission shall prescribe in consultation with the Administrator, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, consistent with the purposes, provisions, and priorities of such Act) to promote and carry out such affirmative action with respect to disabled veterans in order to achieve the purpose of this section. “(d) The Civil Service Commission shall be responsible for the review and evaluation of the implementation of this section and the activities of each such department, agency, and instrumentality to carry out the purpose and provisions of this section. The Commission shall periodically obtain and publish (on at least a semiannual basis) reports on such implementation and activities from each such department, agency, and instrumentality, including specification of the use and extent of appointments made under subsection (b) of this section and the results of the plans required under subsection (c) thereof. “(e) The Civil Service Commission shall submit to the Congress annually a report on activities carried out under this section, except that, with respect to subsection (c) of this section, the Commission may include a report of such activities separately in the report required to be submitted by section 501(d) of such Public Law 93–112, regarding the employment of handicapped individuals by each department, agency, and instrumentality. “(f) Notwithstanding section 2011 of this title, the terms ‘veteran’ and ‘disabled veteran’ as used in this section shall have the meaning provided for under generally applicable civil service law and regulations.”. (b) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end thereof “2014. Employment within the Federal Government.”.