effective date

effective date Sec. 504. (a) The provisions of this title shall take effect on the first day of the first applicable pay period which begins on or after October 1, 1981, except that such provisions may take effect with respect to any category or categories of positions before such day to the extent prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. (b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall include in the first report required under section 5404 of title 5, United States Code (as added by this title), information with respect to the progress and cost of the implementation of the merit pay system and the cash award program established under chapter 54 of such title (as added by this title).