Pub. L. 105-277, div. A, tit. I, sec. 116

Sec. 116. (a) Denver Service Center, Presidio, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area employees who voluntarily resign or retire from the National Park Service on or before December 31, 1998, shall receive, from the National Park Service, a lump sum voluntary separation incentive payment that shall be equal to the lesser of an amount equal to the amount the employee would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c) of title 5, United States Code, 112 STAT. 2681–256if the employee were entitled to payment under such section; or $25,000. (1) The voluntary separation incentive payment— (A) shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be included in the computation of any other type of Government benefit; and (B) shall be paid from appropriations or funds available for the payment of the basic pay of the employee. (2) Employees receiving a voluntary separation incentive payment and accepting employment with the Federal Government within five years of the date of separation shall be required to repay the entire amount of the incentive payment to the National Park Service. (3) The Secretary may, at the request of the head of an Executive branch agency, waive the repayment under paragraph (2) if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. (4) In addition to any other payment which it is required to make under Subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, the National Park Service shall remit to the Office of Personnel Management for deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund an amount equal to 15 percent of the final basic pay of each employee of the National Park Service— (A) who retires under section 8336(d)(2) of Title 5, United States Code; and, (B) to whom a voluntary separation incentive payment has been or is to be paid under the provisions of this section. (b) Employees of Denver Service Center, Presidio, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area entitled to severance pay under 5 U.S.C. 5595, may apply for, and the National Park Service may pay, the total amount of severance pay to the employee in a lump sum. Employees paid severance pay in a lump sum and subsequently reemployed by the Federal Government shall be subject to the repayment provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5595(i)(2) and (3), except that any repayment shall be made to the National Park Service. (c) Employees of the Denver Service Center, Presidio, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area who voluntarily resign on or before December 31, 1998, or who are separated in a reduction in force, shall be liable for not more than the required employee contribution under 5 U.S.C. 8905a(d)(1)(A) if they elect to continue health benefits after separation. The National Park Service shall pay for 12 months the remaining portion of required contributions.