TERMINATION OF CERTAIN SCHEDULE A APPOINTMENTS.

SEC. 7220. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN SCHEDULE A APPOINTMENTS. (a) Termination.—Not later than January 31, 2003, the Secretary of Agriculture shall terminate each appointment listed as an excepted position under schedule A of the General Schedule made by the Secretary to the Federal civil service of an individual who holds dual government appointments, and who carries out agricultural extension work in a program at a college or university eligible to receive funds, under— (1) the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.); (2) section 1444 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221); or (3) section 208(e) of the District of Columbia Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization Act (88 Stat. 1428). (b) Continuation of Certain Federal Benefits.— (1) In general.—Notwithstanding title 5, United States Code, and subject to paragraph (2), an individual described in subsection (a), during the period the individual is employed in an agricultural extension program described in subsection (a) without a break in service, shall continue to— (A) be eligible to participate, to the same extent that the individual was eligible to participate (on the day before the date of enactment of this Act), in— (i)the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program;116 STAT. 452 (ii)the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program; (iii)the Civil Service Retirement System; (iv)the Federal Employee Retirement System; (v)the Thrift Savings Plan; and (vi)the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program; and (B) receive Federal Civil Service employment credit to the same extent that the individual was receiving such credit on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Limitations.—An individual may continue to be eligible for the benefits described in paragraph (1) if— (A) in the case of an individual who remains employed in the agricultural extension program described in subsection (a) on the date of enactment of this Act, the employing college or university continues to fulfill the administrative and financial responsibilities (including making agency contributions) associated with providing those benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (B) in the case of an individual who changes employment to a second college or university described in subsection (a)— (i)the individual continues to work in an agricultural extension program described in subsection (a), as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture; (ii)the second college or university— (I) fulfills the administrative and financial responsibilities (including making agency contributions) associated with providing those benefits, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (II) within 1 year before the date of the employment of the individual, had employed a different individual described in subsection (a) who had performed the same duties of employment; and (iii)the individual was eligible for those benefits on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.