SUBCHAPTER VI—ASSIGNMENTS TO AND FROM STATES
§3371. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "State" means—
(A) a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and a territory or possession of the United States; and
(B) an instrumentality or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) and a Federal-State authority or instrumentality;
(2) "local government" means—
(A) any political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);
(B) any general or special purpose agency of such a political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority; and
(C) any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (
(3) "Federal agency" means an Executive agency, military department, a court of the United States, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, the Government Publishing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of Technology Assessment, and such other similar agencies of the legislative and judicial branches as determined appropriate by the Office of Personnel Management; and
(4) "other organization" means—
(A) a national, regional, State-wide, area-wide, or metropolitan organization representing member State or local governments;
(B) an association of State or local public officials;
(C) a nonprofit organization which has as one of its principal functions the offering of professional advisory, research, educational, or development services, or related services, to governments or universities concerned with public management; or
(D) a federally funded research and development center.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (2)(C), is
Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in par. (2)(C), is classified to
Amendments
2006—Par. (3).
1994—Par. (4)(D).
1990—Par. (2)(C).
1988—Par. (2)(C).
1978—Par. (1)(A).
Pars. (3), (4).
1975—Par. (2)(C).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (3) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Employee Exchange Program Between Federal Employees and Employees of State and Local Governments
"(a)
"(1) the term 'employing agency' means the Federal, State, or local government agency with which the participating employee was employed before an assignment under the Program;
"(2) the term 'participating employee' means an employee who is participating in the Program; and
"(3) the term 'Program' means the employee exchange program established under subsection (b).
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1) has been employed by that employing agency for a period of more than 3 years;
"(2) has had appropriate training or experience to perform the work required by the assignment;
"(3) has had an overall rating of satisfactory or higher on performance appraisals from the employing agency during the 3-year period before being assigned to another agency under this section; and
"(4) agrees to return to the employing agency after completing the assignment for a period not less than the length of the assignment.
"(e)
Declaration of Purpose
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding
§3372. General provisions
(a) On request from or with the concurrence of a State or local government, and with the consent of the employee concerned, the head of a Federal agency may arrange for the assignment of—
(1) an employee of his agency, other than a noncareer appointee, limited term appointee, or limited emergency appointee (as such terms are defined in
(2) an employee of a State or local government to his agency;
for work of mutual concern to his agency and the State or local government that he determines will be beneficial to both. The period of an assignment under this subchapter may not exceed two years. However, the head of a Federal agency may extend the period of assignment for not more than two additional years. In the case of assignments made to Indian tribes or tribal organizations as defined in section 3371(2)(C) of this subchapter, the head of an executive agency may extend the period of assignment for any period of time where it is determined that this will continue to benefit both the executive agency and the Indian tribe or tribal organization. If the assigned employee fails to complete the period of assignment and there is another employee willing and available to do so, the Secretary may assign the employee to complete the period of assignment and may execute an agreement with the tribal organization with respect to the replacement employee. That agreement may provide for a different period of assignment as may be agreed to by the Secretary and the tribal organization.
(b) This subchapter is authority for and applies to the assignment of—
(1) an employee of a Federal agency to an institution of higher education;
(2) an employee of an institution of higher education to a Federal agency;
(3) an employee of a Federal agency to any other organization; and
(4) an employee of an other organization to a Federal agency.
(c)(1) An employee of a Federal agency may be assigned under this subchapter only if the employee agrees, as a condition of accepting an assignment under this subchapter, to serve in the civil service upon the completion of the assignment for a period equal to the length of the assignment.
(2) Each agreement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall provide that in the event the employee fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason, as determined by the head of the Federal agency from which assigned) the employee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses (excluding salary) of the assignment. The amount shall be treated as a debt due the United States.
(d) Where the employee is assigned to a tribal organization, the employee shall be eligible for promotions, periodic step-increases, and additional step-increases, as defined in
(e) Under regulations prescribed pursuant to
(1) an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to an other organization or an institution of higher education, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, except that the rate of pay of an employee assigned to a federally funded research and development center may not exceed the rate of pay that such employee would be paid for continued service in the position in the Federal agency from which assigned; and
(2) an assignment of an employee of an other organization or an institution of higher education to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (e).
1993—Subsec. (d).
1988—Subsecs. (a), (d).
1983—Subsec. (a).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
1975—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3373. Assignment of employees to State or local governments
(a) An employee of a Federal agency assigned to a State or local government under this subchapter is deemed, during the assignment, to be either—
(1) on detail to a regular work assignment in his agency; or
(2) on leave without pay from his position in the agency.
An employee assigned either on detail or on leave without pay remains an employee of his agency. The Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal tort liability statute apply to an employee so assigned. The supervision of the duties of an employee on detail may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned.
(b) The assignment of an employee of a Federal agency either on detail or on leave without pay to a State or local government under this subchapter may be made with or without reimbursement by the State or local government for the travel and transportation expenses to or from the place of assignment and for the pay, or supplemental pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during assignment. Any reimbursements shall be credited to the appropriation of the Federal agency used for paying the travel and transportation expenses or pay.
(c) For any employee so assigned and on leave without pay—
(1) if the rate of pay for his employment by the State or local government is less than the rate of pay he would have received had he continued in his regular assignment in the agency, he is entitled to receive supplemental pay from the agency in an amount equal to the difference between the State or local government rate and the agency rate;
(2) he is entitled to annual and sick leave to the same extent as if he had continued in his regular assignment in the agency; and
(3) he is entitled, notwithstanding other statutes—
(A) to continuation of his insurance under
(B) to credit the period of his assignment under this subchapter toward periodic step-increases, retention, and leave accrual purposes, and, on payment into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or other applicable retirement system of the percentage of his State or local government pay, and of his supplemental pay, if any, that would have been deducted from a like agency pay for the period of the assignment and payment by the Federal agency into the fund or system of the amount that would have been payable by the agency during the period of the assignment with respect to a like agency pay, to treat his service during that period as service of the type performed in the agency immediately before his assignment; and
(C) for the purpose of subchapter I of
However, an employee or his beneficiary may not receive benefits referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3), based on service during an assignment under this subchapter for which the employee or, if he dies without making such an election, his beneficiary elects to receive benefits, under any State or local government retirement or insurance law or program, which the Office of Personnel Management determines to be similar. The Federal agency shall deposit currently in the Employee's Life Insurance Fund, the Employee's Health Benefits Fund or other applicable health benefits system, respectively, the amount of the Government's contributions on account of service with respect to which employee contributions are collected as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3).
(d)(1) An employee so assigned and on leave without pay who dies or suffers disability as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during an assignment under this subchapter shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of
(2) An employee who elects to receive benefits from a State or local government may not receive an annuity under subchapter III of
(A) bar the right of a claimant to the greater benefit conferred by either the State or local government or subchapter III of
(B) deny to an employee an annuity accruing to him under subchapter III of
(C) deny any concurrent benefit to him from the State or local government on account of the death of another individual.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Amendments
1992—
1978—Subsecs. (a), (b).
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3374. Assignments of employees from State or local governments
(a) An employee of a State or local government who is assigned to a Federal agency under an arrangement under this subchapter may—
(1) be appointed in the Federal agency without regard to the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service for the agreed period of the assignment; or
(2) be deemed on detail to the Federal agency.
(b) An employee given an appointment is entitled to pay in accordance with
(1) subchapter III of
(2)
(3)
The above exceptions shall not apply to non-Federal employees who are covered by chapters 83, 87, and 89 of this title by virtue of their non-Federal employment immediately before assignment and appointment under this section.
(c) During the period of assignment, a State or local government employee on detail to a Federal agency—
(1) is not entitled to pay from the agency, except to the extent that the pay received from the State or local government is less than the appropriate rate of pay which the duties would warrant under the applicable pay provisions of this title or other applicable authority;
(2) is deemed an employee of the agency for the purpose of
(3) is subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.
The supervision of the duties of such an employee may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned. A detail of a State or local government employee to a Federal agency may be made with or without reimbursement by the Federal agency for the pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during the period of assignment, or for the contribution of the State or local government, or a part thereof, to employee benefit systems.
(d) A State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency for the period of the assignment or who is on detail to a Federal agency and who suffers disability or dies as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during the assignment shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of
(e) If a State or local government fails to continue the employer's contribution to State or local government retirement, life insurance, and health benefit plans for a State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency, the employer's contributions covering the State or local government employee's period of assignment, or any part thereof, may be made from the appropriations of the Federal agency concerned.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (c)(2).
2011—Subsec. (c)(2).
2001—Subsec. (c)(2).
1982—Subsec. (c)(2).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3375. Travel expenses
(a) Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay, or reimburse, a Federal or State or local government employee in accordance with—
(1) subchapter I of
(A) travel, including a per diem allowance, to and from the assignment location;
(B) a per diem allowance at the assignment location during the period of the assignment; and
(C) travel, including a per diem allowance, while traveling on official business away from his designated post of duty during the assignment when the head of the Federal agency considers the travel in the interest of the United States;
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(b) Expenses specified in subsection (a) of this section, other than those in paragraph (1)(C), may not be allowed in connection with the assignment of a Federal or State or local government employee under this subchapter, unless and until the employee agrees in writing to complete the entire period of his assignment or one year, whichever is shorter, unless separated or reassigned for reasons beyond his control that are acceptable to the Federal agency concerned. If the employee violates the agreement, the money spent by the United States for these expenses is recoverable from the employee as a debt due the United States. The head of the Federal agency concerned may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery under this subsection with respect to a State or local government employee on assignment with the agency.
(c) Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay expenses under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3376. Regulations
The President may prescribe regulations for the administration of this subchapter.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 11589. Delegation of Functions to Office of Personnel Management
Ex. Ord. No. 11589, Apr. 1, 1971, 36 F.R. 6343, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
(a) The authority of the President under
(b) The authority of the President under section 205 (a)(4) of the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, as amended ([former]