§3642. Appointment and compensation; duties

(a) Officers and employees

In accordance with this part, the Commission may appoint, fix the compensation of, and define the authority and duties of officers and employees (other than the Administrator and Deputy Administrator) necessary for the management, operation, and maintenance of the Panama Canal and its complementary works, installations, and equipment.

(b) Eligibility to serve as officer or employee of Commission

Individuals serving in any Executive agency (other than the Commission) or the Smithsonian Institution, including individuals in the uniformed services, may, if appointed under this section or section 3614 of this title, serve as officers or employees of the Commission.

(c) Salary protection

In the case of an individual who is an officer or employee of the Commission on November 17, 1997, and who has not had a break in service with the Commission since that date, the rate of basic pay for that officer or employee may not be less than the rate in effect for that officer or employee on that date except-

(1) as provided in a collective bargaining agreement;

(2) as a result of an adverse action against the officer or employee; or

(3) pursuant to a voluntary demotion.

( Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1202, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 461 ; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXV, §3526, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2861 ; Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXV, §3523(b), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2065 ; Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXV, §3512(a)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2271 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–261, §3512(a)(1)(C), which directed substitution of "that date" for "the day before the date of enactment", was executed by making the substitution for "the day before that date of enactment" before "except" in introductory provisions to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 105–261, §3512(a)(1)(A), (B), in introductory provisions, substituted "November 17, 1997," for "the day before the date of the enactment of the Panama Canal Transition Facilitation Act of 1997" and struck out "on or after that date" after "pay for that officer or employee".

1997-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–85 added subsec. (c).

1996-Pub. L. 104–201 amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(a) In accordance with this part, the Panama Canal Commission may appoint without regard to the provisions of title 5, relating to appointments in the competitive service, fix the compensation of, and define the authority and duties of, officers, agents, attorneys, and employees (other than the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and Chief Engineer) necessary for the management, operation, and maintenance of the Panama Canal and its complementary works, installations, and equipment.

"(b) Individuals serving in any Executive agency (other than the Commission) or the Smithsonian Institution, including individuals serving in the uniformed services, may, if appointed under this section or section 3613 or 3614 of this title, serve as officers or employees of the Commission."