§ 7237. Priority placement, job placement, retraining, and counseling programs for United States Department of Energy employees affected by reduction in force

• (a)
  • (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “agency” means the United States Department of Energy.
  • (2) For the purposes of this section, the term “eligible employee” means any employee of the agency who—
    • (A) is scheduled to be separated from service due to a reduction in force under—
      • (i) regulations prescribed under section 3502 of title 5 ; or
      • (ii) procedures established under section 3595 of title 5 ; or
    • (B) is separated from service due to such a reduction in force, but does not include—
      • (i) an employee separated from service for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; or
      • (ii) an employee who, at the time of separation, meets the age and service requirements for an immediate annuity under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5.
• (b) Not later than 30 days after September 30, 1996 , the United States Department of Energy shall establish an agency-wide priority placement and retraining program for eligible employees.
• (c) The priority placement program established under subsection (b) shall include provisions under which a vacant position shall not be filled by the appointment or transfer of any individual from outside of the agency if—
  • (1) there is then available any eligible employee who applies for the position within 30 days of the agency issuing a job announcement and is qualified (or can be trained or retrained to become qualified within 90 days of assuming the position) for the position; and
  • (2) the position is within the same commuting area as the eligible employee’s last-held position or residence.
• (d) The head of the agency may establish a program to provide job placement and counseling services to eligible employees. A program established under subsection (d) may include, but is not limited to, such services as—
  • (1) career and personal counseling;
  • (2) training and job search skills; and
  • (3) job placement assistance, including assistance provided through cooperative arrangements with State and local employment services offices.