§ 3161. Employment and compensation of employees
(a)
Definition of Temporary Organization.—
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “temporary organization” means a commission, committee, board, or other organization that—
(b)
Employment Authority.—
(1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter
51 of this title, the head of a temporary organization may appoint persons to positions of employment in a temporary organization in such numbers and with such skills as are necessary for the performance of the functions required of a temporary organization.
(c)
Detail Authority.—
Upon the request of the head of a temporary organization, the head of any department or agency of the Government may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of the department or agency to that organization to assist in carrying out its duties.
(d)
Compensation.—
(1)
The rate of basic pay for an employee appointed under subsection (b) shall be established under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management without regard to the provisions of chapter
51 and subchapter
III of chapter
53 of this title.
(2)
The rate of basic pay for the chairman, a member, an executive director, a staff director, or another executive level position of a temporary organization may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay established for the Senior Executive Service under section
5382 of this title.
(3)
Except as provided in paragraph (4), the rate of basic pay for other positions in a temporary organization may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule under section
5332 of this title.
(4)
The rate of basic pay for a senior staff position of a temporary organization may, in a case determined by the head of the temporary organization as exceptional, exceed the maximum rate of basic pay authorized under paragraph (3), but may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay authorized for an executive level position under paragraph (2).
(5)
In this subsection, the term “basic pay” includes locality pay provided for under section
5304 of this title.
(e)
Travel Expenses.—
An employee of a temporary organization, whether employed on a full-time or part-time basis, may be allowed travel and transportation expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter
I of chapter
57 of this title, while traveling away from the employee’s regular place of business in the performance of services for the temporary organization.
(f)
Benefits.—
An employee appointed under subsection (b) shall be afforded the same benefits and entitlements as are provided temporary employees under this title.
(g)
Return Rights.—
An employee serving under a career or career conditional appointment or the equivalent in an agency who transfers to or converts to an appointment in a temporary organization with the consent of the head of the agency is entitled to be returned to the employee’s former position or a position of like seniority, status, and pay without grade or pay retention in the agency if the employee—
(h)
Temporary and Intermittent Services.—
The head of a temporary organization may procure for the organization temporary and intermittent services under section
3109
(b) of this title.
(i)
Acceptance of Volunteer Services.—
(1)
The head of a temporary organization may accept volunteer services appropriate to the duties of the organization without regard to section
1342 of title
31.
(2)
Donors of voluntary services accepted for a temporary organization under this subsection may include the following:
(3)
The head of the temporary organization—
(A)
shall ensure that each person performing voluntary services accepted under this subsection is notified of the scope of the voluntary services accepted;