§ 3671. Transferred or reemployed employees
(a)
Terms and conditions of employment
(1)
With respect to any individual employed in the Panama Canal Company or the Canal Zone Government—
(B)
who is separated by reason of a reduction in force on September 30, 1979, and is appointed to a position in the Commission before April 1, 1980;
the terms and conditions of employment set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be generally no less favorable, on or after the date of the transfer referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph or the date of the appointment referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, as the case may be, than the terms and conditions of employment with the Panama Canal Company and Canal Zone Government on September 30, 1979, or, in the case of a transfer described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph which takes place before that date, on the date of the transfer.
(2)
The terms and conditions of employment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection are the following:
(b)
Break in service
Any individual described in subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section who would have met the service requirement for early retirement benefits under section
8336
(i) or
8339
(d)(2) of title
5 (as amended by sections 1241(a) and 1242 of this Act, respectively), but for a break in service of more than 3 days immediately after September 30, 1979, shall be considered to meet that requirement. Any break in service by any such individual for purposes of section 8332 of such title 5 during the period beginning September 30, 1979, and ending on the date of the appointment referred to in such subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section shall be considered a period of creditable service under such section
8332 for such individual, except that such period shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining average pay (as defined in section 8331(4) of such title 5) and no deduction, contribution, or deposit shall be required for that period under section 8334 of such title 5.
(c)
Applicability of sections
903
(c) and
904
(a)(2) of title
20; sabbaticals
(1)
Section
903
(c) of title
20 shall not apply with respect to any teacher who was employed by the Canal Zone Government school system on September 30, 1979, and who was transferred from such position to a teaching position which is under the Department of Defense Overseas Dependent School System and the permanent duty station of which is in the Republic of Panama, until the rates of basic compensation established under section
903
(c) of title
20 equal or exceed the rates of basic compensation then in effect for teachers who were so transferred.
(2)
Section
904
(a)(2) of title
20 shall not apply with respect to any teacher who was employed by the Canal Zone Government school system on September 30, 1979, and who was transferred from such position to a teaching position which is under the Department of Defense Overseas Dependent School System and the permanent duty station of which is in the Republic of Panama.
(3)
(A)
The head of a department or agency of the United States may grant a sabbatical to any teacher to whom paragraph (1) of this subsection applies for not to exceed 11 months in order to permit the teacher to engage in study or uncompensated work experience which is in the United States and which will contribute to the teacher’s development and effectiveness. Basic compensation shall be paid to teachers on sabbatical under this section in the same manner and to the same extent as basic compensation would have been paid to teachers on sabbatical while employed in the Canal Zone Government school system on September 30, 1979. A sabbatical shall not result in a loss of, or reduction in, leave to which the teacher is otherwise entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating. The head of the department or agency may authorize in accordance with chapter
57 of title
5 such travel expenses (including per diem allowance) as the head of the department or agency may determine to be essential for the study or experience.
(C)
(i)
Any teacher in a department or agency of the United States may be granted a sabbatical under this paragraph only if the teacher agrees, as a condition of accepting the sabbatical, to serve in the civil service upon the completion of the sabbatical for a period of two consecutive years.
(ii)
Each agreement required under clause (i) of this subparagraph shall provide that in the event the teacher fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason as determined by the head of the department or agency that granted the sabbatical) the teacher shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses (including salary) of the sabbatical. The amount shall be treated as a debt due the United States.