§ 450i. Retention of Federal employee coverage, rights and benefits by employees of tribal organizations
(e)
Eligible employees; Federal employee programs subject to retention
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections
8347
(o),
8713, and
8914 of title
5, executive order, or administrative regulation, an employee serving under an appointment not limited to one year or less who leaves Federal employment to be employed by a tribal organization, the city of St. Paul, Alaska, the city of St. George, Alaska, upon incorporation, or the Village Corporations of St. Paul and St. George Islands established pursuant to section
1607 of title
43, in connection with governmental or other activities which are or have been performed by employees in or for Indian communities is entitled, if the employee and the tribal organization so elect, to the following:
(1)
To retain coverage, rights, and benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 (“Compensation for Work Injuries”) of title 5, and for this purpose his employment with the tribal organization shall be deemed employment by the United States. However, if an injured employee, or his dependents in case of his death, receives from the tribal organization any payment (including an allowance, gratuity, payment under an insurance policy for which the premium is wholly paid by the tribal organization, or other benefit of any kind) on account of the same injury or death, the amount of that payment shall be credited against any benefit payable under subchapter
I of chapter
81 of title
5, as follows:
(2)
To retain coverage, rights, and benefits under chapter 83 (“Retirement”) or chapter 84 (“Federal Employees Retirement System”) of title 5, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the tribal organization are currently deposited in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (section
8348 of title
5); and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed creditable service under section
8332 of title
5. Days of unused sick leave to the credit of an employee under a formal leave system at the time the employee leaves Federal employment to be employed by a tribal organization remain to his credit for retirement purposes during covered service with the tribal organization.
(3)
To retain coverage, rights, and benefits under chapter 89 (“Health Insurance”) of title 5, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the tribal organization are currently deposited in the Employee’s Health Benefit Fund (section
8909 of title
5); and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed service as an employee under chapter
89 of title
5.
(4)
To retain coverage, rights, and benefits under chapter 87 (“Life Insurance”) of title 5, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the tribal organizations are currently deposited in the Employee’s Life Insurance Fund (section
8714 of title
5); and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed service as an employee under chapter
87 of title
5.
(f)
Deposit by tribal organization of employee deductions and agency contributions in appropriate funds
During the period an employee is entitled to the coverage, rights, and benefits pursuant to the preceding subsection, the tribal organization employing such employee shall deposit currently in the appropriate funds the employee deductions and agency contributions required by paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of such preceding subsection.
(g)
Election for retention by employee and tribal organization before date of employment by tribal organization; transfer of employee to another tribal organization
An employee who is employed by a tribal organization under subsection (e) of this section and such tribal organization shall make the election to retain the coverages, rights, and benefits in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of such subsection (e) before the date of his employment by a tribal organization. An employee who is employed by a tribal organization under subsection (e) of this section shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of such subsection if he is employed by another tribal organization to perform service in activities of the type described in such subsection.
(i)
Promulgation of implementation regulations by President
The President may prescribe regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) of this section and to protect and assure the compensation, retirement, insurance, leave, reemployment rights, and such other similar civil service employment rights as he finds appropriate.
(j)
Additional employee employment rights
(1)
an officer or employee of the United States assigned to a tribal organization (as defined in section
450b
(l) of this title) or an inter-tribal consortium (as defined in section
458aaa of this title), as authorized under section
3372 of title
5 or section
48 of this title may act as agent or attorney for, and appear on behalf of, such tribal organization or inter-tribal consortium in connection with any matter related to a tribal governmental activity or Federal Indian program or service pending before any department, agency, court, or commission, including any matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest: Provided, That such officer or employee must advise in writing the head of the department, agency, court, or commission with which the officer or employee is dealing or appearing on behalf of the tribal organization or inter-tribal consortium of any personal and substantial involvement with the matter involved; and
(2)
a former officer or employee of the United States who is carrying out official duties as an employee or as an elected or appointed official of a tribal organization (as defined in section
450b
(l) of this title) or inter-tribal consortium (as defined in section
458aaa of this title) may act as agent or attorney for, and appear on behalf of, such tribal organization or intra-tribal consortium in connection with any matter related to a tribal governmental activity or Federal Indian program or service pending before any department, agency, court, or commission, including any matter in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest: Provided, That such former officer or employee must advise in writing the head of the department, agency, court, or commission with which the former officer or employee is dealing or appearing on behalf of the tribal organization or inter-tribal consortium of any personal and substantial involvement that he or she may have had as an officer or employee of the United States in connection with the matter involved.
(m)
Conversion to career appointment
The status of an Indian (as defined in section
479 of this title) appointed (except temporary appointments) to the Federal service under an excepted appointment under the authority of section
472 of this title, or any other provision of law granting a preference to Indians in personnel actions, shall be converted to a career appointment in the competitive service after three years of continuous service and satisfactory performance. The conversion shall not alter the Indian’s eligibility for preference in personnel actions.