### §7292. Effect on personnel

#### (a) Full-time and part-time personnel holding permanent positions

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the transfer pursuant to this subchapter of full-time personnel (except special Government employees) and part-time personnel holding permanent positions pursuant to this subchapter shall not cause any such employee to be separated or reduced in grade or compensation for one year after August 4, 1977, except that full-time temporary personnel employed at the Energy Research Centers of the Energy Research and Development Administration upon the establishment of the Department who are determined by the Department to be performing continuing functions may at the employee's option be converted to permanent full-time status within one hundred and twenty days following their transfer to the Department. The employment levels of full-time permanent personnel authorized for the Department by other law or administrative action shall be increased by the number of employees who exercise the option to be so converted.

#### (b) Person who held position compensated in accordance with chapter 53 of title 5

Any person who, on October 1, 1977, held a position compensated in accordance with the Executive Schedule prescribed in chapter 53 of title 5, and who, without a break in service, is appointed in the Department to a position having duties comparable to those performed immediately preceding his appointment shall continue to be compensated in his new position at not less than the rate provided for his previous position, for the duration of his service in the new position.

#### (c) Employees holding reemployment rights acquired under section 786 of title 15

Employees transferred to the Department holding reemployment rights acquired under section 786 of title 15 1 or any other provision of law or regulation may exercise such rights only within one hundred twenty days from October 1, 1977, or within two years of acquiring such rights, whichever is later. Reemployment rights may only be exercised at the request of the employee.

(Pub. L. 95–91, title VII, §702, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 605.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 95–91, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 565, known as the Department of Energy Organization Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 7101 of this title and Tables.

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original "this title" meaning title VII of Pub. L. 95–91, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 605, which enacted this subchapter and section 916 of Title 7, Agriculture, amended sections 6833 and 6839 of this title, section 19 of Title 3, The President, sections 101, 5108, and 5312 to 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, section 1701z–8 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and sections 766, 790a, and 790d of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, repealed sections 2036 and 5818 of this title and sections 763, 768 and 786 of Title 15, enacted provisions set out as a note under 2201 of this title, and repealed provisions set out as a note under section 761 of Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 7101 of this title and Tables.

Section 786 of title 15, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by Pub. L. 95–91, title VII, §709(a)(1), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 607.

#### **Executive Documents**

#### Ex. Ord. No. 12026. Reinstatement Rights of Certain Employees of Department of Energy

Ex. Ord. No. 12026, Dec. 5, 1977, 42 F.R. 61849, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by Sections 3301 and 3302 of Title 5 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States of America, the service of an employee of the Atomic Energy Commission or of the Energy Research and Development Administration pursuant to a Regular or Regular (Conditional) appointment, other than such service in an attorney position, who was transferred to the Department of Energy pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act (91 Stat. 565; 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) shall be considered as Career or Career-Conditional service, respectively, for purposes of eligibility for reinstatement in the competitive Civil Service.

Jimmy Carter.

1 See References in Text note below.