Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN CATCH-UP CONTRIBU-
TIONS.
(a) CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.—Para-
graph (2) of section 8351(b) of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) Notwithstanding any limitation under this para-
graph, an eligible participant (as defined by section 414(v)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may make such
additional contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund as are
permitted by such section 414(v) and regulations of the
Executive Director consistent therewith.’’.
(b) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM.—
(1) PROVISION
APPLICABLE
TO
EMPLOYEES
GENERALLY.—Subsection (a) of section 8432 of title
5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding any limitation under this sub-
section, an eligible participant (as defined by section
414(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may make
such additional contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund
as are permitted by such section 414(v) and regulations
of the Executive Director consistent therewith.’’.
(2) PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN OTHER
INDIVIDUALS.—Section 8440f of title 5, United
States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘The maximum’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(a) The maximum’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) Notwithstanding any limitation under this sec-
tion, an eligible participant (as defined by section 414(v)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may make such
additional contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund as are
permitted by such section 414(v) and regulations of the
Executive Director consistent therewith.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect as of the earliest practicable
date, as determined by the Executive Director (appointed
under section 8474(a) of title 5, United States Code) in
regulations.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF MERIT SYSTEM PROTEC-
TION BOARD AND OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUN-
SEL.
(a) MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD.—Section
8(a)(1) of the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (5
U.S.C. 5509 note) is amended by striking ‘‘1998, 1999,
2000, 2001 and 2002’’ and inserting ‘‘2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, and 2007’’.
(b) OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL.—Section 8(a)(2)
of the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (5 U.S.C.
5509 note) is amended by striking ‘‘1993, 1994, 1995,
1996, and 1997,’’ and inserting ‘‘2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
and 2007’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective
as of October 1, 2002.
SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE OF VIOLATIONS OF LAW; RETURN OF
DOCUMENTS.
Section 1213(g) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the last sen-
tence; and
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(3) If the Special Counsel does not transmit the in-
formation to the head of the agency under paragraph (2),
the Special Counsel shall inform the individual of—
‘‘(A) the reasons why the disclosure may not be
further acted on under this chapter; and
‘‘(B) other offices available for receiving disclo-
sures, should the individual wish to pursue the mat-
ter further.’’.
SEC. 4. CONTINUATION OF HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE
FOR INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN A PLAN AD-
MINISTERED BY THE OVERSEAS PRIVATE IN-
VESTMENT CORPORATION.
(a) ENROLLMENT IN CHAPTER 89 PLAN.—For pur-
poses of the administration of chapter 89 of title 5, United
States Code, any period of enrollment under a health bene-
fits plan administered by the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation before the effective date of this Act shall be
deemed to be a period of enrollment in a health benefits
plan under chapter 89 of such title.
(b) CONTINUED COVERAGE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any individual who, as of
the enrollment eligibility date, is covered by a health
benefits plan administered by the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation may enroll in an approved
health benefits plan described under section 8903 or
8903a of title 5, United States Code—
(A) either as an individual or for self and
family, if such individual is an employee, annu-
itant, or former spouse as defined under section
8901 of such title; and
(B) for coverage effective on and after
such date.
(2) INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTIN-
UED COVERAGE.—An individual who, as of the en-
rollment eligibility date, is entitled to continued cov-
erage under a health benefits plan administered by
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation—
(A) shall be deemed to be entitled to con-
tinued coverage under section 8905a of title 5,
United States Code, for the same period that
would have been permitted under the plan ad-
ministered by the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation; and
(B) may enroll in an approved health bene-
fits plan described under section 8903 or 8903a
of such title in accordance with section 8905a
of such title for coverage effective on and after
such date.
(3) UNMARRIED DEPENDENT CHILDREN.—An
individual who, as of the enrollment eligibility date,
is covered as an unmarried dependent child under a
health benefits plan administered by the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation and who is not a
member of family as defined under section 8901(5)
of title 5, United States Code—
(A) shall be deemed to be entitled to con-
tinued coverage under section 8905a of such
title as though the individual had ceased to
meet the requirements for being considered an
unmarried dependent child under chapter 89 of
such title as of such date; and
(B) may enroll in an approved health bene-
fits plan described under section 8903 or 8903a
of such title in accordance with section 8905a
for continued coverage effective on and after
such date.
(c) TRANSFERS TO THE EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENE-
FITS FUND.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Overseas Private In-
vestment Corporation shall transfer to the Employ-
ees Health Benefits Fund established under section
8909 of title 5, United States Code, amounts deter-
mined by the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management, after consultation with the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation, to be necessary to
reimburse the Fund for the cost of providing bene-
fits under this section not otherwise paid for by the
individuals covered by this section.
(2) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—The amounts
transferred under paragraph (1) shall be held in the
Fund and used by the Office in addition to amounts
available under section 8906(g)(1) of title 5, United
States Code.
(d) ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS.—The Of-
fice of Personnel Management—
(1) shall administer this section to provide
for—
(A) a period of notice and open enrollment
for individuals affected by this section; and
(B) no lapse of health coverage for individ-
uals who enroll in a health benefits plan under
chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, in ac-
cordance with this section; and
(2) may prescribe regulations to implement this
section.
(e) ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY DATE.—For purposes
of this section, the term ‘‘enrollment eligibility date’’
means the last day on which coverage under a health bene-
fits plan administered by the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation is available. Such date shall be determined by
the Office of Personnel Management in consultation with
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
Passed the House of Representatives October 7,
2002.
Attest:
Clerk.