§211. Participation in Thrift Savings Plan

(a) Definition.-In this section, the term "member" means-

(1) a member of the uniformed services serving on active duty; and

(2) a member of the Ready Reserve in any pay status.

(b) Authority.-Any member may participate in the Thrift Savings Plan in accordance with section 8440e of title 5.

(c) Rule of Construction Regarding Separation.-For purposes of subchapters III and VII of chapter 84 of title 5, each of the following actions shall, in the case of a member participating in the Thrift Savings Plan in accordance with section 8440e of such title, be considered a separation from Government employment:

(1) Release of the member from active duty, not followed, before the end of the 31-day period beginning on the day following the effective date of the release, by-

(A) a resumption of active duty; or

(B) an appointment to a position covered by chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or an equivalent retirement system, as identified by the Executive Director (appointed by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board) in regulations.

(2) Transfer of the member to inactive status, or to a retired list pursuant to any provision of title 10.

(d) Agency Contributions for Retention in Critical Specialties.-(1) The Secretary concerned may enter into an agreement with a member to make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund for the benefit of the member if the member-

(A) is in a specialty designated by the Secretary as critical to meet requirements (whether such specialty is designated as critical to meet wartime or peacetime requirements); and

(B) commits in such agreement to continue to serve on active duty in that specialty for a period of 6 years.

(2) Under any agreement entered into with a member under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make contributions to the Fund for the benefit of the member for each pay period of the 6-year period of the agreement for which the member makes a contribution to the Fund under section 8440e of title 5 (other than under subsection (d)(2) thereof). Paragraph (2) of section 8432(c) of title 5 applies to the Secretary's obligation to make contributions under this paragraph, except that the reference in such paragraph (2) to contributions under paragraph (1) of such section 8432(c) does not apply.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, §§661(a)(1)(A), 662, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 670 , 672.)

Amendments

1999-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–65, §662, added subsec. (d).

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 106–65 effective 180 days after Oct. 30, 2000, unless postponed, see section 663 of Pub. L. 106–65, as amended, set out as a note under section 8440e of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in title 5 sections 8432b, 8440e.