Trial period in excepted service

(a) In general Subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3321 the following (and conforming the table of contents of such subchapter accordingly): 3321a. Excepted service; trial period (a) (1) Except as otherwise specified in law or provided in paragraph (2), an employee appointed to a position in the excepted service shall serve a 2-year trial period. (2) A preference eligible appointed to a position in the excepted service shall serve a 1-year trial period. (b) An employee serving under a trial period pursuant to subsection (a) and who is transferred, promoted, demoted, or reassigned to any other excepted service position before the end of such trial period shall complete the remainder of such trial period in the new position. (c) An individual who separates from the civil service for a period of more than 30 days after completing a trial period under this section and who is reappointed to an excepted service position shall complete a new trial period unless such individual is appointed to the same or a substantially similar position in the same agency the employee held immediately before separation. (d) This section shall not apply to any agency or employee described in section 3321(c)(6)(B).. (b) Effective date This section and the amendments made by this section— (1) shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) shall apply to any individual appointed to a position in the excepted service on or after the effective date in paragraph (1) of this subsection.