Eligibility of former officers to compete for certain positions

(a) In general The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 269B the following new section: 269C. Eligibility of former officers to compete for certain positions (a) In general An individual who was separated from the commissioned officer corps of the Administration under honorable conditions after not fewer than 3 years of active service may not be denied the opportunity to compete for a vacant position with respect to which the agency in which the position is located will accept applications from individuals outside the workforce of that agency under merit promotion procedures. (b) Type of appointment If selected for a position pursuant to subsection (a), an individual described in that subsection shall receive a career or career-conditional appointment, as appropriate. (c) Announcements The area of consideration for a merit promotion announcement with respect to a position that includes consideration of individuals within the Federal service for that position shall— (1) indicate that individuals described in subsection (a) are eligible to apply for the position; and (2) be publicized in accordance with section 3327 of title 5, United States Code. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to confer an entitlement to veterans’ preference that is not otherwise required by any statute or regulation relating to veterans’ preference. (e) Regulations The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section. (f) Reporting requirement Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Natural Resources and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report which includes the following: (1) A description of how the Administrator has utilized the authority granted under this section, including the number and locations of individuals hired utilizing the authority granted under this section. (2) An overview of the impact to Federal employment for former members of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration as a result of the authority granted under this section. (g) Sunset This section shall be repealed on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1 of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 269B the following new item: Sec.269C.Eligibility of former officers to compete for certain positions..