PUBLIC LAW 101-510—NOV. 5, 1990 104 STAT. 1659 students to attend courses of instruction, funding to conduct the courses, and funding to pay instructor salaries, (b) IMPLEMENTATION. — Not later than October 1, 1991, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, shall prescribe and submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an implementation plan, including a charter, for the defense acquisition university structure. Not later than August 1, 1992, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out the implementation plan. SEC. 1206. ACQUISITION WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENTS (a) DEGREE TRAINING. —Section 4107 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c), by striking "This" and inserting "Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, this"; and (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: "(d)(1) The regulations prescribed under section 4118 of this title shall include provisions under which the head of an agency may provide training, or payment or reimbursement for the costs of any training, not otherwise allowable under subsection (c) of this section, if necessary to assist in the recruitment or retention of employees in occupations in which the Government has or anticipates a shortage of qualified personnel, especially in occupations involving critical skills (as defined under such regulations). "(2) In exercising any authority under this subsection, an agency shall, consistent with the merit system principles set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2301(b) of this title, take into consideration the need to maintain a balanced workforce in which women and members of racial and ethnic minority groups are appropriately represented in Government service. "(3) No authority under this subsection may be exercised on behalf of any employee occupying or seeking to qualify for appointment to any position which is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.". Q)) REPAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS. —(1) Subchapter VII of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: "§ 5379. Student loan repayments "(a)(1) For the purpose of this section— "(A) the term 'agency' means an agency under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 4101(1) of this title; and "(B) the term 'student loan' means— "(i) a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; "(ii) a loan made under part E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and "(iii) a health education assistance loan made or insured under part C of title VII of Public Health Service Act or under part B of title VIII of such Act. "(2) An employee shall be ineligible for benefits under this section if such employee occupies a position which— "(A) is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy- advocating character; or "(B) is not subject to subchapter III of this chapter. ' ^
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