112 STAT. 2681-611 PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 cases, matters, and proceedings as if such chapter were continued in effect after April 1, 1999. (c) This section shall take effect on October 1, 1998. SEC. 150. (a) EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT FOR STATE OF MIS- SISSIPPI.— The Secretary of the Interior shall offer to reinstate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service concerning the framework closing dates for the 1979-1980 through 1981-1982 duck hunting seasons, executed in November 1979, for the 1998-1999 duck hunting season in the State of Mississippi, except that— (1) the duck hunting season shall end on January 31, 1999; and (2) the total number of days for the duck hunting season in the State of Mississippi shall not exceed 51 days. (b) EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT TO OTHER STATES.—At the request of any other State represented on the Lower-Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council, the Secretary of the Interior shall extend the agreement described in subsection (a) to that State for the 1998-1999 duck hunting season if the State agrees to reduce the total number of days of the duck hunting season in the State to the extent necessary to result in no net increase in the duck harvest in the State for that season. Federal SEC. 151. FEDERAL VACANCIES AND APPOINTMENTS. Reform Act of (^) SHORT TITLE. — This section may be cited as the "Federal 1998. Vacancies Reform Act of 1998". 5 USC 3301 note. (b) IN GENERAL.— Chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking sections 3345 through 3349 and inserting the following:
- "§ 3345. Acting officer
"(a) If an officer of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the General Accounting Office) whose appointment to office is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office— "(1) the first assistant to the office of such officer shall perform the functions and duties of the office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346; "(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct a person who serves in an office for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346; or "(3) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct an officer or employee of such Executive agency to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity, subject to the time limitations of section 3346, if— "(A) during the 365-day period preceding the date of death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve of
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