PUBLIC LAW 106-117—NOV. 30, 1999 113 STAT. 1595 "(6) Judges who have the same seniority in commission shall be eligible for service as chief judge in accordance with their relative precedence.". (b) INELIGIBILITY OF JUDGES ON TEMPORARY SERVICE. —^A person serving as a judge of the Court under section 1011 may not serve as chief judge of the Court. SEC. 1033. SALARY. Subsection (e) of section 7253 is amended to read as follows: "(e) SALARY.— Each judge of the Court shall receive a salary at the same rate as is received by judges of the United States district courts.". SEC. 1034. PRECEDENCE OF JUDGES. Subsection (d) of section 7254 is amended to read as follows: "(d) PRECEDENCE OF JUDGES. —The chief judge of the Court shall have precedence and preside at any session that the chief judge attends. The other judges shall have precedence and preside according to the seniority of their original commissions. Judges whose commissions beeir the same date shall have precedence according to seniority in age.". SEC. 1035. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. Chapter 72 is amended as follows: (1) Section 7281(g) is amended to read as follows: "(g) The chief judge of the Court may exercise the authority of the Court under this section whenever there are not at least two other judges of the Court.". (2) Sections 7296(a)(2) and 7297(a)(2) are amended by striking "the chief judge or an associate judge" and inserting "a judge". SEC. 1036. APPLICABILITY OF AMENDMENTS. (a) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) SAVINGS PROVISION FOR INCUMBENT CHIEF JUDGE. —The amendments made by this subtitle shall not apply while the individual who is chief judge of the Court on the date of the enactment of this Act continues to serve as chief judge. If that individual, upon termination of service as chief judge, provides notice under section 7257 of title 38, United States Code, of availability for service in a recalled status, the rate of pary applicable to that individual under section 7296(c)(1)(A) of such title while serving in a recalled status shall be at the rate of pay applicable to that individual at the time of retirement, if greater than the rate otherwise applicable under that section. 38 USC 7296 note. 38 USC 7253 note. TITLE XI—VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Department of Vetersuis Affairs Emplo3mient Reduction Assistance Act of 1999". Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Reduction Assistance Act of 1999. 5 USC 5597 note.
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