16 U.S.C. § 1725a - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 16. Conservation § 1725a. Direct hire authority

(1) During fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, the Secretary (as defined in section 1722 of this title) may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of Title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of such title, a qualified candidate described in paragraph (2) directly to a position for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies with respect to a former resource assistant (as defined in section 1722 of this title) who--

(3) The direct hire authority under this section may not be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date on which the candidate completed the undergraduate or graduate degree, as the case may be.