(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—
(A)
completed a rigorous undergraduate or graduate summer internship with the Secretary (as so defined), such as the National Park Service Business Plan Internship;
(C)
subsequently earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
(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.
(Pub. L. 112–74, div. E, title I, § 121(a), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1012; Pub. L. 116–9, title IX, § 9003(d)(2), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 834.)