; or (2) occupies a position with a rate of basic pay equal to or higher than the rate of basic pay for GS–13 of the General Schedule. (d) Limitation on all employees An employee of the Department not covered by subsection (b) or (c) may spend no more than 50 percent of the time such employee would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. (e) Official time defined For purposes of this section, the term official time has the meaning given that term in section 741(c). 743. Termination of collection of dues Any exclusive bargaining agreement entered into pursuant to chapter 71 of title 5 by the Department shall provide that an employee of the Department may terminate a voluntary allotment for the payment of dues at any time. Any deductions for dues made pursuant to such allotment shall cease beginning on the first pay period after the termination is made. . (b) Applicability Sections 743 and 742 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to any collective bargaining agreement entered into after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: Subchapter III—Labor management 741. Records on use of official time. 742. Prohibition on use of official time for certain purposes. 743. Termination of collection of dues. . 3. Required probationary period for new employees of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Probationary period (1) In general Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 717 the following new section: 719. Probationary period for employees (a) In general Notwithstanding sections 3321 and 3393(d) of title 5, the appointment of a covered employee shall become final only after such employee has served a probationary period of 18 months. (b) Covered employee In this section, the term covered employee — (1) means any individual— (A) appointed to a permanent position within the competitive service at the