1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation Act of 2019 or the MERIT Act of 2019 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Termination of authority for chapter 43 performance-based actions. Sec. 3. Adverse actions based on performance or conduct. Sec. 4. Prohibition on grieving adverse actions and reductions in force. Sec. 5. Actions against senior executives for performance or conduct. Sec. 6. Modification of procedures for furlough. Sec. 7. Reduction of annuity of employee convicted of a felony for which an adverse action is or would have been taken. Sec. 8. Authority to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees. Sec. 9. Extension of probationary period for positions within the Senior Executive Service. Sec. 10. Extension of probationary period for employees in the competitive service. Sec. 11. Application. 2. Termination of authority for chapter 43 performance-based actions (a) Repeal Section 4303 of title 5, United States Code, is repealed. (b) Application Subsection (a) shall not apply to any performance-based action under section 4303 of title 5, United States Code, commenced before the effective date provided in section 11. (c) Conforming amendments (1) Title 5 Title 5, United States Code, is amended— (A) in section 2302(e)(1)(A), by striking 3504, and 4303(e) and inserting and 3504 ; (B) in section 4302(c)(6), by striking but only after an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance ; (C) in section 7512, by striking subparagraph (D) and redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; (D) in section 7701(c)(1), by striking decision and all that follows through preponderance of the evidence and inserting decision is supported by a preponderance of the evidence ; (E) in section 9508(d), by striking (1) In applying and all that follows through (2)