((a)) ** Diverse payments** The Office is authorized to make grants to State and general local governments to support programs approved by the Office for providing Government Service Fellowships for State and local government personnel. The grants may cover—

((1)) the necessary costs of the fellowship recipient’s books, travel, and transportation, and such related expenses as may be authorized by the Office;

((2)) reimbursement to the State or local government for not to exceed one-fourth of the salary of each fellow during the period of the fellowship; and

((3)) payment to the educational institutions involved of such amounts as the Office determines to be consistent with prevailing practices under comparable federally supported programs for each fellow, less any amount charged the fellow for tuition and nonrefundable fees and deposits.

((b)) ** Period of fellowships; eligibility criteria** Fellowships awarded under this section may not exceed two years of full-time graduate-level study for professional, administrative, and technical employees. The regulations of the Office shall include eligibility criteria for the selection of fellowship recipients by State and local governments.

((c)) ** Selection of fellows; continuation of salary and employment benefits; public service plans upon completion of study: outline of plans in application for grant** The State or local government concerned shall—

((1)) select the individual recipients of the fellowships;

((2)) during the period of the fellowship, continue the full salary of the recipient and normal employment benefits such as credit for seniority, leave accrual, retirement, and insurance; and

((3)) make appropriate plans for the utilization and continuation in public service of employees completing fellowships and outline such plans in the application for the grant.