(a) Establishment of program The Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) may establish a program to use volunteers in carrying out the programs of the Department of Agriculture . (b) Acceptance of personnel The Secretary may accept, subject to regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management , voluntary service for the Department of Agriculture for such purpose if the service: (1) is to be without compensation; and (2) will not be used to displace any employee of the Department of Agriculture including the local, county, and State committees established under section 590h(b) of title 16 . (c) Federal employee status Any individual who provides voluntary service under this section shall not be considered a Federal employee, except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 (relating to compensation for injury), and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28 (relating to tort claims). ( Pub. L. 97–98, title XV, § 1526 , Dec. 22, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1337 .) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date Section effective Dec. 22, 1981 , see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98 , set out as a note under section 4301 of this title . Authorization of Appropriations Pub. L. 97–98, title XV, § 1527 , Dec. 22, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1337 , provided that: “There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle [subtitle G (§§ 1526, 1527) of title XV of Pub. L. 97–98 , enacting this section and this note], such sums to remain available until expended.”