DoD LABS Research Act

Summary: DoD Laboratory Authorities for Breakthrough Scientific Research Act or the DoD LABS Research Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense (DOD) from disallowing an employee of a defense laboratory from traveling to a technical symposium or conference if the head of such laboratory determines that there is a sufficient amount available to the laboratory for such travel and approves such travel using standard travel approval procedures. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to allow the director of any DOD science and technology laboratory to appoint as an employee, through 2019, any student enrolled in a program of undergraduate or graduate instruction leading to a bachelor's or master's degree in a scientific, technical, engineering, mathematical, or medical course of study. (Under current law, such a director may only appoint through such period a candidate already possessing a bachelor's degree or a qualified veteran.) Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional defense committees on the implementation and use by DOD of specified hiring authorities provided under federal law, prior defense authorization Acts, and the Intergovernmental Personnel Act. Amends the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to reinstate and make permanent a DOD personnel program for the hiring of scientific and technical personnel.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``DoD Laboratory Authorities for 
Breakthrough Scientific Research Act'' or the ``DoD LABS Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. TRAVEL TO TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM OR TECHNICAL CONFERENCE.

    The Secretary of Defense may not prohibit an employee of a defense 
laboratory from traveling to a technical symposium or technical 
conference if the head of the defense laboratory--
            (1) determines that there are sufficient amounts available 
        to the defense laboratory for such travel; and
            (2) approves of such travel using the standard procedures 
        for approving travel.

SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN THE TEMPORARY AUTHORITIES 
              FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESEARCH 
              AND ENGINEERING FACILITIES.

    Section 1107(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 887; 10 U.S.C. 2358 
note) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) Candidates for scientific and engineering positions 
        at science and technology reinvention laboratories.--
                    ``(A) The director of any Science and Technology 
                Reinvention Laboratory (hereinafter in this section 
                referred to as an `STRL') may appoint qualified 
                candidates to positions described in paragraph (1) of 
                subsection (b) as an employee in a laboratory described 
                in that paragraph without regard to the provisions of 
                subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
                Code (other than section 3303 and 3328 of such title).
                    ``(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 51 
                of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of this 
                subsection, the term `qualified candidate' means an 
                individual who--
                            ``(i) has earned a bachelor's degree; or
                            ``(ii) is a student enrolled in a program 
                        of undergraduate or graduate instruction 
                        leading to a bachelor's or master's degree in a 
                        scientific, technical, engineering, 
                        mathematical, or medical course of study at an 
                        institution of higher education (as defined in 
                        section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).''.

SEC. 4. ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HIRING PRACTICES.

    (a) Assessment Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report on the implementation and use by the 
Department of Defense of the following hiring authorities:
            (1) Section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense 
        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261; 5 
        U.S.C. 3104 note).
            (2) Section 1107 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 887; 10 
        U.S.C. 2358 note).
            (3) Section 9903 of title 5, United States Code (relating 
        to highly qualified experts).
            (4) The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (5 U.S.C. 3371 et 
        seq.).
    (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
contain--
            (1) a description, including quantitative data, of the 
        implementation and use by each service and Defense Agency 
        within the Department of Defense of each authority in 
        subsection (a), including issues encountered, successes, and 
        lessons learned; and
            (2) recommendations with respect to--
                    (A) improvements for such authorities;
                    (B) tailoring the number of positions or 
                eliminating any limitation on the numbers of positions 
                provided in such authorities (if applicable);
                    (C) how such authorities can be used or improved to 
                best suit the needs of each Department of Defense 
                laboratory; and
                    (D) the continuance of the hiring authority 
                provided under section 1107 of the National Defense 
                Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-
                66; 127 Stat. 887; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note) beyond the 
                sunset date provided in subsection (e) of such section.

SEC. 5. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR EXPERIMENTAL PERSONNEL PROGRAM FOR 
              SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--Section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261) is 
amended by striking subsections (e) and (f).
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further 
amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``experimental'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``During the program period 
                specified in subsection (e)(1), the'' and inserting 
                ``The''; and
                    (B) by striking ``experimental'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``12-month period'' and inserting ``calendar 
                year''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), striking ``fiscal year'' 
                and inserting ``calendar year'';
            (4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (e); and
            (5) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (4)), 
        by striking ``in which the authority under this section is in 
        effect''.