SAFE TOWERS Act

Summary: Standards Addressing Federal Transparency and Oversight With Evolving Recruitment Specifications Act or the SAFE TOWERS Act - Revises Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for the hiring of air traffic controllers. Directs the FAA Administrator to give preferential consideration in the hiring of air traffic controllers to:  individuals who have successfully completed air traffic controller training and graduated from an institution participating in the FAA's Collegiate Training Initiative program, and have received a recommendation from the institution; and qualified individuals eligible for a veterans recruitment appointment or qualified eligible veterans who maintain aviation experience.  Directs the Administrator to revise FAA hiring practices for air traffic controller applicants with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to eliminate the use of biographical assessments or other personality tests that unduly disqualify applicants. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the Administrator's authority to maintain the Collegiate Training Initiative program. Directs the Administrator to establish an Air Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory Committee. Requires the Administrator to take into consideration any locally developed training initiatives for air traffic controllers for use in establishing best practices nationwide.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Standards Addressing Federal 
Transparency and Oversight With Evolving Recruitment Specifications 
Act'' or the ``SAFE TOWERS Act''.

SEC. 2. HIRING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

    Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(f) Revision of Hiring Practices.--
            ``(1) Consideration of applicants.--
                    ``(A) Preference for at-cti and vra applicants.--In 
                appointing individuals to the position of air traffic 
                controller, the Administrator shall give preferential 
                consideration to the following applicants:
                            ``(i) An individual who--
                                    ``(I) has successfully completed 
                                air traffic controller training and 
                                graduated from an institution 
                                participating in the Collegiate 
                                Training Initiative program maintained 
                                under subsection (c)(1); and
                                    ``(II) has received an appropriate 
                                recommendation from the institution.
                            ``(ii) A qualified individual who is 
                        eligible for a veterans recruitment appointment 
                        pursuant to section 4214 of title 38.
                            ``(iii) A qualified individual who is an 
                        eligible veteran, as such term is defined in 
                        section 4211 of title 38, maintaining aviation 
                        experience.
                    ``(B) Consideration of general public applicants.--
                The Administrator may consider general public 
                applicants for the position of air traffic controller 
                only after completing consideration of the applicants 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Elimination of biographical assessments.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall revise 
                the hiring practices of the Administration that apply 
                to applicants for the position of air traffic 
                controller with the Department of Transportation to 
                eliminate the use of a biographical assessment or any 
                other personality test that unduly disqualifies 
                applicants. The revision under this subparagraph shall 
                not be subject to paragraph (3).
                    ``(B) Reconsideration of applicants disqualified on 
                the basis of biographical assessments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If an individual applied 
                        for the position of air traffic controller with 
                        the Department in response to the FG-01 Vacancy 
                        Announcement issued on February 10, 2014, and 
                        was disqualified from the position as the 
                        result of a biographical assessment, the 
                        Administrator shall provide the applicant an 
                        opportunity to reapply as soon as practicable 
                        for the position under the revised hiring 
                        practices.
                            ``(ii) Waiver of age restriction.--The 
                        Administrator shall waive any maximum age 
                        restriction for the position of air traffic 
                        controller with the Department that would 
                        otherwise disqualify an individual from the 
                        position if the individual--
                                    ``(I) is reapplying for the 
                                position pursuant to clause (i) on or 
                                before December 31, 2016; and
                                    ``(II) met the maximum age 
                                requirement on the date of the 
                                individual's previous application for 
                                the position.
            ``(3) Participation of cti institutions in revision of 
        hiring practices.--Before making any revision to the hiring 
        practices that apply to applicants for the position of air 
        traffic controller with the Department, the Administrator shall 
        provide the Air Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory 
        Committee established under subsection (g) and institutions of 
        higher education participating in the Collegiate Training 
        Initiative program with notice of the revision and an 
        opportunity to comment.''.

SEC. 3. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE.

    Section 44506(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by striking ``may maintain'' and 
        inserting ``shall maintain''; and
            (2) in the second sentence by striking ``may establish'' 
        and inserting ``, in consultation with the Air Traffic Control 
        Education and Training Advisory Committee established under 
        subsection (g), shall establish''.

SEC. 4. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL EDUCATION AND TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Air Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory 
Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish an 
        Air Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory Committee 
        (in this subsection referred to as the `Committee').
            ``(2) Duties.--The Committee shall--
                    ``(A) provide advice and recommendations to the 
                Administrator about the needs, objectives, plans, and 
                content of air traffic controller training programs;
                    ``(B) review the operations of the Collegiate 
                Training Initiative program maintained under subsection 
                (c)(1);
                    ``(C) establish standardized curriculum, required 
                outcomes, and accreditation standards for the 
                Collegiate Training Initiative program; and
                    ``(D) annually review the air traffic controller 
                training initiatives carried out by the Administration 
                and provide advice and recommendations to the 
                Administrator on whether such initiatives are 
                appropriate to meet the needs of the air traffic 
                controller workforce.
            ``(3) Membership.--
                    ``(A) Number and appointment.--The Committee shall 
                be composed of 9 members appointed by the Administrator 
                as follows:
                            ``(i) 2 individuals based on 
                        recommendations of the Association of 
                        Collegiate Training Institutions.
                            ``(ii) 2 individuals based on 
                        recommendations of the National Air Traffic 
                        Controllers Association.
                            ``(iii) 2 individuals based on 
                        recommendations of the University Aviation 
                        Association.
                            ``(iv) 3 individuals selected by the 
                        Administrator who meet the requirements of 
                        subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iv)--
                            ``(i) may not be employees of the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration; and
                            ``(ii) shall be specifically qualified to 
                        serve on the Committee as a result of their 
                        education, training, and experience.
                    ``(C) Terms.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A member shall be 
                        appointed for a term of 2 years.
                            ``(ii) Terms of initial appointees.--As 
                        designated by the Administrator at the time of 
                        appointment--
                                    ``(I) 1 of the members first 
                                appointed under each of subparagraphs 
                                (A)(i), (A)(ii), and (A)(iii) shall be 
                                appointed for a term of 3 years; and
                                    ``(II) 2 of the members first 
                                appointed under subparagraph (A)(iv) 
                                shall be appointed for terms of 3 
                                years.
                    ``(D) Vacancies.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Any member appointed to 
                        fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration 
                        of the term for which the member's predecessor 
                        was appointed shall be appointed only for the 
                        remainder of that term.
                            ``(ii) Interim service.--A member may serve 
                        after the expiration of that member's term 
                        until a successor has taken office.
                            ``(iii) Manner of appointment.--A vacancy 
                        in the Committee shall be filled in the manner 
                        in which the original appointment was made.
                    ``(E) Pay; travel expenses.--Members shall serve 
                without pay but may receive travel expenses, including 
                per diem in lieu of subsistence, when attending 
                meetings of the Committee in accordance with applicable 
                provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5.
                    ``(F) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the 
                Committee shall be elected by a majority of the 
                members.
                    ``(G) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet quarterly 
                and may have additional meetings at the call of the 
                Chairperson.
            ``(4) Annual report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than May 31st of each 
                year, the Committee shall submit to Congress and the 
                Administrator an annual report containing--
                            ``(i) the findings and recommendations of 
                        the Committee; and
                            ``(ii) beginning with the second annual 
                        report, an assessment of whether or not the 
                        Administrator has complied with the Committee's 
                        recommendations from the previous year.
                    ``(B) FAA comments.--Not later than 60 days after 
                the date of submission of an annual report that 
                includes an assessment described in subparagraph 
                (A)(ii), the Administrator shall submit to Congress and 
                the Committee a report containing the Administrator's 
                written response to the assessment, including an 
                explanation as to why the Administrator did or did not 
                comply with each recommendation of the Committee.
            ``(5) Termination.--Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal 
        Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to the 
        termination of advisory committees) shall not apply to the 
        Committee.''.

SEC. 5. BEST PRACTICES FOR TRAINING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

    Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Best Practices for Training.--The Administrator, in 
consultation with the Air Traffic Control Education and Training 
Advisory Committee established under subsection (g), shall take into 
consideration any locally developed training initiatives for air 
traffic controllers for use in establishing best practices 
nationwide.''.