DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014

To improve cybersecurity recruitment and retention. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014 2. Cybersecurity recruitment and retention (a) In general At the end of subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 141 et seq. 226. Cybersecurity recruitment and retention (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (2) Collective bargaining agreement The term collective bargaining agreement section 7103(a)(8) (3) Excepted service The term excepted service section 2103 (4) Preference eligible The term preference eligible section 2108 (5) Qualified position The term qualified position (6) Senior executive service The term Senior Executive Service section 2101a (b) General authority (1) Establish positions, appoint personnel, and fix rates of pay (A) General authority The Secretary may— (i) establish, as positions in the excepted service, such qualified positions in the Department as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Department relating to cybersecurity, including positions formerly identified as— (I) senior level positions designated under section 5376 (II) positions in the Senior Executive Service; (ii) appoint an individual to a qualified position (after taking into consideration the availability of preference eligibles for appointment to the position); and (iii) subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3), fix the compensation of an individual for service in a qualified position. (B) Construction with other laws The authority of the Secretary under this subsection applies without regard to the provisions of any other law relating to the appointment, number, classification, or compensation of employees. (2) Basic pay (A) Authority to fix rates of basic pay In accordance with this section, the Secretary shall fix the rates of basic pay for any qualified position established under paragraph (1) in relation to the rates of pay provided for employees in comparable positions in the Department of Defense and subject to the same limitations on maximum rates of pay established for such employees by law or regulation. (B) Prevailing rate systems The Secretary may, consistent with section 5341 (3) Additional compensation, incentives, and allowances (A) Additional compensation based on title 5 authorities The Secretary may provide employees in qualified positions compensation (in addition to basic pay), including benefits, incentives, and allowances, consistent with, and not in excess of the level authorized for, comparable positions authorized by title 5, United States Code. (B) Allowances in nonforeign areas An employee in a qualified position whose rate of basic pay is fixed under paragraph (2)(A) shall be eligible for an allowance under section 5941 (4) Plan for execution of authorities Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress with a plan for the use of the authorities provided under this subsection. (5) Collective bargaining agreements Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to impair the continued effectiveness of a collective bargaining agreement with respect to an office, component, subcomponent, or equivalent of the Department that is a successor to an office, component, subcomponent, or equivalent of the Department covered by the agreement before the succession. (6) Required regulations The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. (c) Annual report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed report that— (1) discusses the process used by the Secretary in accepting applications, assessing candidates, ensuring adherence to veterans’ preference, and selecting applicants for vacancies to be filled by an individual for a qualified position; (2) describes— (A) how the Secretary plans to fulfill the critical need of the Department to recruit and retain employees in qualified positions; (B) the measures that will be used to measure progress; and (C) any actions taken during the reporting period to fulfill such critical need; (3) discusses how the planning and actions taken under paragraph (2) are integrated into the strategic workforce planning of the Department; (4) provides metrics on actions occurring during the reporting period, including— (A) the number of employees in qualified positions hired by occupation and grade and level or pay band; (B) the placement of employees in qualified positions by directorate and office within the Department; (C) the total number of veterans hired; (D) the number of separations of employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band; (E) the number of retirements of employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band; and (F) the number and amounts of recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives paid to employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band; and (5) describes the training provided to supervisors of employees in qualified positions at the Department on the use of the new authorities. (d) Three-Year Probationary Period The probationary period for all employees hired under the authority established in this section shall be 3 years. (e) Incumbents of existing competitive service positions (1) In general An individual serving in a position on the date of enactment of this section that is selected to be converted to a position in the excepted service under this section shall have the right to refuse such conversion. (2) Subsequent conversion After the date on which an individual who refuses a conversion under paragraph (1) stops serving in the position selected to be converted, the position may be converted to a position in the excepted service. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 3132(a)(2) (1) in clause (i), by striking or (2) in clause (ii), by inserting or (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: (iii) any position established as a qualified position in the excepted service by the Secretary of Homeland Security under section 226 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; . (c) Table of contents amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 101 et seq. Sec. 226. Cybersecurity recruitment and retention. .

Summary: DHS Cybersecurity Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish, as positions in the excepted service, such positions in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as necessary to carry out certain responsibilities relating to cybersecurity. Provides for positions formerly designated as senior level and senior executive service positions to be included in such service. Requires the Secretary, every year for a specified period, to submit to Congress a report regarding: (1) the application process for such positions, including the manner of adhering to veterans' preferences; (2) the Secretary's plans to fulfill the critical need of DHS to recruit and retain employees in cybersecurity positions; (3) the manner in which such plans are integrated into the DHS's strategic workforce planning; (4) the number of hirings, separations, and retirements during the reporting period; and (5) the training provided to supervisors of such cybersecurity employees on the use of the new authorities. Sets forth authority for the Secretary to make appointments, fix pay rates, and provide incentives and allowances for such positions. (Sec. 3) Homeland Security Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act - Requires the Secretary to determine the primary cybersecurity work category and specialty area of all DHS cybersecurity workforce positions. Directs the Secretary to assign: (1) data element codes for such positions, as set forth in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Guide to Data Standards, which is aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education's National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework report; and (2) employment codes to employees and open positions within DHS with cybersecurity functions. Directs the Secretary, on an annual basis through 2021, to submit a report to the OPM Director substantiating categories and specialty areas designated as critical needs in DHS's cybersecurity workforce. Requires the Director to provide the Secretary with guidance identifying acute and emerging skill shortages. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to monitor, and report within three years regarding, the implementation of such determinations and assignments.