VR TECHS in Government Act of 2019

To establish an advisory committee to promote the use of reality technology as a tool for professional development for Federal workers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Virtual Reality Technologies Enabling Coaching and Honing Skills in Government Act of 2019 VR TECHS in Government Act of 2019 2. Establishment of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Usability of Reality Technologies Within the Federal Government (a) In General Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services (referred to in this Act as the Administrator Advisory Committee (b) Duties and Advice The Advisory Committee shall— (1) promote the importance of reality technology as a form of professional development for Federal workers; (2) make recommendations and promulgate best practices to the Administrator with respect to reality technology; (3) coordinate information sharing between Federal agencies with respect to the implementation of such best practices; (4) develop a definition suitable for use in legislation for reality technology that shall include mixed reality technology, augmented reality technology, and virtual reality technology; and (5) assess whether— (A) to create a professional development program to provide for the professional development of Federal workers using reality technology; (B) to provide technical assistance for reality technology; (C) to host workshops for Federal agencies with respect to reality technology training; and (D) to ensure annual training on reality technology usage for human resources departments at Federal agencies. (c) Membership (1) Voting Members The Administrator shall appoint the following voting members to the Advisory Committee: (A) Three members who are non-governmental experts on reality technology, including— (i) an expert who works in the reality technology industry; and (ii) an expert who works in academia. (B) Two members who are employees of the General Services Administration. (C) Two members who are employees of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (D) One employee of the Office of Personnel Management. (E) The chair of the Advisory Committee. (2) Chair The Advisory Committee shall be chaired by the Administrator or the Administrator’s designee. (3) Nonvoting Members The Administrator shall appoint nonvoting members to the Advisory Committee, which shall include officers or employees from the following: (A) The Department of Defense. (B) The Department of Education. (C) The Department of Labor. (D) The Department of Transportation. (E) The National Science Foundation. (F) The National Science and Technology Council. (G) An element of the intelligence community. (d) Reports to Congress The Advisory Committee shall— (1) not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the establishment of the Advisory Committee; and (2) not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the General Services Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on any recommendations of the Advisory Committee under subsection (b). (e) Limitation on compensation; meetings The members of the Advisory Committee may not be paid any compensation for serving on the Advisory Committee, including reimbursements for travel expenses. All meetings of the Advisory Committee may be done remotely.

Summary: Virtual Reality Technologies Enabling Coaching and Honing Skills in Government Act of 2019 or the VR TECHS in Government Act of 2019 This bill directs the General Services Administration, in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to create the Federal Advisory Committee on the Usability of Reality Technologies Within the Federal Government. Among other things, the advisory committee must promote the importance of reality technology as a form of professional development for federal workers and establish best practices with respect to the use of reality technology.