Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4556
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2016-02-12
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Health personnel

Mental health

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-02-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2016</strong></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to appoint a psychiatrist who completes a residency at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility to a VHA health care position immediately after such residency, without regard to civil service or classification laws, if: (1) the psychiatrist meets the qualifications established in regulations prescribed for the position, and (2) the position has been unfilled for at least 35 days.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4556 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 12, 2016 Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Himes , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Jones , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Mrs. Kirkpatrick , Mr. Loebsack , Mr. Vargas , Ms. Bordallo , Mr. Cohen , Mr. Rush , Ms. Jenkins of Kansas , Mr. Honda , and Mr. Ryan of Ohio ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire psychiatrists.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2016 . 2. Appointment of psychiatrists by Veterans Health Administration (a) In general Chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7406 the following new section: 7406A. Appointment of certain psychiatrists who complete residencies (a) In general (1) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary may appoint, without regard to civil service or classification laws, a psychiatrist who completes a residency under section 7406 of this title to a position under section 7401 or 7405 immediately after such residency, if the psychiatrist meets the qualifications established in regulations prescribed by the Secretary for such position. (2) The Secretary may begin the process of appointing a psychiatrist under paragraph (1) before the psychiatrist completes a residency. (b) Positions permitted The Secretary may appoint a psychiatrist under subsection (a) if the position to which the psychiatrist is appointed has been unfilled for not less than 35 days as of the date of the appointment. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7406 the following new item: 7406A. Appointment of certain psychiatrists who complete residencies. .