VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-10
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2023-01-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Department of Veterans Affairs

Employee hiring

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Health facilities and institutions

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Higher education

Law enforcement officers

Licensing and registrations

Medical education

Student aid and college costs

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-16
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel matters and the training, recruitment, and retention of VA health care employees.</p> <p>Among other requirements, the VA must</p> <ul> <li>expand various staff training efforts and programs;</li> <li>comply with certain notification and staffing requirements when a VA medical center director is on detail;</li> <li>prescribe a system of pay for individuals appointed as directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks; and</li> <li>establish a consolidated annual leave account for certain VA employees with restored leave during 2020, 2021, and 2022.</li> </ul> <p>The bill also </p> <ul> <li>authorizes the VA to waive pay limitations for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who are performing mission critical work;</li> <li>increases the maximum amount of incentive pay for pharmacist executives;</li> <li>modifies the special pay authority for nurse executives and the administration of pay for VA physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists;</li> <li>authorizes a waiver of certain licensure requirements for psychologists and mental health counselors in certain circumstances;</li> <li>requires the Inspector General of the VA to study and report on the use of direct hire authority, the contributions made by the use of such authority, and any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies with respect to the use of such authority;</li> <li>includes VA police officers as law enforcement officers for purposes of the federal retirement system; and</li> <li>requires the Government Accountability Office to report on human resources modernization conducted by the VHA.<br> </li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 10 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 23 (legislative day, January 3), 2023 Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To improve the workforce of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Training, recruitment, and retention of health care employees Sec. 101. Payment of licensure exam costs for recipients of scholarships from Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 102. Improvement of workforce training and team models to meet the needs of older veterans. Sec. 103. Study on improving recruitment and retention at community living centers of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 104. Limitation on detail of directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions. TITLE II—Accountability, oversight, and personnel matters Subtitle A—Matters relating to pay Sec. 201. Modification of pay limitation for physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 202. Increased pay cap for directors of medical centers and Veterans Integrated Service Networks of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 203. Waiver of pay limitation for employees of the Veterans Health Administration performing mission critical work. Sec. 204. Increase of maximum amount of incentive pay for Department pharmacist executives. Sec. 205. Modification of special pay authority for nurse executives. Subtitle B—Improvement of recruitment and hiring Sec. 211. Oversight of direct hire authority and hiring flexibility of Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 212. Waiver of certain licensure requirements. Subtitle C—Other personnel matters Sec. 221. Role of optometrists in Department of Veterans Affairs. Sec. 222. Expansion of annual leave options for employees of Department of Veterans Affairs during public health emergency. Sec. 223. Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses. Sec. 224. Inclusion of police officers of Department of Veterans Affairs as law enforcement officers. Sec. 225. Department of Veterans Affairs personnel transparency. Sec. 226. Comptroller General report assessing human resources modernization within Veterans Health Administration. I Training, recruitment, and retention of health care employees 101. Payment of licensure exam costs for recipients of scholarships from Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the costs of any licensing examinations and certifications required by the Secretary for any current recipient of a covered health professional scholarship from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Licensing examinations and certifications Subsection (a) shall apply to the payment of costs for— (1) the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3; (2) the National Council Licensure Exam; (3) the National Board Dental Examination; (4) the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination; (5) the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination and Integrated National Board Dental Examination; (6) the National Licensing Exams for Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists; (7) the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam; (8) the National Board of Examiners in Optometry Exam; (9) the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam; (10) the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology; (11) the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals certification examinations; (12) the Association of Social Workers Boards Exam; and (13) such other licensing examinations and certifications as the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) Report to Congress Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section that includes the following data for each State and territory of the United States for the one-year period preceding the date of the report: (1) Utilization by the Secretary of the requirement under subsection (a) broken down by position and career type. (2) Number of times each examination or certification described in subsection (b) was paid for by the Department and total funds expended by the Department for each such examination or certification. (d) Covered health professional scholarship defined In this section, the term covered health professional scholarship means— (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program under subchapter II of chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code; (2) the Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Incentive Scholarship Program under subchapter VI of such chapter, including— (A) the National Nursing Education Initiative; and (B) the VA National Education for Employees Program; (3) the Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service Scholarship Program under subchapter IX of such chapter; (4) the Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program under chapter 75 of such title; (5) the Veterans Healing Veterans Medical Access and Scholarship Program under section 304 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–182 ; 38 U.S.C. 7601 note); (6) the Physician Assistant Education and Training Pilot Program for Former Members of The Armed Forces under section 246 of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–141 ; 38 U.S.C. 7601 note); and (7) such other programs as the Secretary considers appropriate. 102. Improvement of workforce training and team models to meet the needs of older veterans (a) Rural geriatrics team training The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall expand the Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to not fewer than one rural site in each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department and ensure access at such sites to learning opportunities through the Geriatric Scholars Program of the Department. (b) Training on caring for veterans with memory loss (1) In general The Secretary shall provide continuing professional education for clinical staff of the Department who provide care for veterans with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. (2) Implementation The Secretary shall implement the continuing professional education required under paragraph (1) in consultation with the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs established under section 7308 of title 38, United States Code, in order to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for employees of the Department in rural and highly rural areas. (c) Expansion of Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team model and Geriatric and Palliative Specialty Services (1) In general The Secretary shall expand the Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model and the geriatric and palliative specialty services of the Department of Veterans Affairs— (A) to every medical center of the Department; (B) to any community-based outpatient clinic at which such expansion is determined by the Secretary to be feasible and needed; and (C) to provide access to all veterans that need those services, including through implementing Geriatric and Palliative Specialty Consultative Clinical Resource Hubs to meet the needs of the aging veteran population. (2) Waiver of expansion to medical centers The Secretary may waive the application of the requirements under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a medical center if the Secretary determines that the medical center does not have the capacity or need to implement a Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model or to provide geriatric and palliative specialty services, as the case may be. (3) Study The Secretary shall conduct a study on the variations in the structure and model consistency of the Geriatrics Patient Aligned Care Team model and delivery and utilization of geriatric and palliative care throughout the Department and how those variations impact quality of care and patient outcomes. (d) Report to Congress (1) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter for the following five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. (2) Inclusion of information on waivers The Secretary shall include in the report required by paragraph (1) an identification of any medical center of the Department in receipt of a waiver under subsection (c)(2) and the reason for the waiver. (e) Definitions In this section, the terms rural and highly rural have the meanings given those terms under the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system of the Department of Agriculture. 103. Study on improving recruitment and retention at community living centers of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a study on barriers to hiring and retaining staff at community living centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs and best practices for improving recruitment and retention of such staff, with an emphasis on nursing staff. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 180 days after completion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report— (1) summarizing key findings with respect to barriers to hiring and retaining staff at community living centers of the Department and best practices for improving recruitment and retention of such staff, including any barriers or best practices specific to rural areas; and (2) including recommendations for such administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate. 104. Limitation on detail of directors of medical centers of Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions (a) Notification (1) In general Not later than 90 days after detailing a director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to a different position within the Department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives of such detail. (2) Matters To be included The notification required by paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to a director of a medical center who is detailed to a different position within the Department, the following information: (A) The location at which the director is detailed. (B) The position title of the detail. (C) The estimated time the director is expected to be absent from their duties at the medical center. (D) Such other information as the Secretary may determine appropriate. (b) Appointment of acting director Not later than 120 days after detailing a director of a medical center of the Department to a different position within the Department, the Secretary shall appoint an individual as acting director of such medical center with all of the authority and responsibilities of the detailed director. (c) Update on detail Not later than 120 days after detailing a director of a medical center of the Department to a different position within the Department, and not less frequently than every 30 days thereafter while the detail is in effect or while the director position at the medical center is vacant, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives an update regarding the status of the detail. (d) Return to position or reassignment (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 180 days after detailing a director of a medical center of the Department to a different position within the Department, for a reason other than an ongoing investigation or administrative action with respect to the director, the Secretary shall— (A) return the individual to the position as director of the medical center; or (B) reassign the individual from the position as director of the medical center and begin the process of hiring a new director for such position. (2) Waiver (A) In general The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) with respect to an individual for successive 90-day increments for a total period of not more than 540 days from the original date the individual was detailed away from their position as director of a medical center. (B) Notification Not later than 30 days after exercising a waiver under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall notify Congress of the waiver and provide to Congress information as to why the waiver is necessary. II Accountability, oversight, and personnel matters A Matters relating to pay 201. Modification of pay limitation for physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Market pay (1) In general Section 7431 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) by striking subsections (a), (b), and (d); (B) by redesignating subsections (c), (e), (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), respectively; (C) by inserting optometrists, after podiatrists, each place it appears; (D) by inserting optometrist after podiatrist, each place it appears; (E) in subsection (a), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking One element of pay for physicians, podiatrists, and dentists shall be base pay. Base pay shall meet the following requirements: and inserting Pay of physicians, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists in the Veterans Health Administration shall consist of base pay, which shall meet the following requirements: ; (F) in subsection (b), as so redesignated— (i) in the subsection heading, by striking total and inserting market ; (ii) in paragraph (1)(A)— (I) by striking annual each place it appears and inserting market ; and (II) by inserting , optometrists, after podiatrists ; (iii) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); (iv) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2); (v) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by clause (iv), by striking Except as provided in sections 7404A(c) and 7410(a)(2) of this title, in no case may the total amount of compensation and inserting The total amount of market pay under subsection (a) ; (vi) by inserting may not before exceed ; and (vii) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (3) Notwithstanding any compensation or pay limitations under this title or title 5, the Secretary may authorize the Under Secretary for Health to pay physicians, podiatrists, and dentists— (A) awards authorized under this title; (B) advance payments, recruitment or relocation bonuses, and retention allowances authorized under section 7410(a) of this title or as otherwise provided by law; (C) incentives or bonuses under section 706 of this title or as otherwise provided by law; and (D) earnings from fee-basis appointments under section 7405(a)(2) of this title. (4) (A) The Secretary may waive any pay limitation described in this section (to include tier limitations) if the Secretary determines it is necessary for the recruitment or retention of critical health care personnel, as determined by the Secretary. (B) The Secretary may prescribe requirements, limitations, and other considerations for waivers under subparagraph (A). ; (G) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by striking subsections (b) and (c) of ; (H) in subsection (d), as so redesignated— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (c) and inserting subsection (a) ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) An individual receiving market pay under subsection (a) may not receive a non-foreign cost of living allowance under section 5941 of title 5. ; and (I) in subsection (e), as so redesignated, by striking subsection (c), (d), or (e) except for the responsibilities of the Secretary under subsection (e)(1) and inserting subsections (a) or (b) except for the responsibilities of the Secretary under subsection (b)(1) . (2) Conforming amendments (A) Incentives for recruitment Section 706(d)(6) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking total amount of compensation under section 7431(e)(4) and inserting total amount of market pay under section 7431 . (B) Awards Section 7404A(c) of such title is amended by striking the limitation under section 7431(e)(4) and inserting a limitation under section 7431 . (C) Additional pay authorities Section 7410(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking the limitation under section 7431(e)(4) and inserting a limitation under section 7431 . (D) Pay of Under Secretary for Health Section 7432(b)(1) of such title is amended— (i) by inserting , podiatrist, optometrist, after physician ; and (ii) by striking 7431(c) and inserting 7431 . (E) Administrative matters Section 7433 of such title is amended by inserting optometrists, after physicians, each place it appears. (F) Competitive pay Section 7451(a)(2)(C) of such title is amended by inserting optometrist, after physician, . (G) Compensation and professional standards for certain medical officers Section 27(b) of the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 ( 50 U.S.C. 3528(b) ) is amended by striking section 7431(e)(1)(C) and inserting section 7431(b)(1)(C) . (3) Clerical amendments (A) Section heading (i) In general The heading for section 7431 of title 38, United States Code is amended to read as follows: 7431. Market pay . (ii) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter III of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 7431 and inserting the following new item: 7431. Market pay. . (B) Subchapter heading (i) In general The heading for subchapter III of chapter 74 of such title is amended to read as follows: III Pay for physicians and other health-care personnel . (ii) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 74 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to subchapter III and inserting the following new item: SUBCHAPTER III—Pay for physicians and other health-care personnel . (4) Application (A) In general The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to any pay period of the Department of Veterans Affairs beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Performance pay for year of enactment The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may pay performance pay under section 7431(d) of title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, for the calendar year in which this Act is enacted. (b) Modification and clarification of pay grade for optometrists Section 7404 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking podiatrists, and dentists and inserting podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists ; and (2) in the list in subsection (b)— (A) by striking PODIATRIST (DPM), AND DENTIST and inserting PODIATRIST (DPM), OPTOMETRIST (OD), AND DENTIST ; and (B) by striking CLINICAL CHIROPRACTOR AND OPTOMETRIST SCHEDULE, and inserting CLINICAL CHIROPRACTOR SCHEDULE . (c) Retroactive authority for compensation (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is retroactively authorized to pay to a covered employee the amount of compensation that was authorized to be paid to the employee during the period specified in paragraph (2) but was deferred and paid to the employee in the calendar year following the calendar year in which it was authorized to be paid because it exceeded $400,000 in a calendar year. (2) Period specified The period specified in this paragraph is the period beginning on January 8, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2017. (3) Additional period Compensation authorized under this subsection shall not be included in the calculation of any aggregate limit on compensation for a covered employee for the year in which it is paid. (4) Charging of compensation Compensation authorized under this subsection shall be charged to the appropriate medical care appropriation account of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year in which the work was performed except as follows: (A) In the case of an account that has closed pursuant to section 1552 of title 31, United States Code, the compensation shall be charged to a current appropriation account in accordance with section 1553 of such title. (B) In the case of an expired account that has not closed, if charging the compensation to the expired account would cause such account to have a negative unliquidated or unexpended balance, the compensation may be charged to a current appropriation account available for the same purpose. (5) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Compensation The term compensation means any pay, including salary, awards, and incentives. (B) Covered employee The term covered employee means a physician, podiatrist, optometrist, or dentist subject to market pay under section 7431 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a). 202. Increased pay cap for directors of medical centers and Veterans Integrated Service Networks of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Increased pay cap (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7414. Pay for directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (a) In general To reflect the recruitment and retention needs of the Department for the assignment of a particular director in a medical center or Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department, the Secretary shall prescribe a system of pay for individuals appointed under section 7401(4) of this title. (b) Market pay (1) In general The annual amount of the market rate of pay of an individual appointed under section 7401(4) of this title— (A) shall be determined by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis; and (B) shall take into account— (i) the level of experience of the individual in managing facilities or programs of the Department or other similar agencies or companies, whether governmental or nongovernmental; (ii) the complexity of the assignment of the individual, whether assigned or to be assigned; (iii) the labor market for individuals in similar positions, which may cover any geographic area the Secretary considers appropriate; (iv) the experience of the individual in performing the assignment of the individual, whether assigned or to be assigned; and (v) such other considerations as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) Evaluation and adjustment (A) In general The market rate of pay provided under this subsection shall be evaluated by the Secretary not less frequently than once every two years. (B) Adjustment The market rate of pay of an individual may be adjusted as the result of an evaluation under subparagraph (A). (C) Notice of results An individual whose market rate of pay is evaluated under subparagraph (A) shall receive written notice of the results of such evaluation. (c) Requirements and limitations on total pay (1) Minimum and maximum amounts (A) In general Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall prescribe for applicability throughout the Department the minimum and maximum amounts for a market rate of pay that may be paid under subsection (b). (B) Publication and effective date of amounts Amounts prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall be published in the Federal Register and shall take effect not earlier than 60 days after the date of publication. (C) Maximum (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), in no case may the total market rate of pay provided under subsection (b) exceed the amount of annual compensation (excluding expenses) specified in section 102 of title 3. (ii) Waiver The Secretary may waive the limitation under clause (i) (to include tier limitations) if the Secretary determines it is necessary for the recruitment or retention of critical health care personnel, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Limitation on reduction No adjustment of the market rate of pay under subsection (b)(2)(B) may result in a reduction of the amount of the market rate of pay of an individual while in the same position or assignment at the same location. (d) Treatment of pay (1) In general Pay under subsection (b) shall be considered pay for all purposes, including retirement benefits under chapters 83 and 84 of title 5 and other benefits. (2) Cost-of-living allowance An individual receiving pay under subsection (b) may not receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 5941 of title 5. (e) Annual report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023 , and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation by the Secretary of the requirements under this section. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7413 the following new item: 7414. Pay for directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks. . (b) Conforming amendments Section 7404(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking (A) The annual and inserting The annual ; and (B) by striking and 7401(4) ; and (2) by striking subparagraph (B). 203. Waiver of pay limitation for employees of the Veterans Health Administration performing mission critical work (a) In general Subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 202(a)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 7415. Waiver of pay limitation for employees performing mission critical work (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may waive any limitation on pay for an employee of the Veterans Health Administration who is performing mission critical work. (b) Authority The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. (c) Employee of the Veterans Health Administration defined In this section, the term ‘ employee of the Veterans Health Administration includes any employee of the Veterans Health Administration, regardless of the authority under which the employee was hired. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such subchapter, as amended by section 202(a)(2), is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7414 the following new item: 7415. Waiver of pay limitation for employees performing mission critical work. . 204. Increase of maximum amount of incentive pay for Department pharmacist executives Section 7410(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking $40,000 and inserting $100,000 . 205. Modification of special pay authority for nurse executives Section 7452(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking Department nurse executives, the Secretary may, in accordance with and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting nurse executives for the Veterans Health Administration, the Under Secretary for Health may pay special pay to personnel of the Veterans Health Administration who are nurse executives. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) The Under Secretary for Health shall define through regulations which positions of the Veterans Health Administration qualify as nurse executives for purposes of special pay under paragraph (1). . B Improvement of recruitment and hiring 211. Oversight of direct hire authority and hiring flexibility of Department of Veterans Affairs Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study and publish a report on— (1) the use of direct hire authority by the Department; (2) the contributions made by the use of such authority to filling vacancies within the Department; and (3) any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies with respect to the use of such authority. 212. Waiver of certain licensure requirements (a) Psychologists Paragraph (8)(C) of section 7402(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking individual psychologist for a period and inserting individual psychologist— (i) for a period ; (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii) for a reasonable period recommended by the Under Secretary for Health, not to exceed four years, during a public health emergency declared by the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or such other authority as specified by the Secretary. . (b) Licensed professional mental health counselor Paragraph (11)(B) of such section is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting , except that the Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure or certification for an individual professional mental health counselor for a reasonable period of time recommended by the Under Secretary for Health. . C Other personnel matters 221. Role of optometrists in Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Inclusion as physician (1) In general Section 7413 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the section heading, by inserting and optometrists after podiatrists ; (B) in subsection (a)— (i) by striking a doctor of podiatric medicine who is appointed as a podiatrist under section 7401(1) of this title and inserting a covered individual ; and (ii) by striking such section and inserting section 7401(1) of this title ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Covered individual defined In this section, the term covered individual means any of the following: (1) A doctor of podiatric medicine who is appointed as a podiatrist under section 7401(1) of this title. (2) A doctor of optometry who is appointed as an optometrist under section 7401(1) of this title. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 74 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 7413 and inserting the following new item 7413. Treatment of podiatrists and optometrists; clinical oversight standards. . (b) Clarification of role Section 7306 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking , a Director of Dietetic Service, and a Director of Optometric Service and inserting and a Director of Dietetic Service ; (B) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph (13); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following new paragraph (12): (12) An Executive Director of Optometric Service, who shall be a qualified doctor of optometry and who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Health for the operation of the Optometric Service. ; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting optometry, after podiatric medicine, ; and (3) in subsection (c), by striking and (10) and inserting (10), and (12) . 222. Expansion of annual leave options for employees of Department of Veterans Affairs during public health emergency (a) Account for consolidation of certain annual leave (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consolidate into one restored annual leave account all annual leave restored pursuant to section 6304(d)(1)(B) of title 5, United States Code, during calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022 for covered employees who are employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Additional calendar years The Secretary may consolidate into the annual leave account described in paragraph (1) annual leave restored pursuant to section 6304(d)(1)(B) of such title during calendar years not described in such paragraph with the approval of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. (b) Leave expiration Annual leave consolidated into the annual leave account described in subsection (a)(1) shall be used before the later of— (1) January 9, 2027; and (2) the applicable deadline pursuant to section 630.309 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation. (c) Program of lump sum payments (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may establish a program under which, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on January 9, 2027, a covered employee with annual leave described in subsection (a)(1) may elect to receive a single lump sum payment lin lieu of using such leave. (2) Treatment of lump sum payments A lump sum payment under a program established under paragraph (1) shall be treated as separate and apart from any lump sum payment of annual leave the covered employee may otherwise be entitled to upon separation from employment with the Department. (d) Covered employee defined In this section, the term covered employee means an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who— (1) was appointed under chapter 73 or 74 of title 38, United States Code, notwithstanding section 7421(a) of such title, section 7425(b) of such title, or any other provision of such chapter that impacts leave for such an employee; (2) was appointed under chapter 78 of such title; or (3) occupied any position under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that is subject to the leave provisions of chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code. 223. Expansion of reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses (a) In general Section 7411 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses The Secretary shall reimburse certain full-time health care professionals of the Department for expenses incurred for continuing professional education in amounts as follows: (1) With respect to any physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, optometrist, registered nurse, or physician assistant appointed under section 7401(1) of this title, not more than $1,000 per year for each such individual. (2) With respect to any licensed practical or vocational nurse, medical technologist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, psychologist, diagnostic radiologic technologist, or social worker appointed under section 7401(3) of this title, not more than $1,000 per year for each such individual. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 7411 and inserting the following new item: 7411. Reimbursement of continuing professional education expenses. . 224. Inclusion of police officers of Department of Veterans Affairs as law enforcement officers (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Director means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; (2) the term Fund means the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (3) the term incumbent means an individual who— (A) was appointed as a law enforcement officer before the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) is serving as a law enforcement officer on the date of enactment of this Act; (4) the term law enforcement officer means an individual who satisfies the requirements of section 8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code, by virtue of the amendments made by this section; (5) the term prior service means, with respect to an incumbent who makes an election under subsection (c)(2), service performed by the incumbent before the date on which appropriate retirement deductions begin to be made under the election; and (6) the term service means service performed by an individual as a law enforcement officer. (b) Civil Service Retirement System (1) In general Title 5, United States Code, is amended— (A) in section 8331(20), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (i) by inserting (or who is described in section 8401(17)(E)) after criminal laws of the United States ; and (ii) by inserting (or who is so described) after engaged in this activity ; and (B) in section 8401(17)— (i) in subparagraph (C)— (I) by striking subparagraph (A) and (B) and inserting subparagraph (A), (B), or (E) ; and (II) by striking and at the end; (ii) in the flush text following subparagraph (D)(iii), by adding and after the semicolon at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (E) an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is a Department police officer under section 902 of title 38, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; . (2) Application The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to any— (A) individual who is appointed as a law enforcement officer— (i) as defined in section 8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this subsection; and (ii) on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) incumbent, consistent with the requirements of this section. (c) Treatment of service performed by incumbents (1) Service on or after date of enactment Service performed by an incumbent on or after the date of enactment of this Act shall be treated as service performed as a law enforcement officer. (2) Service before date of enactment Service performed by an incumbent before the date of enactment of this Act shall, for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, be treated as service performed as a law enforcement officer only if the incumbent submits a written election to the Director by the earlier of— (A) the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act; or (B) the day before the date on which the incumbent separates from the service. (d) Individual contributions for prior service (1) In general An incumbent who makes an election under subsection (c)(2) may, with respect to prior service performed by the incumbent, pay a deposit into the Fund equal to the sum of— (A) the difference between— (i) the amount that would have been deducted during the period of prior service under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code, from the pay of the incumbent if the amendments made by this section had been in effect during the prior service; and (ii) the amount that was deducted during the period of prior service under section 8334 or 8422 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) interest on the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i), as computed under— (i) paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) regulations promulgated by the Director. (2) Effect of not contributing If an incumbent does not pay the full amount of the deposit described in paragraph (1)— (A) all prior service of the incumbent shall remain fully creditable as a law enforcement officer; and (B) the resulting annuity shall be reduced— (i) in a manner similar to that described in section 8334(d)(2) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) to the extent necessary to make up the amount unpaid. (e) Government contributions for prior service (1) In general If an incumbent makes an election under subsection (c)(2), an agency that employed the incumbent during any prior service of the incumbent shall remit to the Director, for deposit in the Fund, an amount equal to the sum of— (A) the difference between— (i) the total amount of Government contributions that would have been paid under section 8334 or 8423 of title 5, United States Code, if the amendments made by this section had been in effect during the prior service; and (ii) the total amount of Government contributions paid under section 8334 or 8423 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) interest on the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i), as computed in accordance with— (i) paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code; and (ii) regulations promulgated by the Director. (2) Contributions to be made ratably Government contributions under this subsection on behalf of an incumbent shall be made by the agency ratably (not less frequently than annually) over the 10-year period beginning on the date described in subsection (a)(5). (f) Exemption from mandatory separation Notwithstanding sections 8335(b) and 8425(b) of title 5, United States Code, a law enforcement officer shall not be subject to mandatory separation during the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. (g) Regulations The Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section, and the amendments made by this section, including regulations for the application of this section (and those amendments) in the case of any individual entitled to a survivor annuity (based on the service of an incumbent who dies before making an election under subsection (c)(2)), to the extent that any rights that would have been available to the decedent if still living. (h) Rule of construction Nothing in this section, or an amendment made by this section, shall be considered to apply in the case of a reemployed annuitant. 225. Department of Veterans Affairs personnel transparency (a) In general Section 505 of the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–182 ; 38 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking information, and all that follows through facility: and inserting information: ; (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by inserting (i) before The number ; and (II) by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii) Information made available under this subparagraph shall be updated not less frequently than once each quarter to account for delays in data processing and shall reflect the most recently available data. ; (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking vacancies, by occupation. and inserting positions currently undergoing a recruitment action, disaggregated by occupation and by stage of recruitment, including pre-posting, posting processing stage, recruitment stage, onboarding stage, and waiting to start stage, or successor stages if modified. ; and (iv) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) The number of positions vacated that the Secretary as decided not to backfill, disaggregated by occupation. ; (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5): (5) Display of information The display of information made publicly available on an Internet website of the Department pursuant to paragraph (1), subject to subparagraph (D) of such paragraph, shall be disaggregated— (A) by departmental component; (B) in the case of information relating to Veterans Health Administration positions, by medical facility; and (C) in the case of information relating to Veterans Benefits Administration positions, by regional office. ; and (D) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking shall and all that follows and inserting “shall— (A) review the administration of the website required under paragraph (1); (B) develop recommendations relating to the improvement of such administration; and (C) submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report containing— (i) the findings of the Inspector General with respect to the most recent review conducted under subparagraph (A); and (ii) the recommendations most recently developed under subparagraph (B). ; and (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Annual report Each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report that includes the following: (1) A description of the steps the Department is taking to achieve full staffing capacity. (2) A description of the actions the Department is taking to improve the onboard timeline for facilities of the Department, including— (A) in the case of facilities of the Veterans Health Administration, for facilities for which the duration of the onboarding process exceeds the metrics laid out in the Time to Hire Model of the Veterans Health Administration, or successor model; and (B) in the case of Veterans Benefits Administration, for regional offices that exceed the time-to-hire target of the Office of Personnel Management. (3) The amount of additional funds necessary to enable the Department to reach full staffing capacity. (4) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary may have in order to achieve full staffing capacity at the Department. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to the first update under section 505(a)(3) of such Act beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act and each update thereafter. 226. Comptroller General report assessing human resources modernization within Veterans Health Administration (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on human resources modernization conducted by the Veterans Health Administration (in this section referred to as the Administration ). (b) Elements The report required by subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the following: (1) The Human Resources Modernization Program of the Administration, including an assessment of the activities carried out under the Program, the results of those activities, and how the Administration measures the performance of those activities. (2) The human resources information technology systems of the Administration, including the performance, accuracy, efficiency, and user-ability of those systems for human resources professionals, managers with hiring authority, and other employees of the Administration who use those systems. (3) Metrics and timelines used to report hiring and vacancy data within the Administration, including recruitment and retention data. (4) Trends in hiring, recruitment, retention, and vacancies among employees of the Administration. (5) The use by the Administration of authorities and waivers for hiring flexibility, including an assessment of the standardization of use of such authorities and waivers within each Veterans Integrated Service Network. (6) Training, development, and workload of human resources professionals of the Administration. (7) Such other matters as the Comptroller General considers relevant.