In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION OF CUSTOMS AND TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THE TORT CLAIMS 
              PROCEDURES.

    Section 2680(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``law-enforcement officer'' and inserting ``law enforcement 
officer, except that this chapter and section 1346(b) shall apply to a 
claim based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods or 
merchandise (including real property) while in the possession of an 
officer of customs or excise or any other law enforcement officer''.

SEC. 3. LONGER PERIOD FOR FILING CLAIMS IN CERTAIN IN REM PROCEEDINGS.

    Rule C(6) of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and 
Maritime Claims to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures (28 U.S.C. 
App.) is amended by striking ``10 days'' and inserting ``60 days''.

SEC. 4. CLAIM AFTER SEIZURE.

    Section 608 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1608) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 608. SEIZURE; CLAIMS; REPRESENTATION.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Filing of claim.--At any time within 60 days after 
        the date on which a notice of seizure is first published, a 
        person who claims a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or 
        baggage seized under a law described in section 605 may file 
        with the appropriate customs officer a claim stating the 
        person's interest in the property.
            ``(2) Condemnation.--On filing of a claim under paragraph 
        (1), the customs officer shall transmit the claim, with a 
        duplicate list and description of the articles seized, to the 
        United States attorney for the district in which the seizure 
        was made, who shall proceed to a condemnation of the 
        merchandise or other property in the manner prescribed by law.
    ``(b) Court-Appointed Counsel.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a person filing a claim under 
        subsection (a), or a claim regarding property seized under 
        another law that incorporates by reference the seizure, 
        forfeiture, and condemnation procedures of the customs laws, is 
        financially unable to obtain representation of counsel, the 
        court may appoint appropriate counsel to represent the person 
        with respect to the claim.
            ``(2) Compensation.--(A) The court shall set the 
        compensation for counsel appointed under paragraph (1) in an 
        amount that is equivalent to that provided for counsel 
        appointed under section 3006A of title 18, United States Code.
            ``(B) Compensation of counsel appointed under paragraph (1) 
        shall be paid from the Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund 
        established under section 524 of title 28, United States 
        Code.''.

SEC. 5. BURDEN OF PROOF IN FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS.

    Section 615 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1615) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 615. BURDEN OF PROOF IN FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS.

    ``(a) In General.--In a suit or action described in subsection (b), 
the burden of proof is on the Government to establish by clear and 
convincing evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture.
    ``(b) Suits and Actions Described.--A suit or action is described 
in this subsection if it is--
            ``(1) a suit or action (other than a suit or action arising 
        under section 592) brought for the forfeiture of a vessel, 
        vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under any law 
        relating to the collection of duties on imports or tonnage; or
            ``(2) a suit or action brought for the recovery of the 
        value of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or 
        baggage, because of a violation of that law.''.

SEC. 6. RELEASE OF SEIZED PROPERTY FOR SUBSTANTIAL HARDSHIP.

    Section 614 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1614) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) Release Upon Payment.--'' before 
        ``If''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Release of Seized Property for Substantial Hardship.--
            ``(1) Request for release.--(A) A claimant is entitled to 
        immediate release of seized property if continued possession by 
        the Government would cause the claimant substantial hardship.
            ``(B) A claimant seeking release of property under this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(i) request possession of the property from the 
                appropriate customs officer; and
                    ``(ii) state in the request the basis for such 
                release.
            ``(2) Civil action.--(A) If, within 10 days after the date 
        on which a request is made under paragraph (1), the subject 
        property has not been released, the claimant may file a 
        complaint in any district court that would have jurisdiction 
        over forfeiture proceedings relating to the property.
            ``(B) A complaint under subparagraph (B) shall state--
                    ``(i) the nature of the claim to the seized 
                property;
                    ``(ii) the reason why the continued possession by 
                the United States Government pending the final 
                disposition of forfeiture proceedings will cause 
                substantial hardship to the claimant; and
                    ``(iii) the steps that the claimant has taken to 
                secure release of the property from the appropriate 
                customs officer.
            ``(3) Return of property.--If a complaint is filed under 
        paragraph (2), the district court shall order that the property 
        be returned to the claimant, pending completion of proceedings 
        by the United States Government to obtain forfeiture of the 
        property, if the claimant shows that--
                    ``(A) the claimant is likely to demonstrate a 
                possessory interest in the seized property; and
                    ``(B) continued possession by the United States 
                Government of the seized property is likely to cause 
                substantial hardship to the claimant.
            ``(4) Conditions.--The court may place such conditions on 
        release of the property as the court finds are appropriate to 
        preserve the availability of the property or its equivalent for 
        forfeiture.
            ``(5) Time for decision.--The district court shall render a 
        decision on a complaint filed under paragraph (2) no later than 
        30 days after the date of the filing, unless such 30-day 
        limitation is extended by consent of the parties or by the 
        court for good cause shown.''.

SEC. 7. JUSTICE ASSETS FORFEITURE FUND.

    Section 524(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
                striking ``law enforcement'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) and (I) as 
                subparagraphs (I) and (J), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the 
                following new subparagraph:
            ``(H) payment of court-awarded compensation for 
        representation of claimants pursuant to section 608(b) of the 
        Tariff Act of 1930;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ``(H)'' and inserting 
        ``(I)''.

SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION REGARDING FORFEITURES UNDER THE CONTROLLED 
              SUBSTANCES ACT.

    Section 511(a)(7) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 
881(a)(7)) is amended by striking ``without the knowledge or consent of 
that owner'' and inserting ``either without the knowledge of that owner 
or without the consent of that owner''.

SEC. 9. APPLICABILITY.

    The amendments made by this Act apply with respect to claims filed 
under section 608 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and suits and actions filed 
under section 615 of that Act on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act.

Ex Output:
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to exclude from the customs and tax exemption under tort claims procedures a claim based on the negligent destruction, injury, or loss of goods or merchandise (including real property) while in the possession of a customs or other law enforcement officer. 
Extends the period for filing claims in certain in rem proceedings. 
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide that:  (1) in all suits or actions brought for the forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of any law relating to the collection of duties on imports or tonnage, with exceptions, and for the recovery of the value of any forfeited property because of violation of any such law, the burden of proof is on the Government to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the property was subject to forfeiture; (2) any person claiming such property may at any time within 60 days from the date of the first publication of the notice of seizure file a claim with the appropriate customs officer, who shall transmit such claim to the U.S. attorney for the district in which seizure was made; and (3) if the person filing such claim (or a claim regarding seized property under any other provision of law that incorporates by reference the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation procedures of the customs laws) is financially unable to obtain representation, the court may appoint counsel, subject to specified requirements. 
Specifies that a claimant is entitled to immediate release of seized property if continued possession by the Government would cause the claimant substantial hardship.  Sets forth procedures regarding the request for release, return of property, and time for decision by the court on a complaint for such return. 
Makes sums in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund available for the payment of court-awarded compensation for representation of claimants under the Tariff Act, with respect to seizure claims by individuals financially unable to obtain representation of counsel.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Federal Lands Management 
Demonstration Project''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds and declares the following:
            (1) The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 
        U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) established new and expanded units of the 
        National Park System and the National Wildlife System in many 
        areas of Alaska. The purposes of these conservation system 
        units were, among other purposes, to protect habitat for fish 
        and wildlife, to conserve fish and wildlife populations in 
        their natural state, to provide continued opportunity for 
        subsistence uses by local residents, and to protect 
        archaeological sites associated with Native cultures.
            (2) Many rural Alaskan communities are in close proximity 
        to conservation system lands, and the purposes of these units 
        are uniquely relevant to the culture and ways of Native 
        Alaskans and other residents of rural Alaskan communities. 
        Congress recognized this close relationship in sections 1306, 
        1307 and 1308 of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
        Conservation Act, which directed the Secretary of Interior to 
        establish programs whereby Native lands were given preference 
        for the siting of conservation service unit facilities, Native 
        corporations and local residents were given preference for the 
        provision of visitor services, and local residents were given 
        preferences for employment. Despite these provisions, little 
        progress has been made in increasing related employment 
        opportunities for Native Alaskan and other local residents.
            (3) In much of rural Alaska, Indian tribes and tribal 
        organizations have a long history of contracting to operate 
        Federal programs and provide Federal services to resident 
        Alaskan Natives and have demonstrated the capacity to provide 
        other kinds of Federal programs and services.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this demonstration project are to 
design innovative management strategies that will lead to greater 
efficiency in conservation system unit management, expand Native 
contracting opportunities, increase local employment, and further the 
unique purposes of these units as they relate to subsistence practices, 
Alaska Native cultures, and the preservation of fish and wildlife 
habitat and populations.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    The Secretary of the Interior shall, for a period not to exceed 5 
years following the date of the enactment of this Act, conduct an 
Alaska Federal Lands Management Demonstration Project.

SEC. 4. ALASKA FEDERAL LANDS MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    (a) Participation.--The Secretary shall select, upon request and in 
a manner to achieve geographic representation, not less than 6 eligible 
Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations per year to participate in 
the Demonstration Project in fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the 
Demonstration Project, each Indian tribe or tribal organization shall--
            (1) request participation by resolution or other official 
        action of the governing body of the tribal organization;
            (2) demonstrate financial and management stability and 
        capability;
            (3) demonstrate significant use of or dependency upon the 
        relevant conservation system unit or other public land unit for 
        which programs, functions, services, and activities are 
        requested to be placed under contract;
            (4) where the Secretary receives a request to contract 
        specific conservation system unit programs, services, 
        functions, and activities, or portions thereof, from more than 
        1 Indian tribe or tribal organization meeting the criteria set 
        forth in paragraphs (1) through (3), the Secretary shall apply 
        the priority selection criteria applied by the Juneau Area 
        Bureau of Indian Affairs for contracting pursuant to the Indian 
        Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. If, after 
        applying such criteria, there remains more than one eligible 
        participant and such participants have overlapping requests to 
        negotiate and contract for the same programs, services, 
        functions, and activities, or portions thereof, the Secretary 
        may require such Indian tribes or organizations to agree which 
        entity shall have the ability to contract, or to submit a joint 
        request prior to entering into negotiations.
    (c) Contracts.--
            (1) In general.--Upon request, the Secretary shall 
        negotiate and enter into a contract with each participating 
        Indian tribe or tribal organization to plan, conduct and 
        administer requested programs, services, functions and 
        activities, or portions thereof, related to the administration 
        of a conservation system unit or other public land unit that is 
        substantially located within the geographic region of the 
        respective Indian tribe or tribal organization.
            (2) Technical support.--Contracts authorized by this Act 
        shall include, at the request of the Indian tribe or tribal 
        organization, the operation and support of the regional 
advisory councils, biological research, harvest monitoring, and other 
technical research related to conservation and allocation actions by 
the regional councils, and such other programs, functions, services, 
and activities reasonably necessary to carry out title VIII of the 
Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act.
            (3) Time limitation for negotiation of contracts.--Not 
        later than 90 days after selection by the Secretary of 
        participating Indian tribes or tribal organizations, the 
        Secretary shall initiate and conclude negotiations, unless an 
        alternative negotiation and implementation schedule is 
        otherwise mutually agreed to by the parties. The declination 
        and appeals provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act, including section 110 of such Act, 
        shall apply to contracts and agreements requested and 
        negotiated under this Act.
    (d) Contract Administration.--
            (1) Inclusion of certain terms.--At the request of the 
        contracting Indian tribe or tribal organization, the benefits, 
        privileges, terms, and conditions of agreements entered into 
        pursuant to titles I and IV of the Indian Self-Determination 
        and Education Assistance Act shall be available for inclusion 
        in a contract entered into under this Act. If any provisions of 
        the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act are 
        incorporated they shall have the same force and effect as if 
        set out in full in this Act and shall apply notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law. The parties may include such other 
        terms and conditions as are mutually agreed to and not 
        otherwise contrary to law.
            (2) Audit.--Contracts entered into under this Act shall 
        provide for a single-agency audit report to be filed as 
        required by chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code.
            (3) Transfer of employees.--Any career Federal employee 
        employed at the time of the transfer of an operation or program 
        to an Indian tribe or tribal organization shall not be 
        separated from Federal service by such transfer. 
        Intergovernmental Personnel Actions may be used to transfer 
        supervision of such employees to the contracting Indian tribe 
        or tribal organization. Such transferred employees shall be 
        given priority placement for any available position within 
        their respective agency, notwithstanding any priority 
        reemployment lists, directives, rules, regulations or other 
        orders from the Department of the Interior, the Office of 
        Management and Budget, or other Federal agencies.
    (e) Available Funding; Payment.--Under the terms of a contract 
negotiated pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide each 
Indian tribe or tribal organization funds in an amount not less than 
the Secretary would have otherwise provided for the operation of the 
requested programs, services, functions, and activities. Contracts 
entered into under this Act shall provide for advance payments to the 
tribal organizations in the form of annual or semiannual installments.
    (f) Timing.--Indian tribes and tribal organizations selected to 
participate shall be entitled to begin implementation of any requested 
contracts no later than the first fiscal year following the year in 
which the Indian tribe or tribal organization is selected for 
participation, unless the Indian tribe or tribal organization and the 
Secretary, by mutual agreement, shall agree to an alternate 
implementation schedule.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the close of fiscal years 
2000 and 2001 and the end of this Demonstration Project, the Secretary 
shall present to the Congress detailed reports, including a narrative, 
findings, and conclusions on the costs and benefits of the 
Demonstration Project. The reports shall identify remaining 
institutional and legal barriers to the contracting of conservation 
system unit management to Alaska Native entities and shall contain 
suggestions for improving, continuing, and expanding the Demonstration 
Project. The reports shall be authored jointly with, and shall include 
the separate views of, all participating Alaska Native tribes and 
tribal organizations.
    (h) Limitations.--
            (1) Revenue producing visitor services.--Contracts 
        authorized under this Act shall not include revenue producing 
        visitor services unless an agreement is reached with the most 
        directly affected Alaskan Native corporations to allow such 
        services to be included in the contract. Such contracts shall 
        not otherwise repeal, alter, or otherwise modify the any other 
        existing provision of sections 1307 and 1308 of the Alaska 
        National Interests Lands Conservation Act.
            (2) Denali national park.--The Denali National Park shall 
        not be subject to any of the provisions of this Act.
    (i) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Upon application, the Secretary shall 
        award a planning grant in the amount of $100,000 to any 
        participating Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization to 
plan for the contracting of programs, functions, services, and 
activities authorized under this Act.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $600,000 in each of the 2 fiscal years 
        immediately following the date of the enactment of this Act to 
        fund planning grants authorized under this subsection.

SEC. 5. ANILCA SECTION 1307 AND 1308 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the 
Committee on Resources of the United States House of Representatives a 
report detailing the progress that the Department of the Interior has 
made in the implementation of the provisions of sections 1307 and 1308 
of the Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act. The report 
shall--
            (1) include a detailed action plan on the future 
        implementation of the provisions of sections 1307 and 1308 of 
        that Act;
            (2) describe in detail the measures and actions that will 
        be taken to implement such sections, along with a description 
        of the anticipated results to be achieved during the 3 fiscal 
        years following the submission of the report;
            (3) address any laws, rules, regulations, and policies 
        which limit or deter the goal of Alaska Native hiring or 
        contracting to perform and conduct activities and programs of 
        Department agencies and bureaus other than those currently 
        available through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    (b) Funding.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
completed within existing appropriations.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.--

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Conservation system unit.--The term ``conservation 
        system unit'' shall have the meaning given that term in section 
        102(4) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
            (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' shall have the 
        meaning given that term in subsection 4(e) of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (4) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' 
        shall have the meaning given that term in subsection 4(l) of 
        the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

Ex Output:
Requires the Secretary to: (1) select not less than six eligible Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations per year to participate in the Project in FY 2000 and 2001; and (2) negotiate and enter into a contract with each participant to plan, conduct, and administer requested programs and services related to the administration of a conservation system unit or other public land unit substantially located within the respective Indian tribe's or tribal organization's geographic region.
Requires contracts to include, at the participant's request, the operation and support of the regional advisory councils, biological research, harvest monitoring, and other technical research related to conservation and allocation actions by the regional councils and such other programs and services reasonably necessary to carry out title VIII of the Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Makes available the benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of agreements entered into pursuant to titles I and IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act for inclusion in the contract, at the request of the contracting tribe or tribal organization.
Prohibits the separation of any career Federal employee employed at the time of the transfer of an operation or program from Federal service to a tribe or tribal organization. Directs the Secretary to provide each tribe or tribal organization funds that would have otherwise been provided for the operation of the requested programs and services.
Specifies that contracts shall not include revenue producing visitor services unless an agreement is reached with the most directly affected Alaska Native corporations.
Exempts Denali National Park from the provisions of this Act.
Requires the Secretary, upon application, to award a planning grant to any participating Alaska Native tribe or tribal organization to plan for the contracting of programs and services authorized under this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
Requires transmittal by the Secretary to the appropriate congressional committees of a report on the progress that the Department of the Interior has made in the implementation of ANILCA provisions concerning: (1) the continuation of existing visitor services in areas established as or added to a conservation system unit; and (2) establishment of a program for hiring individuals who, by reason of having lived or worked in or near public lands, have special knowledge or expertise concerning the natural or cultural resources of public lands, without regard to certain civil service training requirements, employment preferences, or numerical limitations.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers 
Protection Act of 2017'' or the ``VET Protection Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LABOR MANAGEMENT IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

                   ``SUBCHAPTER III--LABOR MANAGEMENT

``Sec. 741. Records on use of official time
    ``(a) Tracking of Official Time.--The Secretary shall track the use 
of official time by employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
a manner that accounts for such time accurately and to a specific 
degree without the use of estimates or ranges of time.
    ``(b) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than December 31 of each year, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Office of Personnel Management and 
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate a report on the use of official time by employees of the 
Department during the most recently ended fiscal year.
    ``(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect 
to the fiscal year covered by the report, the following information:
            ``(A) The total amount of official time granted to 
        employees.
            ``(B) The total amount of official time expended and the 
        amount of official time expended per employee for term 
        negotiations, mid-term negotiations, general labor-management 
        relations, and dispute resolution.
            ``(C) The specific types of activities or purposes for 
        which official time was granted, and the impact which the 
        granting of such official time for such activities or purposes 
        had on the operations of the Department.
            ``(D) The total number of employees to whom official time 
        was granted, and, of that total, the number who were not 
        engaged in any activities or purposes except activities or 
        purposes involving the use of official time.
            ``(E) The total annual salary, job title, and amount of 
        official time afforded to any employee.
            ``(F) A description of any room or space designated at the 
        Department where official time activities will be conducted, 
        including the square footage of any such room or space.
            ``(G) A list of any employee granted a waiver under section 
        742(d) and justification for each such waiver.
    ``(c) Definition of Official Time.--For purposes of this section, 
the term `official time' means any period of time--
            ``(1) which may be granted to an employee under chapter 71 
        of title 5 (including a collective bargaining agreement entered 
        into under such chapter) or chapter 74 of this title to perform 
        representational or consultative functions; and
            ``(2) during which the employee would otherwise be in a 
        duty status.
``Sec. 742. Limitations on use of official time for certain purposes 
              and individuals
    ``(a) Political Activities and Lobbying.--Notwithstanding section 
7131 of title 5 or any other provision of law, any employee of the 
Department may not use official time to carry out political activities 
or activities relating to lobbying.
    ``(b) Prohibition on Use of Official Time by Certain Employees.--
The following employees of the Department may not use official time for 
any purpose:
            ``(1) Any employee appointed under section 7401(1).
            ``(2) Any employee with an annual rate of basic pay equal 
        to or greater than $100,000.
            ``(3) Any employee who is serving a probationary period.
    ``(c) Limitation on All Employees.--Any employee of the Department 
not covered by subsection (b) may spend no more than 25 percent of the 
time such employee would otherwise be in a duty status on official 
time.
    ``(d) Waiver.--(1) The Secretary may waive the requirements of 
subsection (b) or (c) with respect to an employee of the Department if 
the Secretary certifies, in writing, that the waiver is reasonable, 
necessary, and in the best interests of veterans.
    ``(2) The authority provided to the Secretary under this subsection 
shall not be subject to bargaining under this title or chapter 71 of 
title 5, and the exercise of, or failure to exercise, such authority 
shall not be an unfair labor practice under this title or such chapter.
    ``(e) Definition of Official Time.--For purposes of this section, 
the term `official time' has the meaning given that term in section 
741(c).
``Sec. 743. Termination of collection of dues
    ``Notwithstanding section 7115 of title 5, any exclusive bargaining 
agreement entered into pursuant to chapter 71 of such title by the 
Department shall provide that an employee of the Department may 
terminate a voluntary allotment for the payment of dues at any time. 
Any deductions for dues made pursuant to such allotment shall cease 
beginning on the first pay period after the termination is made.''.
    (b) Applicability.--Sections 742 and 743 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to any 
collective bargaining agreement entered into before, on, or after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

                   ``subchapter iii--labor management

``741. Records on use of official time.
``742. Limitations on use of official time for certain purposes and 
                            individuals.
``743. Termination of collection of dues.''.

SEC. 3. REQUIRED PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR NEW EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Probationary Period.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 7 of title 38, United States Code, 
        is further amended by inserting after section 717 the following 
        new section:
``Sec. 719. Probationary period for employees
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding sections 3321 and 3393(d) of 
title 5, the appointment of a covered employee shall become final only 
after such employee has served a probationary period of 2 years.
    ``(b) Covered Employee.--In this section, the term `covered 
employee'--
            ``(1) means any individual--
                    ``(A) appointed to a permanent position within the 
                competitive service at the Department; or
                    ``(B) appointed as a career appointee (as that term 
                is defined in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5) within the 
                Senior Executive Service at the Department; and
            ``(2) does not include any individual with a probationary 
        period prescribed by section 7403 of this title.
    ``(c) Permanent Hires.--Not later than 90 days before the 
expiration of a covered employee's probationary period under subsection 
(a), the supervisor of the employee shall determine whether the 
appointment becomes final based on regulations prescribed for such 
purpose by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Application.--With respect to any individual described in 
subsection (b)(1)(A) and to whom this section applies, sections 7501(1) 
and 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii) of title 5 shall be applied to such individual by 
substituting `completed 2 years' for `completed 1 year' in each 
instance it appears.''.
            (2) Clerical and conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Clerical.--The table of sections at the 
                beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 2, is 
                further amended by inserting after the item relating to 
                section 717 the following new item:

``719. Probationary period for employees.''.
                    (B) Conforming.--Title 5, United States Code, is 
                amended--
                            (i) in section 3321(c)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Service, or'' and 
                                inserting ``Service,''; and
                                    (II) by inserting at the end before 
                                the period the following: ``, or any 
                                individual covered by section 719 of 
                                title 38'';
                            (ii) in section 3393(d), by inserting at 
                        the end before the period the following: ``or 
                        section 719 of title 38'';
                            (iii) in sections 7501(1) and 
                        7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), by inserting ``or section 
                        719 of title 38'' after ``title 10'' in each 
                        instance it appears; and
                            (iv) in section 7541(1)(A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``title or'' and 
                                inserting ``title,''; and
                                    (II) by inserting at the end before 
                                the semicolon the following: ``, or 
                                section 719 of title 38''.
    (b) Application.--Section 719 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a)(1), shall apply to any covered employee (as 
that term is defined in subsection (b) of such section 719, as so 
added) appointed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Ex Output:

Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2017 or the VET Protection Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) track the use of official time by VA employees accurately and without the use of estimates or ranges of times, and (2) report on such use to the Office of Personnel Management and Congress by December 1 of each fiscal year.   Each report shall include: (1) the total amount of official time granted to employees; (2) the total amount of official time expended and the amount of official time expended per employee for term negotiations, mid-term negotiations, general labor-management relations, and dispute resolution; (3) the types of activities for which official time was granted and the impact on VA operations; (4) the total annual salary and job title of, and amount of official time afforded to, employees; (5) a description of any room or space designated for official time activities; and (6) a list of any employees granted a waiver and a justification for each such waiver.  "Official time" means any period of time granted to an employee under federal labor-management provisions to perform representational or consultative functions during which the employee would otherwise be in a duty status. The bill prohibits a VA employee from using official time to carry out political or lobbying activities;   The following VA employees may not use official time for any purpose: (1) a physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, or optometrist; (2) an employee with an annual basic pay rate of $100,000 or more; and (3) an employee serving a probationary period. Any other VA employee may not spend more than 25% of his or her duty status time on official time. The VA may waive such official time restrictions if reasonable, necessary, and in the best interest of veterans. Such waiver authority shall not be subject to collective bargaining, and the exercise or failure to exercise such authority shall not be an unfair labor practice.  An exclusive bargaining agreement entered into by the VA shall allow a VA employee to terminate a voluntary allotment for the payment of dues at any time.  The appointment of a covered VA employee shall become final only after such employee has served a two-year probationary period. "Covered employee:&quot; (1) means any individual appointed to a permanent position within the competitive service or as a career appointee within the Senior Executive Service, and (2) does not include any individual appointed to a VA health care position for which a two-year probationary period applies. Such an employee's supervisor shall determine whether the employee's appointment becomes final not later than 90 days before the expiration of such probationary period.