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 Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Geospatial
Preparedness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Homeland security and national geospatial preparedness.
Sec. 5. Security policy and guidelines for geospatial data.
Sec. 6. Office of Geospatial Management and Geospatial Information
Officer.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data can provide
all levels of government and the private sector with proven
capabilities to carry out detection, planning, preparedness,
mitigation, response, and recovery activities for homeland
security purposes that save lives and protect property.
(2) The completion and maintenance of the National Spatial
Data Infrastructure with integrated applications and systems
will provide the level of geospatial preparedness required to
protect critical infrastructure, strategic assets, the economic
base, and persons.
(3) Geospatial technology and information have proven to be
essential to enabling more informed decisionmaking, greater
efficiency, increased accountability, and better management in
all levels of government and the private sector.
(4) Building spatial data once and then sharing it many
times between all levels of government and the private sector
increases the ability of information technology applications
and systems to provide better services to the public in a cost-
effective manner.
(5) The use of international, national, and industry
consensus standards to develop and deploy interoperable
geospatial data and geospatial technologies assists the
commercial geospatial industry to provide products that make it
easier, faster, and less expensive for all levels of government
and the private sector to share, integrate, and use geospatial
data for decisionmaking.
(6) Establishing a new Federal Government program to
provide financial incentives to State, regional, local, and
tribal governments will greatly accelerate adoption of
international, national, and industry consensus standards.
(7) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data can be
essential tools for virtually all functions of government and
business.
(8) Geospatial preparedness in the United States is not
adequate due to a variety of factors including inadequate
geospatial data compatibility, insufficient geospatial data
sharing, technology interoperability barriers, institutional
and organizational resistance to new ways of doing business,
lack of financial incentives to improved use of geospatial
technologies, and inefficient geospatial data collection and
sharing.
(9) Interoperable geospatial technology and geospatial data
capabilities are emerging and incentives are needed for full
adoption and for collaborative use to meet community and
national needs.
(10) Geospatial technologies and geospatial data are
maintained by all levels of government and the private sector.
A comprehensive nationwide program is necessary to build and
maintain a standards-based geospatial spatial data
infrastructure and geographic information systems required to
respond to increasing demands.
(11) State, regional, local, and tribal governments, the
private sector, and other non-government organizations are
investing in geospatial technologies and geospatial data.
Incentives are necessary to leverage these investments for more
effective use to meet community and national needs.
(12) Establishing the Office of Geospatial Management,
administered by a Geospatial Information Officer, within the
Department of Homeland Security will ensure the most effective
and efficient management of programs and activities involving
geospatial technologies and geospatial data.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Geographic information systems software and hardware.--
The term ''geographic information systems software and
hardware'' means computer software and hardware required to
identify, depict, visualize, analyze, maintain, or otherwise
utilize geospatial data.
(2) Geospatial applications.--The term ''geospatial
applications'' means computer software and systems that extend
the capabilities of geographic information systems software and
hardware to identify, depict, visualize, analyze, maintain, or
otherwise utilize geospatial data.
(3) Geospatial data.--The term ''geospatial data'' means
information that identifies, depicts, or describes the
geographic locations, boundaries, or characteristics of
inhabitants and natural or constructed features on the Earth,
including such information derived from, among other sources,
socio-demographic analysis, economic analysis, land information
records and land use information processing, statistical
analysis, survey and observational methodologies, environmental
analysis, critical infrastructure protection, satellites,
remote sensing, airborne imagery collection, mapping,
engineering, construction, global positioning systems, and
surveying technologies and activities.
(4) Geospatial preparedness.--The term ''geospatial
preparedness'' means the level of overall capability and
capacity necessary to enable all levels of government and the
private sector to utilize geospatial data, geographic
information systems software and hardware, and geospatial
applications to perform essential emergency management
functions, including detection, planning, mitigation, response,
and recovery, in order to minimize loss of life and property
from weapons of mass destruction, terrorist threats, major man-
made accidents, and natural disasters.
(5) National spatial data infrastructure.--The term
''National Spatial Data Infrastructure'' means the combination
of the geographic information systems software and hardware,
geospatial applications, geospatial data, standards, policies,
programs, and human resources necessary to acquire, process,
analyze, store, maintain, distribute, and otherwise utilize
geospatial data as a strategic asset for the Nation.
(6) Office of geospatial management.--The term ''Office of
Geospatial Management'' means the administrative organization
responsible for designing, managing, coordinating, and
implementing comprehensive geospatial initiatives.
(7) Standards.--The term ''standards'' means documented
international, national, or industry consensus agreements
containing technical specifications or other precise criteria
to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions to
ensure that materials, products, processes, or services are
proper for their purposes.

SEC. 4. HOMELAND SECURITY AND NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL PREPAREDNESS.

The Secretary shall direct the Chief Information Officer to work,
consistent with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16,
Executive Order 12906, and section 216 of the Electronic Government
Act, with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice,
the Federal Geographic Data Committee, the National Imagery and Mapping
Agency, other appropriate Federal agencies, and members of the Steering
Committee and Coordination Group of the Federal Geographic Data
Committee, to use and enhance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure
for homeland security purposes, by--
(1) developing a comprehensive national enterprise
strategy, incorporating industry and government standards, for
the coordinated acquisition, building, storage, maintenance,
and use of Federal Government, non-Federal Government, and
private sector geospatial data with, when feasible and
appropriate, integrated and interoperable commercially-provided
geographic information systems software and hardware,
geospatial applications, geospatial data, and services in order
to achieve an adequate level of national geospatial
preparedness;
(2) providing grants, technical assistance, and cooperative
agreements to State, regional, local, and tribal government as
well as non-profit organizations in order to increase
geospatial preparedness by actions such as analyzing
requirements, performing strategic planning, sharing geospatial
data, developing agreements for sharing geospatial data,
integrating geospatial data, developing standards, integrating
systems, and acquiring, when feasible and appropriate,
interoperable commercially-provided geographic information
systems software and hardware, geospatial applications,
geospatial data, and Global Positioning System equipment and
procuring services in order to achieve an adequate level of
national geospatial preparedness;
(3) coordinating with, and assisting, the Federal
Geographic Data Committee, the Office of Management and Budget,
and the commercial geospatial industry to establish national
standards for the development, acquisition, storage,
maintenance, distribution, utilization, and application of
geospatial data;
(4) coordinating with, and assisting, the commercial
geospatial industry to establish national standards for the
development, distribution, and utilization of geographic
information systems software and hardware and geospatial
applications; and
(5) utilizing, when feasible and appropriate, commercially-
provided interoperable geographic information systems software
and hardware, geospatial applications, geospatial data, and
services to carry out the responsibilities, activities, and
programs authorized by this section.

SEC. 5. SECURITY POLICY AND GUIDELINES FOR GEOSPATIAL DATA.

The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland
Security shall establish, within 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act and consistent with overall homeland security
goals of the Department of Homeland Security, security policy and
guidelines for the acquisition, processing, and dissemination of
geospatial data depicting critical infrastructure and strategic assets
located in the United States.

SEC. 6. OFFICE OF GEOSPATIAL MANAGEMENT AND GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION
OFFICER.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish
the Office of Geospatial Management within the Office of the Chief
Information Officer. The Office of Geospatial Management shall be
administered by the Geospatial Information Officer under the direction
of the Chief Information Officer.
(b) Geospatial Information Officer.--The Geospatial Information
Officer--
(1) shall be appointed by the Secretary from among
individuals who are skilled in geographic information
technology and systems management; and
(2) shall be responsible for--
(A) designing, managing, coordinating, and
implementing comprehensive geospatial initiatives; and
(B) working with the Chief Information Officer to
carry out section 4 and section 5.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal
years 2004 through 2008. Such authorization is in addition to other
authorizations of appropriations that are available for such purpose.
[EX A]: Geospatial Preparedness Act - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to direct the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Departments of the Interior and Justice, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, other appropriate Federal agencies, and members of the Federal Geographic Data Committee to use and enhance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure for homeland security purposes.

Directs the CIO to establish security and policy guidelines for the acquisition, processing, and dissemination of geospatial data depicting critical infrastructure and strategic assets in the United States.

Requires the: (1) Secretary to establish the Office of Geospatial Management within the Office of the CIO; and (2) Geospatial Manager to work with the CIO to design, manage, coordinate, and implement comprehensive geospatial initiatives.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Dr. Chris
Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Stays; probationary employees.
Sec. 103. Prohibited personnel practices.
Sec. 104. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against
whistleblowers.
Sec. 105. Suicide by employees.
Sec. 106. Training for supervisors.
Sec. 107. Information on whistleblower protections.

TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES

Sec. 201. Prevention of unauthorized access to medical records of
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 202. Outreach on availability of mental health services available
to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 203. Protocols to address threats against employees of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 204. Comptroller General of the United States study on
accountability of chiefs of police of Department of Veterans
Affairs medical centers.

TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
In this title--
(1) the term ''agency''--
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity
that is an agency, as defined under section 2302 of title 5,
United States Code, without regard to whether one or more
portions of title 5 of the United States Code are inapplicable
to the entity; and
(B) does not include any entity that is an element of the
intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
(2) the term ''employee'' means an employee (as defined in
section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of an agency; and
(3) the term ''personnel action'' has the meaning given that
term under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 102. STAYS; PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES.
(a) Request by Special Counsel.--Section 1214(b)(1) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(E) If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay under
this subsection, the head of the agency employing the employee shall
give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.''.
(b) Probationary Employees.--Section 1221 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(k) If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay to an
employee in probationary status under subsection (c), the head of the
agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a
transfer submitted by the employee.''.
(c) Study Regarding Retaliation Against Probationary Employees.--
The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives a report discussing retaliation against employees in
probationary status.
SEC. 103. PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICES.
Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (12), by striking ''or'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ''; or''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
''(14) access the medical record of another employee or an
applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance
of, any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (13).''.
SEC. 104. DISCIPLINE OF SUPERVISORS BASED ON RETALIATION AGAINST
WHISTLEBLOWERS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
''Sec. 7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against
whistleblowers
''(a) Definitions.--In this section--
''(1) the term 'agency'--
''(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an
entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302,
without regard to whether any other provision of this chapter
is applicable to the entity; and
''(B) does not include any entity that is an element of the
intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
''(2) the term 'prohibited personnel action' means taking or
failing to take an action in violation of paragraph (8), (9), or
(14) of section 2302(b) against an employee of an agency; and
''(3) the term 'supervisor' means an employee who would be a
supervisor, as defined under section 7103(a), if the entity
employing the employee was an agency.
''(b) Proposed Disciplinary Actions.--
''(1) In general.--If the head of the agency employing a
supervisor, an administrative law judge, the Merit Systems
Protection Board, the Special Counsel, a judge of the United
States, or the Inspector General of the agency employing a
supervisor determines that the supervisor has committed a
prohibited personnel action, the head of the agency employing the
supervisor, in accordance with the procedures required under
paragraph (2)--
''(A) for the first prohibited personnel action committed
by a supervisor--
''(i) shall propose suspending the supervisor for a
period of not less than 3 days; and
''(ii) may, in addition to a suspension described in
clause (i), propose any other action, including a reduction
in grade or pay, that the head of the agency determines
appropriate; and
''(B) for the second prohibited personnel action committed
by a supervisor, shall propose removing the supervisor.
''(2) Procedures.--
''(A) Notice.--A supervisor against whom an action is
proposed to be taken under paragraph (1) is entitled to written
notice--
''(i) stating the specific reasons for the proposed
action; and
''(ii) informing the supervisor of the right of the
supervisor to review the material which is relied on to
support the reasons for the proposed action.
''(B) Answer and evidence.--
''(i) In general.--A supervisor who is notified under
subparagraph (A) that the supervisor is the subject of a
proposed action under paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days
following such notification to answer and furnish evidence
in support of the answer.
''(ii) No evidence furnished; insufficient evidence.--
After the end of the 14-day period described in clause (i),
if a supervisor does not furnish evidence as described in
clause (i) or if the head of the agency determines that
such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the proposed
action, the head of the agency shall carry out the action.
''(C) Scope of procedures.--An action carried out under
this section--
''(i) except as provided in clause (ii), shall be
subject to the same requirements and procedures (including
regarding appeals) as an action under section 7503, 7513,
or 7543; and
''(ii) shall not be subject to--

''(I) paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7503(b);
''(II) paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and
subsection (c) of section 7513; or
''(III) paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)
and subsection (c) of section 7543.

''(3) Delegation.--
''(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (B), the
head of an agency may delegate any authority or responsibility
under this subsection.
''(B) Nondelegability of determination regarding prohibited
personnel action.--If the head of an agency is responsible for
determining whether a supervisor has committed a prohibited
personnel action for purposes of paragraph (1), the head of the
agency may not delegate that responsibility.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:

''7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against
whistleblowers.''.
SEC. 105. SUICIDE BY EMPLOYEES.
(a) Referral.--The head of an agency shall refer to the Special
Counsel, along with any information known to the agency regarding the
circumstances described in paragraphs (2) and (3), any instance in
which the head of the agency has information indicating--
(1) an employee of the agency committed suicide;
(2) prior to the death of the employee, the employee made any
disclosure of information which reasonably evidences--
(A) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
(B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse
of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public
health or safety; and
(3) after a disclosure described in paragraph (2), a personnel
action was taken against the employee.
(b) Office of Special Counsel Review.--For any referral to the
Special Counsel under subsection (a), the Special Counsel shall--
(1) examine whether any personnel action was taken because of
any disclosure of information described in subsection (a)(2); and
(2) take any action the Special Counsel determines appropriate
under subchapter II of chapter 12 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 106. TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS.
In consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General
of the agency (or senior ethics official of the agency for an agency
without an Inspector General), the head of each agency shall provide
training regarding how to respond to complaints alleging a violation of
whistleblower protections (as defined in section 2307 of title 5,
United States Code, as added by section 107) available to employees of
the agency--
(1) to employees appointed to supervisory positions in the
agency who have not previously served as a supervisor; and
(2) on an annual basis, to all employees of the agency serving
in a supervisory position.
SEC. 107. INFORMATION ON WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
(a) Existing Provision.--
(1) In general.--Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as
subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 4505a(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by striking ''section 2302(d)'' and inserting ''section
2302(c)''.
(B) Section 5755(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by striking ''section 2302(d)'' and inserting ''section
2302(c)''.
(C) Section 110(b)(2) of the Whistleblower Protection
Enhancement Act of 2012 (5 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by
striking ''section 2302(f)(1) or (2)'' and inserting ''section
2302(e)(1) or (2)''.
(D) Section 1217(d)(3) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22
U.S.C. 3657(d)(3)) is amended by striking ''section 2302(d)''
and inserting ''section 2302(c)''.
(E) Section 1233(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22
U.S.C. 3673(b)) is amended by striking ''section 2302(d)'' and
inserting ''section 2302(c)''.
(b) Provision of Information.--Chapter 23 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
''Sec. 2307. Information on whistleblower protections
''(a) Definitions.--In this section--
''(1) the term 'agency'--
''(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), has the
meaning given that term in section 2302; and
''(B) does not include any entity that is an element of the
intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));
''(2) the term 'new employee' means an individual--
''(A) appointed to a position as an employee of an agency
on or after the date of enactment of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick
Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017; and
''(B) who has not previously served as an employee; and
''(3) the term 'whistleblower protections' means the
protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel
practice described in paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C),
or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (14) of section 2302(b).
''(b) Responsibilities of Head of Agency.--The head of each agency
shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel
practices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil
service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel
management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Special Counsel
and the Inspector General of the agency) that employees of the agency
are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this
chapter and chapter 12, including--
''(1) information regarding whistleblower protections available
to new employees during the probationary period;
''(2) the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit
Systems Protection Board with regard to whistleblower protections;
and
''(3) how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is
specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept
classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of
foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an
agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive
such disclosures.
''(c) Timing.--The head of each agency shall ensure that the
information required to be provided under subsection (b) is provided to
each new employee of the agency not later than 6 months after the date
the new employee begins performing service as an employee.
''(d) Information Online.--The head of each agency shall make
available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to
employees of the agency on the public website of the agency, and on any
online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency if
one exists.
''(e) Delegees.--Any employee to whom the head of an agency
delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect
thereof, shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be
responsible for the activities described in subsection (b).''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:

''2307. Information on whistleblower protections.''.

TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES

SEC. 201. PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS OF
EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Development of Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall--
(A) develop a plan to prevent access to the medical records
of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs by employees
of the Department who are not authorized to access such
records;
(B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the
plan developed under subparagraph (A); and
(C) upon request, provide a briefing to the appropriate
committees of Congress with respect to the plan developed under
subparagraph (A).
(2) Elements.--The plan required under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A detailed assessment of strategic goals of the
Department for the prevention of unauthorized access to the
medical records of employees of the Department.
(B) A list of circumstances in which an employee of the
Department who is not a health care provider or an assistant to
a health care provider would be authorized to access the
medical records of another employee of the Department.
(C) Steps that the Secretary will take to acquire new or
implement existing technology to prevent an employee of the
Department from accessing the medical records of another
employee of the Department without a specific need to access
such records.
(D) Steps the Secretary will take, including plans to issue
new regulations, as necessary, to ensure that an employee of
the Department may not access the medical records of another
employee of the Department for the purpose of retrieving
demographic information if that demographic information is
available to the employee in another location or through
another format.
(E) A proposed timetable for the implementation of such
plan.
(F) An estimate of the costs associated with implementing
such plan.
(b) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ''appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 202. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a program of
outreach to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to inform
those employees of any mental health services, including telemedicine
options, that are available to them.
SEC. 203. PROTOCOLS TO ADDRESS THREATS AGAINST EMPLOYEES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure protocols are in
effect to address threats from individuals receiving health care from
the Department of Veterans Affairs directed towards employees of the
Department who are providing such health care.
SEC. 204. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY ON
ACCOUNTABILITY OF CHIEFS OF POLICE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study
to assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command
structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs police officers at
medical centers of the Department.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
[EX A]: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 4, 2017 . Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY (Sec. 102) This bill directs federal agencies (excluding any entity that is an element of the intelligence community) to give priority to an employee transfer request if the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the OSC determines the personnel action was taken, or is to be taken, as a result of a prohibited personnel practice; or (2) the employee if the individual is in probationary status and seeks corrective action. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall report to Congress on retaliation against employees in probationary status. (Sec. 103) The bill: (1) prohibits any employee who has the authority to take a personnel action to access the medical records of another employee or applicant for employment, (2) authorizes disciplinary action against supervisors for retaliation against whistleblowers. (Sec. 105) Agencies must: (1) refer information about employee suicides to the OSC, (2) train supervisors on responding to complaints alleging whistleblower protections violations, (3) provide information regarding whistleblower protections to new employees during probationary periods, (4) inform employees of the role of the OSC and the MSPB with regard to whistleblower protection, and (5) make information about such protections available on agency websites. TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES (Sec. 201) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must: (1) submit a plan to prevent unauthorized access to the medical records of VA employees; (2) conduct an outreach program to inform its employees of available mental health services, including telemedicine options; and (3) ensure protocols are in effect to address threats against VA employees providing health care. (Sec. 204) The GAO shall assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command structure of the VA police officers at VA medical centers.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

The first section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended to read as follows:

''SEC. 33. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

''(a) Definition of Firefighting Personnel.--In this section, the
term 'firefighting personnel' means individuals, including volunteers,
who are firefighters, officers of fire departments, or emergency
medical service personnel of fire departments.
''(b) Assistance Program.--
''(1) Authority.--In accordance with this section, the
Administrator may--
''(A) make grants on a competitive basis directly
to fire departments of a State, in consultation with
the chief executive of the State, for the purpose of
protecting the health and safety of the public,
firefighting personnel, and property against fire and
fire-related hazards; and
''(B) provide assistance for fire prevention
programs in accordance with paragraph (4).
''(2) Office for administration of assistance.--
''(A) Establishment.--Before providing assistance
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall establish
an office in the Administration to administer the
assistance under this section.
''(B) Included duties.--The duties of the office
shall include the following:
''(i) Recipient selection criteria.--To
establish specific criteria for the selection
of recipients of the assistance under this
section, including a requirement for peer
review of the selection process.
''(ii) Grant-writing assistance.--To
provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
''(3) Use of fire department grant funds.--The
Administrator may make a grant under paragraph (1)(A) only if
the applicant for the grant agrees to use the grant funds for
one or more of the following purposes:
''(A) To hire additional firefighting personnel.
''(B) To train firefighting personnel in
firefighting, emergency response (including response to
a terrorism incident or use of a weapon of mass
destruction), arson prevention and detection, or the
handling of hazardous materials, or to train
firefighting personnel to provide any of the training
described in this subparagraph.
''(C) To fund the creation of rapid intervention
teams to protect firefighting personnel at the scenes
of fires and other emergencies.
''(D) To certify fire inspectors.
''(E) To establish wellness and fitness programs
for firefighting personnel to ensure that the
firefighting personnel can carry out their duties.
''(F) To fund emergency medical services provided
by fire departments.
''(G) To acquire additional firefighting vehicles,
including fire trucks.
''(H) To acquire additional firefighting equipment,
including equipment for communications, monitoring, and
response to a terrorism incident or use of a weapon of
mass destruction.
''(I) To acquire personal protective equipment
required for firefighting personnel by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, and other personal
protective equipment for firefighting personnel,
including protective equipment to respond to a
terrorism incident or the use of a weapon of mass
destruction.
''(J) To modify fire stations, fire training
facilities, and other facilities to protect the health
and safety of firefighting personnel.
''(K) To enforce fire codes.
''(L) To fund fire prevention programs.
''(M) To educate the public about arson prevention
and detection.
''(N) To provide incentives for the recruitment and
retention of volunteer firefighting personnel for
volunteer firefighting departments and other
firefighting departments that utilize volunteers,
including funding to enable training described in
subparagraph (B).
''(4) Fire prevention programs.--
''(A) In general.--For each fiscal year, the
Administrator shall use not less than 5 percent of the
funds made available under subsection (e)--
''(i) to make grants to fire departments
for the purpose described in paragraph (3)(L);
and
''(ii) to make grants to, or enter into
contracts or cooperative agreements with,
national, State, local, or community
organizations that are recognized for their
experience and expertise with respect to fire
prevention or fire safety programs and
activities, for the purpose of carrying out
fire prevention programs.
''(B) Priority.--In selecting organizations
described in subparagraph (A)(ii) to receive assistance
under this paragraph, the Administrator shall give
priority to organizations that focus on prevention of
injuries to children from fire.
''(5) Application.--The Administrator may provide
assistance to a fire department or organization under this
subsection only if the fire department or organization seeking
the assistance submits to the Administrator an application that
meets the following requirements:
''(A) Form.--The application shall be in such form
as the Administrator may require.
''(B) Information.--The application shall include
the following information:
''(i) Financial need.--Information that
demonstrates the financial need of the
applicant for the assistance for which applied.
In allocating funds under this section, the
Administrator shall not discriminate against an
applicant whose funding jurisdiction places a
high budget priority on fire department needs.
''(ii) Cost-benefit analysis.--An analysis
of the costs and benefits, with respect to
public safety, of the use of the assistance.
''(iii) Reporting systems data.--An
agreement to provide information to the
national fire incident reporting system for the
period covered by the assistance.
''(iv) Other information.--Any other
information that the Administrator may require.
''(6) Non-federal contribution.--
''(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Administrator may provide assistance under this
subsection only if the applicant for the assistance
agrees to provide 30 percent of the cost of the
purposes for which the assistance is sought under this
subsection in non-Federal funds for any fiscal year.
''(B) Requirement for small community
organizations.--In the case of an applicant whose
personnel serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer
residents, the required non-Federal contribution under subparagraph (A)
shall be 10 percent.
''(7) Maintenance of expenditures.--The Administrator may
provide assistance under this subsection only if the applicant
for the assistance agrees to maintain in the fiscal year for
which the assistance will be received the applicant's aggregate
expenditures for the uses described in paragraph (3) or (4) at
or above the average level of such expenditures in the two
fiscal years preceding the fiscal year for which the assistance
will be received.
''(8) Report to the administrator.--The Administrator may
provide assistance under this subsection only if the applicant
for the assistance agrees to submit to the Administrator a
report, including a description of how the assistance was used,
with respect to each fiscal year for which the assistance was
received.
''(9) Variety of fire department grant recipients.--The
Administrator shall ensure that grants under paragraph (1)(A)
for a fiscal year are made to a variety of fire departments,
including, to the extent that there are eligible applicants--
''(A) career, volunteer, and combination fire
departments;
''(B) fire departments located in communities of
varying sizes; and
''(C) fire departments located in urban, suburban,
and rural communities.
''(10) Grant limitations.--
''(A) Recipient limitation.--A grant recipient
under this section may not receive more than $750,000
under this section for any fiscal year.
''(B) Limitation on expenditures for firefighting
vehicles.--Not more than 25 percent of the funds
appropriated to provide grants under this section for a
fiscal year may be used to assist grant recipients to
purchase vehicles, as authorized by paragraph (3)(G).
''(11) Reservation of grant funds for volunteer
departments.--In making grants to firefighting departments, the
Administrator shall ensure that those firefighting departments
that have either all-volunteer forces of firefighting personnel
or combined forces of volunteer and career firefighting
personnel collectively receive at least a proportion of the
total grant funding that equals the proportion of the United
States population that those firefighting departments protect.
''(c) Audits.--A recipient of a grant under this section shall be
subject to audits to ensure that the grant proceeds are expended for
the intended purposes and that the grant recipient complies with the
requirements of paragraphs (6) and (7) of subsection (b).
''(d) State Defined.--In this section, the term 'State' includes
the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
''(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
''(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Administrator $900,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2002 through 2004 for the purposes of this section.
''(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the funds appropriated
pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator
may use not more than five percent of the funds to cover
salaries and expenses and other administrative costs incurred
by the Administrator to operate the office established under
subsection (b)(2) and make grants and provide assistance under
this section.''.

SEC. 2. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

The second section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2230) and section 34 of that Act (15 U.S.C.
2231) are redesignated as sections 34 and 35, respectively.
[EX A]:
Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 with respect to competitive grants to fire departments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) U.S. Fire Administration. Adds protection of property to the list of grant purposes.Requires the grant administration office to require peer review of the grant recipient selection process.Adds funding for training as a volunteer recruitment and retention incentive among the proper uses of grant funds.