<enum>I</enum><header>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <section id="idDBEE7E2FC7284E969F368759E5C08442"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection id="id374135D435B5412FB50C003EF2700EC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/3">Chapter 3</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8DFE468DC15341C68CFDBE3F145B0CD6" style="USC"> <section id="idF24CEB3A228C40BA97840177E7F674C1"><enum>323.</enum><header>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection id="id8E362478C02F445EA449712A12E3145B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Department an office to be known as the <quote>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>).</text> </subsection><subsection id="idA5C40FB07C3E46A68D9CE74D14AC938F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Head of Office</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4D0E45F54A99438680435C1A1E2109CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The head of the Office shall be responsible for the functions of the Office and shall be appointed by the President pursuant to section 308(a) of this title.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idB28649A9DFF84802A865D8E780F76A2C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The head of the Office shall be known as the <quote>Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idBAEF07D9250A4E6AB8F77319AD434187" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Assistant Secretary shall report directly to the Secretary on all matters relating to the Office.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idC1E751B7C0684806A13E78F0D03DC436" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Notwithstanding section 308(b) of this title, the Secretary may only assign to the Assistant Secretary responsibilities relating to the functions of the Office set forth in subsection (c).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6B8D2643FFC546FAB40568448C44F61C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id31040F803D5548088ED44FD8BFBB0C3D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The functions of the Office are as follows:</text> <subparagraph id="id6f9a00c5d2494f4586e4421ae4d29c0e" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Advising the Secretary on all matters of the Department relating to accountability, including accountability of employees of the Department, retaliation against whistleblowers, and such matters as the Secretary considers similar and affect public trust in the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a566defad9746c09b259208f96c85ea" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Issuing reports and providing recommendations related to the duties described in subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ddc9481c17049e3980858f0c2e05cda" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Receiving whistleblower disclosures.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5d83e6e27b7049a59109eabb00139fba" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Referring whistleblower disclosures received under subparagraph (C) for investigation to the Office of the Medical Inspector, the Office of Inspector General, or other investigative entity, as appropriate, if the Assistant Secretary has reason to believe the whistleblower disclosure is evidence of a violation of a provision of law, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ddd2087bbb74b28a943101cde4fa77f" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Receiving and referring disclosures from the Special Counsel for investigation to the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Inspector General of the Department, or such other person with investigatory authority, as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a57b076ace941f69e8dfb41f6903ed1" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Recording, tracking, reviewing, and confirming implementation of recommendations from audits and investigations carried out by the Inspector General of the Department, the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Special Counsel, and the Comptroller General of the United States, including the imposition of disciplinary actions and other corrective actions contained in such recommendations.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a1d84ffa97a479c8f91a9428a7cf1ac" indent="up1"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Analyzing data from the Office and the Office of Inspector General telephone hotlines, other whistleblower disclosures, disaggregated by facility and area of health care if appropriate, and relevant audits and investigations to identify trends and issue reports to the Secretary based on analysis conducted under this subparagraph.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01566ccecb4b4241b3701a0ef38d09cf" indent="up1"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Receiving, reviewing, and investigating allegations of misconduct, retaliation, or poor performance involving—</text> <clause id="id0BB582362FD8402791DE20080BA6C999"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual in a senior executive position (as defined in section 713(d) of this title) in the Department;</text> </clause><clause id="id0FAC257A2DC14748B11DA99FC7665743"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an individual employed in a confidential, policy-making, policy-determining, or policy-advocating position in the Department; or</text> </clause><clause id="idC6DCB649D183458B9CB2005FF21FC29F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a supervisory employee, if the allegation involves retaliation against an employee for making a whistleblower disclosure.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id07CA09D734A44A618AD7E469841B409B" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Making such recommendations to the Secretary for disciplinary action as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate after substantiating any allegation of misconduct or poor performance pursuant to an investigation carried out as described in subparagraph (F) or (H).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7141d504b4db4c86837e917294fb2891" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In carrying out the functions of the Office, the Assistant Secretary shall ensure that the Office maintains a toll-free telephone number and Internet website to receive anonymous whistleblower disclosures.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id9028EB5109894DE8B4F2BEE4F6C5128E" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In any case in which the Assistant Secretary receives a whistleblower disclosure from an employee of the Department under paragraph (1)(C), the Assistant Secretary may not disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee, except in accordance with the provisions of section 552a of title 5, or as required by any other applicable provision of Federal law.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id231E419F134F4045964BEB55AFAA492B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Staff and resources</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the Assistant Secretary has such staff, resources, and access to information as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Office.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id8737A364DDBE4F44AD8B54D5DFFD266F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Relation to Office of General Counsel</header><text>The Office shall not be established as an element of the Office of the General Counsel and the Assistant Secretary may not report to the General Counsel.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idCDBA53668E4A49309B021C0C7B9F323C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE75B880B81E943E1A8BF1FC3CD56B3C6"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id48633FCE28464226947A7B63BCF5200A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, beginning with June 30, 2017, the Assistant 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 activities of the Office during the calendar year in which the report is submitted.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBA1C26549EF34977999E8D6F44C05BE3" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:</text> <clause id="id0A8686B46CBF4C579FAAAC044D47073D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A full and substantive analysis of the activities of the Office, including such statistical information as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </clause><clause id="idca6ee63e8e2740deb05a934e060d3783"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Identification of any issues reported to the Secretary under subsection (c)(1)(G), including such data as the Assistant Secretary considers relevant to such issues and any trends the Assistant Secretary may have identified with respect to such issues.</text> </clause><clause id="idEF73F656D67148F1A3DD531E1E77DE5F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Identification of such concerns as the Assistant Secretary may have regarding the size, staffing, and resources of the Office and such recommendations as the Assistant Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to address such concerns.</text> </clause><clause id="id3691A5F8C91D4A43B4EAD37DDB2CD6DA"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Such recommendations as the Assistant Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to improve—</text> <subclause id="idCD7DFBA9E6DC4CD6823B4A1B93E77297"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the process by which concerns are reported to the Office; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="id8C8D5CF14AAE4FD486B9BE3E53C2D199"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the protection of whistleblowers within the Department.</text> </subclause></clause><clause id="idEC3DA179C1E94950A6F1FDA9AA6B62D6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate regarding the functions of the Office or other matters relating to the Office.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1E3A19E4AA8B485BAE1F34186A9A9360" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary receives a recommendation for disciplinary action under subsection (c)(1)(I) and does not take or initiate the recommended disciplinary action before the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary received the recommendation, 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 detailed justification for not taking or initiating such disciplinary action.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB4E2FFA2C7924DB09343C4166192ECEB"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F09502BE40141058AB766E0CC495CFB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>supervisory employee</term> means an employee of the Department who is a supervisor as defined in section 7103(a) of title 5.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEBC04684138448EB814EDF1EA8039A6E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>whistleblower</term> means one who makes a whistleblower disclosure.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8C1DAF4FFD934DC8861A99DF3AA3A0B1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> means any disclosure of information by an employee of the Department or individual applying to become an employee of the Department which the employee or individual reasonably believes evidences—</text> <subparagraph id="id38808235B6FE4792960419E917D9E259"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a violation of a provision of law; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2B87E618533B4BC9AECEEB52847BA004"><enum>(B)</enum><text>gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id2487BCC5715C42958294FB6859F2CDE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 308(b) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BCD6BF38BD24223B81DF8FAD705E888" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id363E4779923D4D21B1DA62E39289CB63"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The functions set forth in section 323(c) of this title.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id512B53A5CF2840D9B8038FF35A29301A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCCC3FF32D6774D4882B5645AC9B4AC12" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">323. Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section id="idA2CD67B76C7549639280F7C802866FE3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Protection of whistleblowers in Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="id331FD97110704BFBB3155507633612EB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by—</text> <paragraph id="id4E10F815569D41A09321250EF37D9E93"><enum>(1)</enum><text>striking sections 731, 732, 734, 735, and 736;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEC66A6DB15444427B33EF6C4CB404983"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating section 733 as section 731; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id29392EA0800D4298B07A7E6C137A85E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new sections:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE76C9F8912D545ADB7196CD6C81D0EC2" style="USC"> <section id="id1c791fa1588b4b3893349dcf1295c037"><enum>732.</enum><header>Protection of whistleblowers as criteria in evaluation of supervisors</header> <subsection id="idf9ab777ccabd4348a4e58b3beb15a4db"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development and use of criteria required</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, shall develop criteria that—</text> <paragraph id="idB3EED5EDC53A45ACBC4799C2ADECA36F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary shall use as a critical element in any evaluation of the performance of a supervisory employee; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id13A8184F9D724E6DB73B40DCE118209E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>promotes the protection of whistleblowers.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id440d2f030fb64c3a9c7edb246e5ac443"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Principles for protection of whistleblowers</header><text>The criteria required by subsection (a) shall include principles for the protection of whistleblowers, such as the degree to which supervisory employees respond constructively when employees of the Department report concerns, take responsible action to resolve such concerns, and foster an environment in which employees of the Department feel comfortable reporting concerns to supervisory employees or to the appropriate authorities.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id7431C0B6FF8F4BE1923BACDDCD9F944B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Supervisory employee and whistleblower defined</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>supervisory employee</term> and <term>whistleblower</term> have the meanings given such terms in section 323 of this title.</text> </subsection></section><section id="idecc34a40660f425081dd0aa87df94f5c"><enum>733.</enum><header>Training regarding whistleblower disclosures</header> <subsection id="id5f0ef5ff87074eafa7f95bf9765ab315"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Training</header><text>Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary, in coordination with the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman designated under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-act" parsable-cite="usc-act/Inspector General Act of 1978 /3">section 3(d)(1)(C)</external-xref> of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), shall provide to each employee of the Department training regarding whistleblower disclosures, including—</text> <paragraph id="id344a8c5a3d694f609d89f0d1e6fcd1d2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an explanation of each method established by law in which an employee may file a whistleblower disclosure;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id20aeacf0e6874726b56f4336b54815c5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the right of the employee to petition Congress regarding a whistleblower disclosure in accordance with section 7211 of title 5;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idc71fdf7f69024ae099d9c7ba4fd7d4a4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an explanation that the employee may not be prosecuted or reprised against for disclosing information to Congress, the Inspector General, or another investigatory agency in instances where such disclosure is permitted by law, including under sections 5701, 5705, and 7732 of this title, under section 552a of title 5 (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act), under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/18/93">chapter 93</external-xref> of title 18, and pursuant to regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/104/191">Public Law 104–191</external-xref>);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide1606504db4b4688a6899a8c55c7f548"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an explanation of the language that is required to be included in all nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements pursuant to section 115(a)(1) of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/2302">5 U.S.C. 2302</external-xref> note); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id641ef74be5ff476e994914de687cefab"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the right of contractors to be protected from reprisal for the disclosure of certain information under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd8bc46555f674ebaabde43b8769fccb0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Manner training is provided</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that training provided under subsection (a) is provided in person.</text> </subsection><subsection id="ide64e4812461f4de3bb3b8e954d949b5d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall provide training on merit system protection in a manner that the Special Counsel certifies as being satisfactory.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idce4f9e2b12d94dcbab55afb91d753c67"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Secretary shall publish on the Internet website of the Department, and display prominently at each facility of the Department, the rights of an employee to make a whistleblower disclosure, including the information described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a).</text> </subsection><subsection id="id411DA93C43E341F3814545643C8C3BB7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Whistleblower disclosure defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323 of this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id336FA1B3662048E09A0FE594AE44769A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idDF32C908455E4922873B7AD9259C3ABF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the items relating to sections 731 through 736; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8861CECFD9C540F090F982B4F50C9422"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new items:</text> <quoted-block id="id5c52fbb0-8155-4e7c-b86f-f858b6c31e50" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">731. Adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited personnel actions relating to whistleblower complaints.</toc-entry><toc-entry idref="id1c791fa1588b4b3893349dcf1295c037" level="section">732. Protection of whistleblowers as criteria in evaluation of supervisors.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="idecc34a40660f425081dd0aa87df94f5c" level="section">733. Training regarding whistleblower disclosures.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6B2A5FFDC63D4906818CDCA72B48AC06"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 731 of such title, as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idF884F1F942454EA695BD338E6F76E6AB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text> <subparagraph id="idEAEA4B038DC24F9ABB3E82BEC5A0BEE0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <clause id="id2AD97AAE0B75462E9EE6C44D9A34ECEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE59680032E1F47118151178BD2E79154" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id5CCF09515D0B460CAB488ABCC77DCFC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>making a whistleblower disclosure to the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Inspector General of the Department, the Special Counsel, or Congress;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </clause><clause id="id24F40F0918C74210AD18CD7BCA04372F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (F) as subparagraphs (B) through (E), respectively; and</text> </clause><clause id="id7B199FFBF9B545BAB7809663062AE9AF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by clause (ii), by striking <quote>complaint in accordance with section 732 or with</quote> and inserting <quote>disclosure made to the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection,</quote>; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00A171067F7D4E2C971E9684BA2261F8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>through (F)</quote> and inserting <quote>through (E)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC2AFA5C0668B4CEA86DCAB0937534484"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36F2B79B4B96479C9821BE1DA7F3DEFD" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id381d67d272d4458ba793b03a2b2240c1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Whistleblower disclosure defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323(g) of this title.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4091E30BC68745AB84FD25D81B38AECC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on methods used to investigate employees of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="idc864e0c27c504c79914719b9b40a82b9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report required</header><text>Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on methods used to investigate employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and whether such methods are used to retaliate against whistleblowers.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id71A68E9EA4EC4378A1DCA4E962649115"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="id1C6AC84B02E4444C8AE07DE9CE728054"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An assessment of the use of administrative investigation boards, peer review, searches of medical records, and other methods for investigating employees of the Department.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id9DD6CD744F0E4ECD81DEF59911813D5E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A determination of whether and to what degree the methods described in paragraph (1) are being used to retaliate against whistleblowers.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id42C9A5B7239C458B858BDFC530FC1330"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Recommendations for legislative or administrative action to implement safeguards to prevent the retaliation described in paragraph (2).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id73BC1BAECAF7433FA9B06AE543026F18"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Whistleblower defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 101.</text> </subsection></section>

115 S1094 IS: Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 U.S. Senate 2017-05-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and 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—Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection

Sec. 101. Establishment of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

Sec. 102. Protection of whistleblowers in Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 103. Report on methods used to investigate employees of Department of Veterans Affairs.

TITLE II—Accountability of senior executives, supervisors, and other employees

Sec. 201. Improved authorities of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability of senior executives.

Sec. 202. Improved authorities of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability of employees.

Sec. 203. Reduction of benefits for Department of Veterans Affairs employees convicted of certain crimes.

Sec. 204. Authority to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 205. Authority to recoup relocation expenses paid to or on behalf of employees of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 206. Time period for response to notice of adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited personnel actions.

Sec. 207. Direct hiring authority for medical center directors and VISN directors.

Sec. 208. Time periods for review of adverse actions with respect to certain employees.

Sec. 209. Improvement of training for supervisors.

Sec. 210. Assessment and report on effect on senior executives at Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 211. Measurement of Department of Veterans Affairs disciplinary process outcomes and effectiveness.

<enum>I</enum><header>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <section id="idDBEE7E2FC7284E969F368759E5C08442"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment of Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection id="id374135D435B5412FB50C003EF2700EC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/3">Chapter 3</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8DFE468DC15341C68CFDBE3F145B0CD6" style="USC"> <section id="idF24CEB3A228C40BA97840177E7F674C1"><enum>323.</enum><header>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</header> <subsection id="id8E362478C02F445EA449712A12E3145B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Department an office to be known as the <quote>Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Office</quote>).</text> </subsection><subsection id="idA5C40FB07C3E46A68D9CE74D14AC938F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Head of Office</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4D0E45F54A99438680435C1A1E2109CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The head of the Office shall be responsible for the functions of the Office and shall be appointed by the President pursuant to section 308(a) of this title.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idB28649A9DFF84802A865D8E780F76A2C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The head of the Office shall be known as the <quote>Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idBAEF07D9250A4E6AB8F77319AD434187" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Assistant Secretary shall report directly to the Secretary on all matters relating to the Office.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idC1E751B7C0684806A13E78F0D03DC436" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Notwithstanding section 308(b) of this title, the Secretary may only assign to the Assistant Secretary responsibilities relating to the functions of the Office set forth in subsection (c).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6B8D2643FFC546FAB40568448C44F61C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id31040F803D5548088ED44FD8BFBB0C3D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The functions of the Office are as follows:</text> <subparagraph id="id6f9a00c5d2494f4586e4421ae4d29c0e" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Advising the Secretary on all matters of the Department relating to accountability, including accountability of employees of the Department, retaliation against whistleblowers, and such matters as the Secretary considers similar and affect public trust in the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a566defad9746c09b259208f96c85ea" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Issuing reports and providing recommendations related to the duties described in subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ddc9481c17049e3980858f0c2e05cda" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Receiving whistleblower disclosures.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5d83e6e27b7049a59109eabb00139fba" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Referring whistleblower disclosures received under subparagraph (C) for investigation to the Office of the Medical Inspector, the Office of Inspector General, or other investigative entity, as appropriate, if the Assistant Secretary has reason to believe the whistleblower disclosure is evidence of a violation of a provision of law, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ddd2087bbb74b28a943101cde4fa77f" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Receiving and referring disclosures from the Special Counsel for investigation to the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Inspector General of the Department, or such other person with investigatory authority, as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a57b076ace941f69e8dfb41f6903ed1" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Recording, tracking, reviewing, and confirming implementation of recommendations from audits and investigations carried out by the Inspector General of the Department, the Medical Inspector of the Department, the Special Counsel, and the Comptroller General of the United States, including the imposition of disciplinary actions and other corrective actions contained in such recommendations.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a1d84ffa97a479c8f91a9428a7cf1ac" indent="up1"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Analyzing data from the Office and the Office of Inspector General telephone hotlines, other whistleblower disclosures, disaggregated by facility and area of health care if appropriate, and relevant audits and investigations to identify trends and issue reports to the Secretary based on analysis conducted under this subparagraph.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01566ccecb4b4241b3701a0ef38d09cf" indent="up1"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Receiving, reviewing, and investigating allegations of misconduct, retaliation, or poor performance involving—</text> <clause id="id0BB582362FD8402791DE20080BA6C999"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual in a senior executive position (as defined in section 713(d) of this title) in the Department;</text> </clause><clause id="id0FAC257A2DC14748B11DA99FC7665743"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an individual employed in a confidential, policy-making, policy-determining, or policy-advocating position in the Department; or</text> </clause><clause id="idC6DCB649D183458B9CB2005FF21FC29F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a supervisory employee, if the allegation involves retaliation against an employee for making a whistleblower disclosure.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id07CA09D734A44A618AD7E469841B409B" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Making such recommendations to the Secretary for disciplinary action as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate after substantiating any allegation of misconduct or poor performance pursuant to an investigation carried out as described in subparagraph (F) or (H).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7141d504b4db4c86837e917294fb2891" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In carrying out the functions of the Office, the Assistant Secretary shall ensure that the Office maintains a toll-free telephone number and Internet website to receive anonymous whistleblower disclosures.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id9028EB5109894DE8B4F2BEE4F6C5128E" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>In any case in which the Assistant Secretary receives a whistleblower disclosure from an employee of the Department under paragraph (1)(C), the Assistant Secretary may not disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of the employee, except in accordance with the provisions of section 552a of title 5, or as required by any other applicable provision of Federal law.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id231E419F134F4045964BEB55AFAA492B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Staff and resources</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the Assistant Secretary has such staff, resources, and access to information as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Office.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id8737A364DDBE4F44AD8B54D5DFFD266F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Relation to Office of General Counsel</header><text>The Office shall not be established as an element of the Office of the General Counsel and the Assistant Secretary may not report to the General Counsel.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idCDBA53668E4A49309B021C0C7B9F323C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE75B880B81E943E1A8BF1FC3CD56B3C6"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id48633FCE28464226947A7B63BCF5200A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, beginning with June 30, 2017, the Assistant 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 activities of the Office during the calendar year in which the report is submitted.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBA1C26549EF34977999E8D6F44C05BE3" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:</text> <clause id="id0A8686B46CBF4C579FAAAC044D47073D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A full and substantive analysis of the activities of the Office, including such statistical information as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </clause><clause id="idca6ee63e8e2740deb05a934e060d3783"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Identification of any issues reported to the Secretary under subsection (c)(1)(G), including such data as the Assistant Secretary considers relevant to such issues and any trends the Assistant Secretary may have identified with respect to such issues.</text> </clause><clause id="idEF73F656D67148F1A3DD531E1E77DE5F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Identification of such concerns as the Assistant Secretary may have regarding the size, staffing, and resources of the Office and such recommendations as the Assistant Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to address such concerns.</text> </clause><clause id="id3691A5F8C91D4A43B4EAD37DDB2CD6DA"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Such recommendations as the Assistant Secretary may have for legislative or administrative action to improve—</text> <subclause id="idCD7DFBA9E6DC4CD6823B4A1B93E77297"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the process by which concerns are reported to the Office; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="id8C8D5CF14AAE4FD486B9BE3E53C2D199"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the protection of whistleblowers within the Department.</text> </subclause></clause><clause id="idEC3DA179C1E94950A6F1FDA9AA6B62D6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate regarding the functions of the Office or other matters relating to the Office.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1E3A19E4AA8B485BAE1F34186A9A9360" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary receives a recommendation for disciplinary action under subsection (c)(1)(I) and does not take or initiate the recommended disciplinary action before the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary received the recommendation, 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 detailed justification for not taking or initiating such disciplinary action.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB4E2FFA2C7924DB09343C4166192ECEB"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7F09502BE40141058AB766E0CC495CFB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>supervisory employee</term> means an employee of the Department who is a supervisor as defined in section 7103(a) of title 5.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEBC04684138448EB814EDF1EA8039A6E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>whistleblower</term> means one who makes a whistleblower disclosure.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8C1DAF4FFD934DC8861A99DF3AA3A0B1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> means any disclosure of information by an employee of the Department or individual applying to become an employee of the Department which the employee or individual reasonably believes evidences—</text> <subparagraph id="id38808235B6FE4792960419E917D9E259"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a violation of a provision of law; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2B87E618533B4BC9AECEEB52847BA004"><enum>(B)</enum><text>gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id2487BCC5715C42958294FB6859F2CDE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 308(b) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BCD6BF38BD24223B81DF8FAD705E888" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id363E4779923D4D21B1DA62E39289CB63"><enum>(12)</enum><text>The functions set forth in section 323(c) of this title.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id512B53A5CF2840D9B8038FF35A29301A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCCC3FF32D6774D4882B5645AC9B4AC12" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">323. Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section id="idA2CD67B76C7549639280F7C802866FE3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Protection of whistleblowers in Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="id331FD97110704BFBB3155507633612EB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by—</text> <paragraph id="id4E10F815569D41A09321250EF37D9E93"><enum>(1)</enum><text>striking sections 731, 732, 734, 735, and 736;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idEC66A6DB15444427B33EF6C4CB404983"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating section 733 as section 731; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id29392EA0800D4298B07A7E6C137A85E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new sections:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE76C9F8912D545ADB7196CD6C81D0EC2" style="USC"> <section id="id1c791fa1588b4b3893349dcf1295c037"><enum>732.</enum><header>Protection of whistleblowers as criteria in evaluation of supervisors</header> <subsection id="idf9ab777ccabd4348a4e58b3beb15a4db"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development and use of criteria required</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, shall develop criteria that—</text> <paragraph id="idB3EED5EDC53A45ACBC4799C2ADECA36F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary shall use as a critical element in any evaluation of the performance of a supervisory employee; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id13A8184F9D724E6DB73B40DCE118209E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>promotes the protection of whistleblowers.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id440d2f030fb64c3a9c7edb246e5ac443"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Principles for protection of whistleblowers</header><text>The criteria required by subsection (a) shall include principles for the protection of whistleblowers, such as the degree to which supervisory employees respond constructively when employees of the Department report concerns, take responsible action to resolve such concerns, and foster an environment in which employees of the Department feel comfortable reporting concerns to supervisory employees or to the appropriate authorities.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id7431C0B6FF8F4BE1923BACDDCD9F944B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Supervisory employee and whistleblower defined</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>supervisory employee</term> and <term>whistleblower</term> have the meanings given such terms in section 323 of this title.</text> </subsection></section><section id="idecc34a40660f425081dd0aa87df94f5c"><enum>733.</enum><header>Training regarding whistleblower disclosures</header> <subsection id="id5f0ef5ff87074eafa7f95bf9765ab315"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Training</header><text>Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary, in coordination with the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman designated under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-act" parsable-cite="usc-act/Inspector General Act of 1978 /3">section 3(d)(1)(C)</external-xref> of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), shall provide to each employee of the Department training regarding whistleblower disclosures, including—</text> <paragraph id="id344a8c5a3d694f609d89f0d1e6fcd1d2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an explanation of each method established by law in which an employee may file a whistleblower disclosure;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id20aeacf0e6874726b56f4336b54815c5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the right of the employee to petition Congress regarding a whistleblower disclosure in accordance with section 7211 of title 5;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idc71fdf7f69024ae099d9c7ba4fd7d4a4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an explanation that the employee may not be prosecuted or reprised against for disclosing information to Congress, the Inspector General, or another investigatory agency in instances where such disclosure is permitted by law, including under sections 5701, 5705, and 7732 of this title, under section 552a of title 5 (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act), under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/18/93">chapter 93</external-xref> of title 18, and pursuant to regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/104/191">Public Law 104–191</external-xref>);</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="ide1606504db4b4688a6899a8c55c7f548"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an explanation of the language that is required to be included in all nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements pursuant to section 115(a)(1) of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/2302">5 U.S.C. 2302</external-xref> note); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id641ef74be5ff476e994914de687cefab"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the right of contractors to be protected from reprisal for the disclosure of certain information under section 4705 or 4712 of title 41.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd8bc46555f674ebaabde43b8769fccb0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Manner training is provided</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that training provided under subsection (a) is provided in person.</text> </subsection><subsection id="ide64e4812461f4de3bb3b8e954d949b5d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall provide training on merit system protection in a manner that the Special Counsel certifies as being satisfactory.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idce4f9e2b12d94dcbab55afb91d753c67"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Secretary shall publish on the Internet website of the Department, and display prominently at each facility of the Department, the rights of an employee to make a whistleblower disclosure, including the information described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a).</text> </subsection><subsection id="id411DA93C43E341F3814545643C8C3BB7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Whistleblower disclosure defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323 of this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id336FA1B3662048E09A0FE594AE44769A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idDF32C908455E4922873B7AD9259C3ABF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the items relating to sections 731 through 736; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8861CECFD9C540F090F982B4F50C9422"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new items:</text> <quoted-block id="id5c52fbb0-8155-4e7c-b86f-f858b6c31e50" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">731. Adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited personnel actions relating to whistleblower complaints.</toc-entry><toc-entry idref="id1c791fa1588b4b3893349dcf1295c037" level="section">732. Protection of whistleblowers as criteria in evaluation of supervisors.</toc-entry> <toc-entry idref="idecc34a40660f425081dd0aa87df94f5c" level="section">733. Training regarding whistleblower disclosures.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6B2A5FFDC63D4906818CDCA72B48AC06"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 731 of such title, as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idF884F1F942454EA695BD338E6F76E6AB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text> <subparagraph id="idEAEA4B038DC24F9ABB3E82BEC5A0BEE0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <clause id="id2AD97AAE0B75462E9EE6C44D9A34ECEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE59680032E1F47118151178BD2E79154" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id5CCF09515D0B460CAB488ABCC77DCFC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>making a whistleblower disclosure to the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Inspector General of the Department, the Special Counsel, or Congress;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </clause><clause id="id24F40F0918C74210AD18CD7BCA04372F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (F) as subparagraphs (B) through (E), respectively; and</text> </clause><clause id="id7B199FFBF9B545BAB7809663062AE9AF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by clause (ii), by striking <quote>complaint in accordance with section 732 or with</quote> and inserting <quote>disclosure made to the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection,</quote>; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00A171067F7D4E2C971E9684BA2261F8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>through (F)</quote> and inserting <quote>through (E)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC2AFA5C0668B4CEA86DCAB0937534484"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36F2B79B4B96479C9821BE1DA7F3DEFD" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id381d67d272d4458ba793b03a2b2240c1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Whistleblower disclosure defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323(g) of this title.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4091E30BC68745AB84FD25D81B38AECC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on methods used to investigate employees of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="idc864e0c27c504c79914719b9b40a82b9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report required</header><text>Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection shall submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on methods used to investigate employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and whether such methods are used to retaliate against whistleblowers.</text> </subsection><subsection id="id71A68E9EA4EC4378A1DCA4E962649115"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="id1C6AC84B02E4444C8AE07DE9CE728054"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An assessment of the use of administrative investigation boards, peer review, searches of medical records, and other methods for investigating employees of the Department.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id9DD6CD744F0E4ECD81DEF59911813D5E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A determination of whether and to what degree the methods described in paragraph (1) are being used to retaliate against whistleblowers.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id42C9A5B7239C458B858BDFC530FC1330"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Recommendations for legislative or administrative action to implement safeguards to prevent the retaliation described in paragraph (2).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id73BC1BAECAF7433FA9B06AE543026F18"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Whistleblower defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>whistleblower</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 101.</text> </subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Accountability of senior executives, supervisors, and other employees</header> <section id="id378D4FB241E04AD887558F274B908122" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Improved authorities of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability of senior executives</header> <subsection id="idC3EE6E107B6140D8A634F3DAE3152CBD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 713 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28FBCEA1AB3B478C9EC529C33EB46372" style="USC"> <section id="id4fd91da909af4e1ea1d7ada924bf5ee9"><enum>713.</enum><header>Senior executives: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconduct</header> <subsection id="id52FDC178EDEB43DABAAEE4EAE942E10B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idAB2C633C4F2A4E74B885F21BFD1592CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary may, as provided in this section, reprimand or suspend, involuntarily reassign, demote, or remove a covered individual from a senior executive position at the Department if the Secretary determines that the misconduct or performance of the covered individual warrants such action.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id1BCA6F0B50CA49728282F46C78495EAB" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary so removes such an individual, the Secretary may remove the individual from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id92d7f03c0e3641009002e18b7b3a1d5d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights and procedures</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id900B3BDAE9F246DBAB8291A3D08FFC91"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A covered individual who is the subject of an action under subsection (a) is entitled to—</text> <subparagraph id="id959FC4AA149B4DA29AAF4F3484D1DF75" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>advance notice of the action;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id68293BAA1F094E99B80958E1C2B637F9" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be represented by an attorney or other representative of the covered individual’s choice; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4e06019a9aeb4e8eaf22487a979cfb11" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process that the Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, shall establish for purposes of this subsection.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id21471354ABCE4DA3BB88D9DBE2335B9D" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id443D2030D365435882872865A85F30D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The aggregate period for notice, response, and decision on an action under subsection (a) may not exceed 15 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3CD5785064A74E34835B4F8016C21047" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The period for the response of a covered individual to a notice under paragraph (1)(A) of an action under subsection (a) shall be 7 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id2E8C8C81094842E5AD16BB3976B893F6" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A decision under this paragraph on an action under subsection (a) shall be issued not later than 15 business days after notice of the action is provided to the covered individual under paragraph (1)(A). The decision shall be in writing, and shall include the specific reasons therefor and a file containing all evidence in support of the proposed action.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id140E7F3DE9A146EEA5502D71C698625C" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id457FE68DABC24943B582A7719826F0FD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the grievance process established under paragraph (1)(C) takes fewer than 21 days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8C897644D0F445BE9C3668B239E0D5D9" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary shall ensure that grievances under this subsection are reviewed only by employees of the Department.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idDD2EEDD28A434302BD33E71CF9FCBAD2" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A decision under paragraph (2) that is not grieved, and a grievance decision under paragraph (3), shall be final and conclusive.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idebd8b1769d824d62b50d3ab39913e32a" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A covered individual adversely affected by a decision under paragraph (2) that is not grieved, or by a grievance decision under paragraph (3), may obtain judicial review of such decision.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idcc60622b92804a559084cdfbfe56f650" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>In any case in which judicial review is sought under paragraph (5), the court shall review the record and may set aside any Department action found to be—</text> <subparagraph id="ided209a37996644ca91b7cf3362172ebf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with a provision of law;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7997b3a64441404e802d30e5f39694ba"><enum>(B)</enum><text>obtained without procedures required by a provision of law having been followed; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5d95298492540c78dd7e0fa83eec572"><enum>(C)</enum><text>unsupported by substantial evidence.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB7E4496F057B40D4AABB30B2DD6AD1E5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Relation to other provisions of law</header><text>Section 3592(b)(1) of title 5 and the procedures under section 7543(b) of such title do not apply to an action under subsection (a).</text> </subsection><subsection id="id557A1A7C99614E4794630B83038C8B55"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="id10f011e6a08442b39fc08e55fda3acd2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term <term>covered individual</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="id26cf8bcbecee414ca418f80a353ff3e4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a career appointee (as that term is defined in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5); or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5803a3f5252b4d21bb801b20e99dbe05"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any individual who occupies an administrative or executive position and who was appointed under section 7306(a) or section 7401(1) of this title.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd1ab7ecc5c824c05b7159ee15af0a8f2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>misconduct</term> includes neglect of duty, malfeasance, or failure to accept a directed reassignment or to accompany a position in a transfer of function.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id7593333bd4b34f70a145b06459d2fe78"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>senior executive position</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="iddd5fc0dc1b5e40a2b4d574669a8045f8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with respect to a career appointee (as that term is defined in section 3132(a) of title 5), a Senior Executive Service position (as such term is defined in such section); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd684edad8b2c46d19a5db85e2a479b62"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to a covered individual appointed under section 7306(a) or section 7401(1) of this title, an administrative or executive position.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id6C45DB1660B746A993CD4B747256E38B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 7461(c)(1) of such title is amended by inserting <quote>employees in senior executive positions (as defined in section 713(d) of this title) and</quote> before <quote>interns</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id9EDA32CD81A14200BBAE6692607619D8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 713 and inserting the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAD0B4A42F0D24197BE8C3FA421295941" style="OLC"><toc><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">713. Senior executives: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconduct.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H46A35681CF21449A8DB25FBCFFDEEC57"><enum>202.</enum><header>Improved authorities of Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve accountability of employees</header> <subsection commented="no" id="HE4CEF8D89EA340F3B0F341005EFB4B13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/38/713">section 713</external-xref> the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D1B91374D7642A981FE666FFF63C9CD" style="USC"> <section commented="no" id="HC0AFF8A5F25F4A73B8D0B0F5DF63EF79"><enum>714.</enum><header>Employees: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconduct</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC280DF512DE84C30BF90AD4AF013C4CC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id86BB724555874F76B05794AC789ED014"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary may remove, demote, or suspend a covered individual who is an employee of the Department if the Secretary determines the performance or misconduct of the covered individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD9F08C72E3034051B0FCD0C8A28DA4FE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>If the Secretary so removes, demotes, or suspends such a covered individual, the Secretary may—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H39935695910A4B64A318F997E63AC018"><enum>(A)</enum><text>remove the covered individual from the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of title 5);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H172EEF53544744808A1C1475975DE491"><enum>(B)</enum><text>demote the covered individual by means of a reduction in grade for which the covered individual is qualified, that the Secretary determines is appropriate, and that reduces the annual rate of pay of the covered individual; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD5C315F4C5A642AA8709821372F14027"><enum>(C)</enum><text>suspend the covered individual.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HF3210107FED94202896355E5A44393C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pay of certain demoted individuals</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3506695E37704FA49F9E431810B9AE56"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any covered individual subject to a demotion under subsection (a)(2) shall, beginning on the date of such demotion, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to such grade.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA546E8D4CFBE42BABCD7761C953D90DA" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idB0824F541D854092A7A3D6727F8096A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A covered individual so demoted may not be placed on administrative leave during the period during which an appeal (if any) under this section is ongoing, and may only receive pay if the covered individual reports for duty or is approved to use accrued unused annual, sick, family medical, military, or court leave.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id0E1A8E023EFA424DBDF30C81064D07C1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If a covered individual so demoted does not report for duty or receive approval to use accrued unused leave, such covered individual shall not receive pay or other benefits pursuant to subsection (d)(5).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HE69181FEA5B144AFA20EDAAC3E6FF87D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Procedure</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB2ABF9F2FBAA4CDEA4C7B4057457F5BF"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id464B38479B214D3BB1380A55A356C1B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The aggregate period for notice, response, and final decision in a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section may not exceed 15 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id2C8D0C68401C4F13B119F786EC6CE8F8" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The period for the response of a covered individual to a notice of a proposed removal, demotion, or suspension under this section shall be 7 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idC332D792E47241989EC9065252F619CE" indent="up2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of section 7513 of title 5 shall apply with respect to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id720CA8EDD6174C00903D5A7E24EAFD84" indent="up2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The procedures in this subsection shall supersede any collective bargaining agreement to the extent that such agreement is inconsistent with such procedures.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5432E8CC8949481DBC9B4C7EFB9BDF66" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary shall issue a final decision with respect to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice, including a file containing all the evidence in support of the proposed action, to the covered individual of the removal, demotion, or suspension. The decision shall be in writing and shall include the specific reasons therefor.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H41375A560AF34C148A599BF6CD5544CC" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The procedures under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/43">chapter 43</external-xref> of title 5 shall not apply to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this section.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2EE2B86842944978A70AA4904DA02876" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HAB7C418130E940DB963D72ADE95B6584"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Subject to subparagraph (B) and subsection (d), any removal or demotion under this section, and any suspension of more than 14 days under this section, may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board, which shall refer such appeal to an administrative judge pursuant to section 7701(b)(1) of title 5.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB35FD057B3774B3C845D8BC5152F0308" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An appeal under subparagraph (A) of a removal, demotion, or suspension may only be made if such appeal is made not later than 10 business days after the date of such removal, demotion, or suspension.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H854FF6EA18854DF4B0204D4622807E30"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Expedited review</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H331D1CD7FEF947A1A454542417ADAC25"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Upon receipt of an appeal under subsection (c)(4)(A), the administrative judge shall expedite any such appeal under section 7701(b)(1) of title 5 and, in any such case, shall issue a final and complete decision not later than 180 days after the date of the appeal.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB626D92177684CFFB6E2F962C6F89CAE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id391B8F72D5234FE0A5732E73DD71FC77"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding section 7701(c)(1)(B) of title 5, the administrative judge shall uphold the decision of the Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend an employee under subsection (a) if the decision is supported by substantial evidence.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3903D4D869CF4D9F8F2B7EDA694D3F38" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the decision of the Secretary is supported by substantial evidence, the administrative judge shall not mitigate the penalty prescribed by the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H946861FA94CD4579A7EAAB69B1AACBCF" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The decision of the administrative judge under paragraph (1) may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H43441FCE80B942A2A262F1FC2C9D7AAD" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>In any case in which the administrative judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with the 180-day requirement under paragraph (1), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall, not later than 14 business days after the expiration of the 180-day period, submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that explains the reasons why a decision was not issued in accordance with such requirement.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H713AC161D6224F5EB66FAAC6F3CFEFFC" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H826B859F85EF4477BF444A3360536065"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board under paragraph (3) may be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit pursuant to section 7703 of title 5.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD089742C6AF9482EB2329531839698AE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any decision by such Court shall be in compliance with section 7462(f)(2) of this title.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H296C38A846C0482A90DCF7B3A33C089A" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Merit Systems Protection Board may not stay any removal or demotion under this section, except as provided in section 1214(b) of title 5.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H014788F6A3ED4913A2A29239D238865A" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the period beginning on the date on which a covered individual appeals a removal from the civil service under subsection (c) and ending on the date that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issues a final decision on such appeal, such covered individual may not receive any pay, awards, bonuses, incentives, allowances, differentials, student loan repayments, special payments, or benefits related to the employment of the individual by the Department.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF172A63A536C429C971E50C2BC79D7F0" indent="up1"><enum>(8)</enum><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide to the Merit Systems Protection Board such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this subsection is expedited.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2A2ED03C725A4E54B8849F2AB1CBF63F" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If an employee prevails on appeal under this section, the employee shall be entitled to backpay (as provided in section 5596 of title 5).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idc638108a86e94c2bb2d357a647a64b7d" indent="up1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>If an employee who is subject to a collective bargaining agreement chooses to grieve an action taken under this section through a grievance procedure provided under the collective bargaining agreement, the timelines and procedures set forth in subsection (c) and this subsection shall apply.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HB60013FF033143DFB847F1932CF8D2B4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Whistleblower protection</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HE2A75D3A14894C1EA2EB420A71832C5B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of a covered individual seeking corrective action (or on behalf of whom corrective action is sought) from the Office of Special Counsel based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice described in section 2302(b) of title 5, the Secretary may not remove, demote, or suspend such covered individual under subsection (a) without the approval of the Special Counsel under section 1214(f) of title 5.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H146882CCB81B4202A573E426200752AB" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case of a covered individual who has made a whistleblower disclosure to the Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Secretary may not remove, demote, or suspend such covered individual under subsection (a) until—</text> <subparagraph id="idA5171BCED4524A639F09635F2C418EFC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case in which the Assistant Secretary determines to refer the whistleblower disclosure under section 323(c)(1)(D) of this title to an office or other investigative entity, a final decision with respect to the whistleblower disclosure has been made by such office or other investigative entity; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id173E85EF22E64A16885299ADF5BB2DA1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case in which the Assistant Secretary determines not to the refer the whistleblower disclosure under such section, the Assistant Secretary makes such determination.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H08BC3A243C384C54893BAD60F754F590"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Termination of investigations by Office of Special Counsel</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3CD6FD9E18F04179811DC4BFDCE7FA88"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Special Counsel (established by section 1211 of title 5) may terminate an investigation of a prohibited personnel practice alleged by an employee or former employee of the Department after the Special Counsel provides to the employee or former employee a written statement of the reasons for the termination of the investigation.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id0AFFC7FB2F1245A3842DF0A17A38D795" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such statement may not be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding without the consent of such employee or former employee.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB5B903EF2E3E47F1AD3C294660BFBF41"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a covered individual who is removed or demoted under subsection (a), to the maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall fill the vacancy arising as a result of such removal or demotion.</text> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5D258C1A6C5D441987157E8C493C9B56"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H2D0B5115F9D342119763ED33DEBF6757"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered individual</term> means an individual occupying a position at the Department, but does not include—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="idF3A0C59D02314184B7A3016B3AB466D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an individual occupying a senior executive position (as defined in section 713(d) of this title);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H99A8DB0F0C5241CD9F6472AA270671F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an individual appointed pursuant to sections 7306, 7401(1), or 7405 of this title;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H823E280A8E594ED78AC5EF79296C3DC3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an individual who has not completed a probationary or trial period; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5960AA85B0204127ADFCF5E9721E35BF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a political appointee.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDA57633C8C2B45F1810325AE151C7AD2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>suspend</term> means the placing of an employee, for disciplinary reasons, in a temporary status without duties and pay for a period in excess of 14 days.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFC55877DD9644877B87C2EEE7B101A89"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>grade</term> has the meaning given such term in section 7511(a) of title 5.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD3BE5D7127D546AD84580AE5B6790D31"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The term <term>misconduct</term> includes neglect of duty, malfeasance, or failure to accept a directed reassignment or to accompany a position in a transfer of function.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5954C60389104EA2B8A950DCBC215E58"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>political appointee</term> means an individual who is—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="HB7DF7BBF488D4E9881AB705A84F7C69A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>employed in a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF116CFECF8534705AC56DFC757586D63"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEDEC3D73BDB34561AC3AE00A5AAD9154"><enum>(C)</enum><text>employed in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idF3DCA2AF7F444802977953F47EC5E423"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The term <term>whistleblower disclosure</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323(g) of this title.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4AD5FA4BC4C3493B8B9061605C4DAF4B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical and conforming amendments</header> <paragraph id="H04CFB6DD73FF42B9A152C769271B606A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Clerical</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 713 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A54A374A1174A2EBB55E24BC29C28B2" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">714. Employees: removal, demotion, or suspension based on performance or misconduct.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3567B1645E3848D6A51344381C63861E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming</header><text>Section 4303(f) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="H620B383860CE425186157ABA209676C3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49E30A5B8F4F488988D25EB68BA2763E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, or</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H04C07329F8494A4BBAC91AA65846D711"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE81B87ABC49C4B73BC981A2124D1E141" style="USC"> <paragraph id="H862EA4B764B949E3A7A803A096BD6EB2"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any removal or demotion under section 714 of title 38.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7FE359F8ABCE4CEF97832E4F56851C69" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header>Reduction of benefits for Department of Veterans Affairs employees convicted of certain crimes</header> <subsection id="HF0BE5ADD88064A9D8B94375FA12E8453"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reduction of benefits</header> <paragraph id="HF7E784AE2D034808BA197A43738C4D40"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H466E1FB30DAA4567B47FFBBF4CC9C3D0" style="USC"> <section id="HB5219E13D9884C37A194E5926D4190BE"><enum>719.</enum><header>Reduction of benefits of employees convicted of certain crimes</header> <subsection id="H8A99AAA9028F42819E35B931D5BB0834"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reduction of annuity for removed employee</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7EC565D37897497EB494FAB7ADFA9BCA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary shall order that the covered service of an employee of the Department removed from a position for performance or misconduct under section 719 or 7461 of this title or any other provision of law shall not be taken into account for purposes of calculating an annuity with respect to such individual under chapter 83 or <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/84">chapter 84</external-xref> of title 5, if—</text> <subparagraph id="H05219ECB276B4BC6A76FE7E5E06CF508" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary determines that the individual is convicted of a felony (and the conviction is final) that influenced the individual’s performance while employed in the position; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC886868111C4A5C863827A6C5DFCF99" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>before such order is made, the individual is afforded—</text> <clause id="HE4DCC1C206AA46BD914E2A4944197A8B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>notice of the proposed order; and</text> </clause><clause id="HFD7FA29B09F74E68BC2D9783A020F5D1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an opportunity to respond to the proposed order by not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6D716DCB5C514B2997973CA498C6B151" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Secretary issues the order—</text> <clause id="H7C29E43D48634E5E995A86837B51F8FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under subparagraph (B)(ii), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or</text> </clause><clause id="HBAE3AEEA9F2649709AB4D6A3F1C9F6B2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under subparagraph (B)(i).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB0F4DD2844AE40818E207EE9658E0F13" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any individual with respect to whom an annuity is reduced under this subsection may appeal the reduction to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to such regulations as the Director may prescribe for purposes of this subsection.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4D97631EDA9E4F4C8EE58764FAD5682B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reduction of annuity for retired employee</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H45152198D15F43138B00064E300F0A37"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may order that the covered service of an individual who is removed for performance or misconduct under section 719 or 7461 of this title or any other provision of law but who leaves employment at the Department prior to the issuance of a final decision with respect to such action shall not be taken into account for purposes of calculating an annuity with respect to such individual under chapter 83 or <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/84">chapter 84</external-xref> of title 5, if—</text> <subparagraph id="H2F5CC9401B674CEC8CC0C4356CBECEBE" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary determines that individual is convicted of a felony (and the conviction is final) that influenced the individual’s performance while employed in the position; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H283F267202AD41A389346D7EDBD58FA6" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">before such order is made, the individual is afforded—</text> <clause id="H1D9CBE609D12481DAF5C22ABEFF50BAC"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notice of the proposed order;</text> </clause><clause id="HFBD28554A7874101B13C297250A5D5DB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>opportunity to respond to the proposed order by not later than ten business days following receipt of such notice; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB4BA70D1106434E9C23530BBEE33DE6" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary issues the order—</text> <clause id="HC6613E855C7C4C12ADCFB0D6990EE716"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under subparagraph (B)(ii), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or</text> </clause><clause id="HB4C9D265A9594D658DDB482E3D31EF49"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under subparagraph (B)(i).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H970456A79EB64CE1A5C929F01A96B172" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Upon the issuance of an order by the Secretary under paragraph (1), the individual shall have an opportunity to appeal the order to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management before the date that is seven business days after the date of such issuance.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC92D13330AD649F693E7919F6B1B8A01" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall make a final decision with respect to an appeal under paragraph (2) within 30 business days of receiving the appeal.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB96C4F462E864FA987D3270E7DE8DAA8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administrative requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 37 business days after the Secretary issues a final order under subsection (a) or (b) with respect to an individual, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall recalculate the annuity of the individual.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HEC17836284704EB1AE4FF940F850BA6E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Lump-Sum Annuity Credit</header><text>Any individual with respect to whom an annuity is reduced under subsection (a) or (b) shall be entitled to be paid so much of such individual’s lump-sum credit as is attributable to the period of covered service.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HA9008C88A17D46B49651D98C6DD639BC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Spouse or children exception</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id538E74640F2E4E8C9FF3B92DD94C8F2D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall prescribe regulations that may provide for the payment to the spouse or children of any individual referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of any amounts which (but for this subsection) would otherwise have been nonpayable by reason of such subsections.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id08521D525B904DAEA312456F66EB8733" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the requirements of section 8332(o)(5) and 8411(l)(5) of title 5, as the case may be.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCD5C35E431FB4656AF264F604A124904"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HA9E799FE2B53491F90F5750DF8198B09"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered service</term> means, with respect to an individual subject to a removal for performance or misconduct under section 719 or 7461 of this title or any other provision of law, the period of service beginning on the date that the Secretary determines under such applicable provision that the individual engaged in activity that gave rise to such action and ending on the date that the individual is removed from or leaves a position of employment at the Department prior to the issuance of a final decision with respect to such action.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB2B336429DDA4764B2E984C15DEAD229"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The term <term>lump-sum credit</term> has the meaning given such term in section 8331(8) or section 8401(19) of title 5, as the case may be.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF1F0C2D7842B49DCB02038EEBB9A7420"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term <term>service</term> has the meaning given such term in section 8331(12) or section 8401(26) of title 5, as the case may be.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4623E1A3D3234C6B80DECBF81A97B9BC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 717 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9C97DF74C0F84324ABBA7B7F0CB7C460" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">719. Reduction of benefits of employees convicted of certain crimes.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE70B236B89B46FC8AE9AF7A9B66CCAB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 719 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), shall apply to any action of removal of an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 719 or 7461 of such title or any other provision of law, commencing on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HF2AD63FD9182442DA71D8468A3FA94A8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Authority to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="H06A579FB962F480F9B68055D33245FAE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 203, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CF7E7F046A945FF8ADF558EF8EF19AA" style="USC"> <section id="H99195AD3A2AE42BF8BABD433FD4D9014"><enum>721.</enum><header>Recoupment of bonuses or awards paid to employees of Department</header> <subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H291AAD23361248B0B0DFC65BE659C804"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may issue an order directing an employee of the Department to repay the amount, or a portion of the amount, of any award or bonus paid to the employee under title 5, including under chapters 45 or 53 of such title, or this title if—</text> <paragraph id="HFE5526E2A0A74C428A0F88FFBE401EEC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary determines that the individual engaged in misconduct or poor performance prior to payment of the award or bonus, and that such award or bonus would not have been paid, in whole or in part, had the misconduct or poor performance been known prior to payment; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB61B814963B344F6831CF755327ECDCE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>before such repayment, the employee is afforded—</text> <subparagraph id="H60B816729306427188A6A76E4104EBAD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notice of the proposed order; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCAD88BF83F85464EA329C102DE165B79"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an opportunity to respond to the proposed order by not later than 10 business days after the receipt of such notice; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56DD2EA6025A45BEABBFA076C3C5D0F9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Secretary issues the order—</text> <subparagraph id="H7436BCE8EDE645859911FB6B45B9082F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under paragraph (2)(B), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9CB05C86923345368D59A4ADF911B383"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under paragraph (2)(A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9114C125280148D398350D2ECC2BC562"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appeal of order of Secretary</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4DCD14051D734D43A8E6D501599DF511"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Upon the issuance of an order by the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual, the individual shall have an opportunity to appeal the order to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management before the date that is seven business days after the date of such issuance.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD9D1BB763B254E4AB8AB060469E2EC6B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Director shall make a final decision with respect to an appeal under paragraph (1) within 30 business days after receiving such appeal.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idCA458E85A5F74D04AEE40869FF310FCE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeal of final decision on appeal of order</header><text>An individual may appeal a final decision on an appeal under subsection (b) to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H07800906FA774E469A90F2EA076CE556"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 203(a)(2), is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 719 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE99F8C103504EA38D7366BE728F60CD" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">721. Recoupment of bonuses or awards paid to employees of Department.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H4D646AA4698B427EAC46DABB639BDDFC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>Section 721 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an award or bonus paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H4E9AF336FAE844A49B14E5CCDCB28A9E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to modify the certification issued by the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget regarding the performance appraisal system of the Senior Executive Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text> </subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4F24473802F048CBA99D88EE63FB4CE4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header>Authority to recoup relocation expenses paid to or on behalf of employees of Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="H90B6834E24384E4798E0677BC3A7846D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/38/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 204, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H61D4F0867FF5418597772D17D48A9698" style="USC"> <section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAFECB8D3D77540618E1132640C649D2B"><enum>723.</enum><header>Recoupment of relocation expenses paid on behalf of employees of Department</header> <subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A354DDCAB4B4113A1D4B13FC8DD8251"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may issue an order directing an employee of the Department to repay the amount, or a portion of the amount, paid to or on behalf of the employee under title 5 for relocation expenses, including any expenses under section 5724 or 5724a of such title, or this title if—</text> <paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2142FDF7CEFF476E9D757BFBDD1878FB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary determines that relocation expenses were paid following an act of fraud or malfeasance that influenced the authorization of the relocation expenses;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB7CE35EC5C94451381269138FEB35ADB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>before such repayment, the employee is afforded—</text> <subparagraph id="HC09E844F5DC042418EDE8ABF99114AF1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notice of the proposed order; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H96380CED3A73444AAF32AE52A157E911"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an opportunity to respond to the proposed order not later than ten business days following the receipt of such notice; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BAEBD3EB45D45C7B95C0B9D966CFDE4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Secretary issues the order—</text> <subparagraph id="HB1CF801AA90E426280DAAFA02D79C913"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual responds under paragraph (2)(B), not later than five business days after receiving the response of the individual; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H89084C0B890F448E90D15B637C7A1B48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a proposed order to which an individual does not respond, not later than 15 business days after the Secretary provides notice to the individual under paragraph (2)(A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1FC534A7FE304442B5F7964427148C97"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appeal of order of Secretary</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id392AFBE076E9402D8391B3E5B61E524F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Upon the issuance of an order by the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to an individual, the individual shall have an opportunity to appeal the order to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management before the date that is seven business days after the date of such issuance.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF47C7BFF1C72479684E3FC97E5B2A6AE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Director shall make a final decision with respect to an appeal under paragraph (1) within 30 days after receiving such appeal.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF1D2B35EB9B8416C91D757F9B5B2CD14"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appeal of final decision on appeal of order</header><text>An individual may appeal a final decision on an appeal under subsection (b) to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="HC0DDDBA7B09E4915A4A44240FDE5BF21"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 721, as added by section 204(b), the following new item:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF6CE8234FE64D50A1B9FF45957A3A96" style="USC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">723. Recoupment of relocation expenses paid on behalf of employees of Department.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H682E0E002B0C4874B33B897886FFE9F0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>Section 723 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an amount paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to or on behalf of an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs for relocation expenses on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H90EE68CB12F240B0956267211DBE57FA"><enum>206.</enum><header>Time period for response to notice of adverse actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited personnel actions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 731(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, as redesignated by section 102(a)(2), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HB00D3FF28DAA4F68823A7F83DE6429B2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>14 days</quote> and inserting <quote>10 days</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD39A38A041DC4E8CBBF1E028601ED553"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>14-day period</quote> and inserting <quote>10-day period</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H4184FC3E092A4DBAA19B37E4B081A7EC"><enum>207.</enum><header>Direct hiring authority for medical center directors and VISN directors</header> <subsection id="HD2141886EBBB435ABD19D14915917B3D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7401 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HECB64529D058414FAB936993CDB27701" style="USC"> <paragraph id="H66B18EDE3FAE4364AD961642DCF84E59"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Directors of medical centers and directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks with demonstrated ability in the medical profession, in health care administration, or in health care fiscal management.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H5B6CE5D3DFE24807843CC2A3A7EA8BF4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7404(a)(1) of such title is amended by inserting <quote>and 7401(4)</quote> after <quote>7306</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HE0C1907E94594F02AF099E9E05DB6186"><enum>208.</enum><header>Time periods for review of adverse actions with respect to certain employees</header> <subsection id="HA0F9BFDF9CF1402FB5E4CA47AF007192"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, and expanded-Function dental auxiliaries</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 7461(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H81A00C0D93E14BD4B948ABC0F0236FD8" style="USC"> <paragraph id="H78D00715C063495D8122DE07812B695C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any case other than a case described in paragraph (1) that involves or includes a question of professional conduct or competence in which a major adverse action was not taken, such an appeal shall be made through Department grievance procedures under section 7463 of this title.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H609E97E92B6B4E959062959D20D6AF5F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Major adverse actions involving professional conduct or competence</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7462(b) of such title is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H92201C06DD7E4320A7E679DCE9ECFE03"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="id04EB22D64EAD431588107CA531DFAC72"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>, within the aggregate time period specified in paragraph (5)(A),</quote> after <quote>is entitled</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF14930C6FFFF4DF2B95B26CB72EACC3C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text> <clause id="id483862E2B2BC4152AFE3005E8EB5E05D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>At least 30 days advance written notice</quote> and inserting <quote>Advance written notice</quote>;</text> </clause><clause id="idDBE147A9E8054A35ADFF3CAD81B5A8AC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and a statement</quote> and inserting <quote>a statement</quote>; and</text> </clause><clause id="id62DF3A9B16FF41708DFDEE78915182EC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and a file containing all the evidence in support of each charge,</quote> after <quote>with respect to each charge,</quote>; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF98AC234DB4347469AFE8BDC86499A0F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>A reasonable time, but not less than seven days</quote> and inserting <quote>The opportunity, within the time period provided for in paragraph (4)(A)</quote>;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H208A7794148B4A5585179C68A517B3A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph (3):</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id858D1D961D514F428B481004351C1A2B" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id2D21FD2EF072401FA04245E215280584" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>After considering the employee's answer, if any, and within the time period provided for in paragraph (5)(B), the deciding official shall render a decision on the charges. The decision shall be in writing and shall include the specific reasons therefor.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="id86CD704A87D149178881137DEB094328"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text> <subparagraph id="idE4ABC22F29094CCDBE6769F722429EEA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following new subparagraph (A):</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE282DDF3D87F4C5DBF66015130B19955" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id8B8FE8D303D24A30A3CF3AC085073E78" indent="up2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The period for the response of an employee under paragraph (1)(B) to advance written under paragraph (1)(A) shall be seven business days.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9FB5185075E541498FB73793AEFFBFDF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>30 days</quote> and inserting <quote>seven business days</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id48A06C734A4945408E0EA3235CBA3E07"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36A826114B724474B0C4E7E9AEF3EAE3" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="idF103CC08323D461E8D06AF5FA92C9AF0" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2EC35E11F9644DBAB2259B9BAB9F6136"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The aggregate period for the resolution of charges against an employee under this subsection may not exceed 15 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5BD4BFFBD3E04D16B7C695420EB6E06E" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The deciding official shall render a decision under paragraph (3) on charges under this subsection not later than 15 business days after the Under Secretary provides notice on the charges for purposes of paragraph (1)(A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCE7FFE8B7D9B49B0BB6D7828ED865C6B" indent="up1"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The procedures in this subsection shall supersede any collective bargaining agreement to the extent that such agreement is inconsistent with such procedures.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBA0B25A3058B45F189D794E4D44DEDE0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Other adverse actions</header><text>Section 7463(c) of such title is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id65567D25A1C042EDADA9ED68BD740F84"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the same notice and opportunity to answer with respect to those charges as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 7462(b)(1) of this title</quote> and inserting <quote>notice and an opportunity to answer with respect to those charges in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 7462(b)(1) of this title, but within the time periods specified in paragraph (3)</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id4778D078F23547D5925966309BA96329"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text> <subparagraph id="idEFCA089FF89645158F51508F00219691"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>, within the aggregate time period specified in paragraph (3)(A),</quote> after <quote>is entitled</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE0AC08B4AAB2449B968084737C21C4A7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>an advance written notice</quote> and inserting <quote>written notice</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id499A221ACB9148ADB45CA51401089021"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>a reasonable time</quote> and inserting <quote>time to answer</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2B5DDA46A7364022BB5AFAE34456A405"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph (3):</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49BB794004994A529533E5AA1C85F213" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="idE085185DE875483290C0C69B28A39AF0" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id98B5DDC26E154519987708EFDCEF936A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The aggregate period for the resolution of charges against an employee under paragraph (1) or (2) may not exceed 15 business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4707FAE83C0C46B1AA35D7D1CB23C7A9" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The period for the response of an employee under paragraph (1) or (2)(B) to written notice of charges under paragraph (1) or (2)(A), as applicable, shall be seven business days.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCA74F098BD214CDD902AB3C4FBB3D69D" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The deciding official shall render a decision on charges under paragraph (1) or (2) not later than 15 business days after notice is provided on the charges for purposes of paragraph (1) or (2)(A), as applicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2FDA22314F98496283546540856385C9"><enum>209.</enum><header>Improvement of training for supervisors</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4F98AC1BEC514E0EB3AAA0AE2E5F85E9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to each employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is employed as a supervisor periodic training on the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA2EC3D508D6B4486A3F146313C217FFD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The rights of whistleblowers and how to address a report by an employee of a hostile work environment, reprisal, or harassment.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id64D0EF8F9F84411CBBC5DB3B809DA0CA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>How to effectively motivate, manage, and reward the employees who report to the supervisor.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B517051586B434989E69F3FACA45B76"><enum>(3)</enum><text>How to effectively manage employees who are performing at an unacceptable level and access assistance from the human resources office of the Department and the Office of the General Counsel of the Department with respect to those employees.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC758738321814118A53293FE22B0A874"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6D1E2FF7B894B96AD3A074C55A65CEC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Supervisor</header><text>The term <term>supervisor</term> has the meaning given such term in section 7103(a) of title 5, United States Code.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE10B2D574C944C46B17FC41964355A53"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Whistleblower</header><text>The term <term>whistleblower</term> has the meaning given such term in section 323(g) of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 101.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1dcd957ecc0f4ce9a7a88d9558022384"><enum>210.</enum><header>Assessment and report on effect on senior executives at Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="idD7F933F4DD0F493FA7A819F649A6A032"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</text> <paragraph id="id0D2DE984715643C299C4A2C4302A081E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">measure and assess the effect of the enactment of this title on the morale, engagement, hiring, promotion, retention, discipline, and productivity of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idF2F6F2BDAC3F41B893974F96F918E4EA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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 findings of the Secretary with respect to the measurement and assessment carried out under paragraph (1).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idADF50E9295E649589B0EF242FBFE8E1A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The assessment required by subsection (a)(1) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="id05c6498d5d504f01a02d7bc06ae0b428"><enum>(1)</enum><text>With respect to engagement, trends in morale of individuals in senior executive positions and individuals aspiring to senior executive positions.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id205a30aaa66342419009e20edce7d685"><enum>(2)</enum><text>With respect to promotions—</text> <subparagraph id="idac15ff857a344556b906aa30319137b3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether the Department is experiencing an increase or decrease in the number of employees participating in leadership development and candidate development programs with the intention of becoming candidates for senior executive positions; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb084048fde8c4f1e8e2a327889289396"><enum>(B)</enum><text>trends in applications to senior executive positions within the Department.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6513e0eeab7c41829006b8c5006d4214"><enum>(3)</enum><text>With respect to retention—</text> <subparagraph id="id585e88cb0b0e4d28b94834408c3bae12"><enum>(A)</enum><text>trends in retirement rates of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4d3d4372e4047c4b737aeed3c78b83c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>trends in quit rates of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id16bbebcf8491461899c35a46af79ce37"><enum>(C)</enum><text>rates of transfer of—</text> <clause id="idF68537A4C53D4B968C9F73C685201164"><enum>(i)</enum><text>individuals from other Federal agencies into senior executive positions at the Department; and</text> </clause><clause id="idF33218515B9F4E3DABD70DF84A4EE1AB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>individuals from senior executive positions at the Department to other Federal agencies; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89df6c24d09142edb8728bf7a9b6e369"><enum>(D)</enum><text>trends in total loss rates by job function.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id951fd97bbe464b42ac4e9754b689b1c2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>With respect to disciplinary processes—</text> <subparagraph id="ide0f4a930f57843b79c7dc8241bd50b09"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regarding individuals in senior executive positions at the Department who are the subject of disciplinary action—</text> <clause id="id008f096dfc6045eb8c7d00fd77714d47"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the length of the disciplinary process in days for such individuals both before the date of the enactment of this Act and under the provisions of this Act described in subsection (a)(1); and</text> </clause><clause id="id2a8dff2a0a5e422d95d6b93bae3c91e4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the extent to which appeals by such individuals are upheld under such provisions as compared to before the date of the enactment of this Act;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1c8fe2fa3c3d4924a392bc7693c36938"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the components or offices of the Department which experience the greatest number of proposed adverse actions against individuals in senior executive positions and components and offices which experience the least relative to the size of the components or offices’ total number of senior executive positions;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9b3fdac1b30a4c7bbbfae0a76a9719a2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the tenure of individuals in senior executive positions who are the subject of disciplinary action;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3f7d8b3914f64dc2b72aa0a8ca842df9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whether the individuals in senior executive positions who are the subject of disciplinary action have previously been disciplined; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7a3f4769ab10407f81d2f790cb7115e0"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the number of instances of disciplinary action taken by the Secretary against individuals in senior executive positions at the Department as compared to governmentwide discipline against individuals in Senior Executive Service positions (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) as a percentage of the total number of individuals in senior executive positions at the Department and Senior Executive Service positions (as so defined).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id91147695d17c4b30abb4ff77c6d2676a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>With respect to hiring—</text> <subparagraph id="id9a17b6808bf1497ea99a31d40504f784"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the degree to which the skills of newly hired individuals in senior executive positions at the Department are appropriate with respect to the needs of the Department;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id021b897c151a4b56beb7a8b03926fb10"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the types of senior executive positions at the Department most commonly filled under the authorities in the provisions described in subsection (a)(1);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id216d3312d9c246d3bb5667359f46be58"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the number of senior executive positions at the Department filled by hires outside of the Department compared to hires from within the Department;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5a3e4dff7764889835643870ba62a20"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the length of time to fill a senior executive position at the Department and for a new hire to begin working in a new senior executive position;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5c360b14484940ef908e1c9008f0d9e2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the mission-critical deficiencies filled by newly hired individuals in senior executive positions and the connection between mission-critical deficiencies filled under the provisions described in subsection (a) and annual performance of the Department;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbb4945e0c7b448cdbe4309aa7226c5ee"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the satisfaction of applicants for senior executive positions at the Department with the hiring process, including the clarity of job announcements, reasons for withdrawal of applications, communication regarding status of applications, and timeliness of hiring decision; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8910c1a39274f028aa8ec3f8614d795"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the satisfaction of newly hired individuals in senior executive positions at the Department with the hiring process and the process of joining and becoming oriented with the Department.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF11158BD27634FEE8CC78838C900E73A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Senior executive position defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>senior executive position</term> has the meaning given such term in section 713 of title 38, United States Code.</text> </subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B81C629DBFF4359B5015191BA9A9BD8"><enum>211.</enum><header>Measurement of Department of Veterans Affairs disciplinary process outcomes and effectiveness</header> <subsection id="idb57220d9a0c44c709a2cb39d9b89d5b0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Measuring and collecting</header> <paragraph id="id466E52D00B1E47AB87E3A77CCEAAACFC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall measure and collect information on the outcomes of disciplinary actions carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the three-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act and the effectiveness of such actions.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id2F4F376E8B764BDEB4AD260DA505FC39"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>In measuring and collecting pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall measure and collect information regarding the following:</text> <subparagraph id="id053decf15ddb4da19c39fef4352dd56d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The average time from the initiation of an adverse action against an employee at the Department to the final resolution of that action.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id518bff5934ca4a4f975e00a3f709f9c3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of distinct steps and levels of review within the Department involved in the disciplinary process and the average length of time required to complete these steps.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idae9e9b495fb2408b8e26a98470b4b520"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The rate of use of alternate disciplinary procedures compared to traditional disciplinary procedures and the frequency with which employees who are subject to alternative disciplinary procedures commit additional offenses.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id86b8d680b78b44c689f9dd8c01fd72f3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of appeals from adverse actions filed against employees of the Department, the number of appeals upheld, and the reasons for which the appeals were upheld.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2882f4153ebb4b3ab5ce767193eebb09"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The use of paid administrative leave during the disciplinary process and the length of such leave.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5bd287ba3d5f4f3e8ab1243567fa1c3a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header> <paragraph id="id7854A8B44A4F496993ABCB885B69B209"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the disciplinary procedures and actions of the Department.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id241DC588EC50484688F832B711A07677"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text> <subparagraph id="id8754DEDEA6144BCF8C9EAFA752995760"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The information collected under subsection (a).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB5DCD2E5EAEE4A2AA1F8AA42067366B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The findings of the Secretary with respect to the measurement and collection carried out under subsection (a).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id761A946AAB06425FA440C9BCA23CCF9D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>An analysis of the disciplinary procedures and actions of the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6E7C508D525C4973A83A051D7F887243"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Suggestions for improving the disciplinary procedures and actions of the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7D8D7FAAC1554731BFC343474FDFFE72"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEA31DC4E9DF74B578E6F4C718E517C39"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Appropriate committees of Congress</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF5F7DFD0992949A6ABE6EF81912CC681"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id189442B93B0A46BC8174F3745A4031E8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>