Establishment of Military Family-Friendly Employer Award

(a)

In general

There is established in the Department of Defense an annual award to be known as the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award (hereafter referred to in this Act as the Award) for employers that have developed and implemented workplace flexibility policies and practices— (1)to assist the working spouses and caregivers of members of the Armed Forces who are deployed away from home, and to assist such members upon their return from deployment, so that the needs of the home may be addressed during and after such deployments; and (2)that reflect a deep awareness and commitment in response to the needs of the military family unit. (b)

Plaque

The Award shall be evidenced by a plaque bearing the title Military Family-Friendly Employer Award. (c)

Application

(1)

In general

An employer desiring consideration for an Award shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as such Secretary may require. (2)

Reapplication

An employer may reapply for an Award, regardless of whether the employer has been a previous recipient of such Award. (d)

Display on Web site

The Secretary shall make publically available on its Internet Web site the names of each recipient of the Award. (e)

Presentation of Award

The Secretary (or the Secretary’s designee) shall present annually the Award to employers under this section.

Military Family-Friendly Special Task Force

(a)

Establishment

There is established within the Department of Defense a Military Family-Friendly Special Task Force (hereafter referred to in this Act as the Task Force). (b)

Composition

(1)

In general

The Task Force shall be composed of 9 members to be appointed as follows: (A)The Secretary shall appoint one individual to serve as the chairperson of the Task Force. (B)The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and based on recommendations made by the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, shall appoint— (i)two members who shall be work-life experts; and (ii)two members who shall be representatives of the general business community. (C)The Secretary, based on recommendations made by the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, shall appoint— (i)two members who shall be experts on the Armed Forces; and (ii)two members who shall be representatives of families with one or more members serving in the Armed Forces. (2)

Qualifications

In appointing members of the Task Force the Secretary shall ensure— (A)that such members are individuals with knowledge and experience in workplace flexibility policies as such policies relate to services in and support for the Armed Forces; (B)that not more than 2 members appointed under paragraph (1)(B) are from the same political party; and (C)that not more than 2 members appointed under paragraph (1)(C) are from the same political party. (3)

Terms

(A)

In general

Except as provided under subparagraphs (B) and (C), each member of the Task Force shall be appointed for 2 years and may be reappointed. (B)

Terms of initial appointees

As designated by the Secretary at the time of appointment, of the members of the Task Force first appointed, 4 shall each be appointed for a 1-year term and the remainder shall each be appointed for a 2-year term. (C)

Vacancies

Any member of the Task Force appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office. (4)

Limitation

The Secretary may not appoint any Member of Congress to the Task Force. (c)

Duties

The Task Force shall— (1)develop and review military-centered questions for integration into the award model for determining which applicant employers should receive an Award; (2)determine how such questions should be weighed in making Award determinations what threshold should be used as the minimum for making such Awards; (3)review responses to a sample of such questions posed as part of any questionnaire used for purposes of making such Awards; (4)consider private sector award models such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award or the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility; (5)determine criteria for the delivery of the Award; and (6)carry out any other activities determined appropriate by the Secretary. (d)

Operations

(1)

Meetings

(A)

In general

Except for the initial meeting of the Task Force under subparagraph (B), the Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. (B)

Initial meeting

The Task Force shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of all of its members. (2)

Voting and rules

A majority of members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum to conduct business. The Task Force may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the business of the Task Force, if such rules are not inconsistent with this section or other applicable law. (3)

Compensation and travel

All members of the Task Force shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of duties of the Task Force. The members of the Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Task Force.