Additional leave for Federal employees who are disabled veterans

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

6329.

Disabled veteran leave

(a)

Definitions

In this section— (1)notwithstanding section 6301, the term employee— (A)has the meaning given such term in section 2105; and (B)includes an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or of the Postal Regulatory Commission; (2)the term service-connected has the meaning given such term in section 101(16) of title 38; and (3)the term veteran has the meaning given such term in section 101(2) of title 38. (b)

Leave credited

During the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the employment of an employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as 30 percent or more disabling, the employee is entitled to leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability for which sick leave could regularly be used. (c)

Limitations

(1)

Amount of leave

The leave credited to an employee under subsection (b) may not exceed 104 hours. (2)

No carry over

Any leave credited to an employee under subsection (b) that is not used during the 12-month period described in such subsection may not be carried over and shall be forfeited. (d)

Certification

In order to verify that leave credited to an employee under subsection (b) is used for treating a service-connected disability, the employee shall submit to the head of the employing agency a certification, in such form and manner as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe, that the employee used the leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for the disability by a health care provider.

(b)

Technical and conforming amendment

The table of sections for chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 6328 the following:

6329. Disabled veteran leave.

(c)

Application

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an employee (as that term is defined in section 6329(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) hired on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (d)

Regulations

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act— (A)the Postmaster General shall prescribe regulations with respect to the leave provided under the amendment made by subsection (a) for employees of the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission; and (B)the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations with respect to the leave provided under the amendment made by subsection (a) for all other employees. (2)

Briefing requirement

Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 months thereafter until the date on which the Director of the Office of Personnel Management prescribes final regulations under paragraph (1)(B), the Director shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives regarding the development of such regulations.