<enum>I</enum><header>Employees generally</header> <section id="id336AD2B7E0D74F049A781230DCD1ACDD"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title—</text> <paragraph id="idE501B04E818243448A960371EBBDFCE3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="id059DC325AFD4406C8528CE2E1F85B03D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to whether one or more portions of title 5 of the United States Code are inapplicable to the entity; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD69BD9FA0AE6440F9C50429C69EFC29E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5AC77599604B40C4BFFCD3D20D613C29"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>employee</term> means an employee (as defined in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of an agency; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8C00D159B3EC402E9740D275C89BCD0C"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>personnel action</term> has the meaning given that term under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="idE7FB9E99BA74411195E217DD78E867BD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Stays; probationary employees</header> <subsection id="id04ADD69212E848439CBC6A9E53F2CA78"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Request by Special Counsel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1214(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F47C4F572454669BBFDD91D8ADF9B54" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id64872EA62F3C4BBA86ED5C2B0586F94E" indent="up2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay under this subsection, the head of the agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id850CDBC116314102A849243E4AC38639"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Probationary employees</header><text>Section 1221 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBDE544E13754412F8BF4F64B7C797D49" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id4413E0C13C944AB69371D9C2D5180ED5"><enum>(k)</enum><text>If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay to an employee in probationary status under subsection (c), the head of the agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="idEA9DB3CDD9194159A91CA045940208FF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Study regarding retaliation against probationary employees</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report discussing retaliation against employees in probationary status.</text> </subsection></section><section id="id90693C49EC794ABA8766FDA64590AAB7"><enum>103.</enum><header>Prohibited personnel practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id2D82F2D86FBF4B0D94E8F4B00F5AEF73"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (12), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idD9B1170DBC164C52B58129124C82D5BC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idED60473E35C64379928C65E7181687CC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92215F6ED8E543B7AB10DE2B160B81B0" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id0B0C74869FDE4B3F941E8E371D638EDF"><enum>(14)</enum><text>access the medical record of another employee or an applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance of, any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (13).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="idCFB212F49D8A4436AB27121FBD6AD061"><enum>104.</enum><header>Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers</header> <subsection id="idC83EF4BBA74341B39E5EDCA2BC0CC55A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/75">chapter 75</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0A13F60A02FB48CBB6B30686486B2369" style="USC"> <section id="idB51226F793A8486C96B4F7CEBE2711C8"><enum>7515.</enum><header>Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers</header> <subsection id="idE0868225CBCD45D0AA89F4D3DA90D3DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text> <paragraph id="id786D6E349F6B4F0CAE15A2BF593E0FE5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="id4F4153A952044491BEB4E7E54471081B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302, without regard to whether any other provision of this chapter is applicable to the entity; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5C5E80B410424EC881C85111C4E954C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB620F4CD97864771B7A13F932A574592"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>prohibited personnel action</term> means taking or failing to take an action in violation of paragraph (8), (9), or (14) of section 2302(b) against an employee of an agency; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idA6336B1E9E854C6DAA77A32FAD09DE83"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>supervisor</term> means an employee who would be a supervisor, as defined under section 7103(a), if the entity employing the employee was an agency.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id292ABAD1C94E41D3BB47164E79410803"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Proposed disciplinary actions</header> <paragraph id="id4670795B48E64A4B8AF10440BC49E9E4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the head of the agency employing a supervisor, an administrative law judge, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Special Counsel, a judge of the United States, or the Inspector General of the agency employing a supervisor determines that the supervisor has committed a prohibited personnel action, the head of the agency employing the supervisor, in accordance with the procedures required under paragraph (2)—</text> <subparagraph id="idB436FF16068E48CEBB5C071A856FAD5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for the first prohibited personnel action committed by a supervisor—</text> <clause id="id9A276B2C85C1471FB719718C4D84A66E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall propose suspending the supervisor for a period of not less than 3 days; and</text> </clause><clause id="id1C338798746A4BD8A97486E9EE937083"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may, in addition to a suspension described in clause (i), propose any other action, including a reduction in grade or pay, that the head of the agency determines appropriate; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFD5D1D749A954041942547BD48EBF1C0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for the second prohibited personnel action committed by a supervisor, shall propose removing the supervisor.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id82C3992C2BEE4F0F88B50CBA0D001617"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedures</header> <subparagraph id="id0163A87E035E42AEBAA1FF44B8A309F6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>A supervisor against whom an action is proposed to be taken under paragraph (1) is entitled to written notice—</text> <clause id="id80AD94DC940D420D96BE16978EEB184D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>stating the specific reasons for the proposed action; and</text> </clause><clause id="id0ddaf4ee77354276a7091cd50d0eb581"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>informing the supervisor of the right of the supervisor to review the material which is relied on to support the reasons for the proposed action.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44EE3EC2C2364064BA7BEE2063D2D5C5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Answer and evidence</header> <clause id="idA370E80B79B34E89811DD13187A87512"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A supervisor who is notified under subparagraph (A) that the supervisor is the subject of a proposed action under paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days following such notification to answer and furnish evidence in support of the answer.</text> </clause><clause id="idB8BA57C846564EDA864D45826A4B9EAF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>No evidence furnished; insufficient evidence</header><text>After the end of the 14-day period described in clause (i), if a supervisor does not furnish evidence as described in clause (i) or if the head of the agency determines that such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the proposed action, the head of the agency shall carry out the action.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida88b2d1d5e71440c8f2ebe9ca5808717"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Scope of procedures</header><text>An action carried out under this section—</text> <clause id="id39DC6D0FF8A04C048CC10BDF10213C34"><enum>(i)</enum><text>except as provided in clause (ii), shall be subject to the same requirements and procedures (including regarding appeals) as an action under section 7503, 7513, or 7543; and</text> </clause><clause id="id3B3C4B96D154474CBC20D1FEB2926D3B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall not be subject to—</text> <subclause id="idD3AD246AEEBA4C27A5EDAACDC798F616"><enum>(I)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7503(b);</text> </subclause><subclause id="id00AD37EABD6446519AAC40F000D4F2FA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and subsection (c) of section 7513; or</text> </subclause><subclause id="idB29358B5A92741EEA5D0A10298F5C68C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and subsection (c) of section 7543.</text> </subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id321A0C5CCA17401C9AAF49554F854882"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Delegation</header> <subparagraph id="id843966d39ed44b90856e3bfa48149eb2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (B), the head of an agency may delegate any authority or responsibility under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id028ce6b3db784613b17a1d8c365b3413"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Nondelegability of determination regarding prohibited personnel action</header><text>If the head of an agency is responsible for determining whether a supervisor has committed a prohibited personnel action for purposes of paragraph (1), the head of the agency may not delegate that responsibility.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id990CAF32B719444F80E7931FDF13AFD2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/75">chapter 75</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="id12CCA87D013F4B0CB273EDC8F02B04CC" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry level="section">7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section id="idB4F18D58A9D04EEDAA0E32C07199D483"><enum>105.</enum><header>Suicide by employees</header> <subsection id="idB7E1AF4F788647C4BE28377680AD510D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Referral</header><text>The head of an agency shall refer to the Special Counsel, along with any information known to the agency regarding the circumstances described in paragraphs (2) and (3), any instance in which the head of the agency has information indicating—</text> <paragraph id="idBCFA724D4C2548149A3C7BB997961F32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an employee of the agency committed suicide;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idBCBD2A0C450E43FF98D75E77BAB8A585"><enum>(2)</enum><text>prior to the death of the employee, the employee made any disclosure of information which reasonably evidences—</text> <subparagraph id="id24EB6C6E71BA483799FC12BB34E8E631"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ED4D11041DB441AA5AE2D7EFD97F67A"><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; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE20FC6BCE71E4E8CB1FE2D890EAFDE45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>after a disclosure described in paragraph (2), a personnel action was taken against the employee.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4538EA8569AB419D943CCDB2BEDE373D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Office of special counsel review</header><text>For any referral to the Special Counsel under subsection (a), the Special Counsel shall—</text> <paragraph id="id6C146CF9709C4ED7A7C3160F115F7127"><enum>(1)</enum><text>examine whether any personnel action was taken because of any disclosure of information described in subsection (a)(2); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id235199A8171E4D67B36CCA96411EEA51"><enum>(2)</enum><text>take any action the Special Counsel determines appropriate under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/12">chapter 12</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2917E586C0BB44F49FF1A4564E6925BA"><enum>106.</enum><header>Training for supervisors</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency (or senior ethics official of the agency for an agency without an Inspector General), the head of each agency shall provide training regarding how to respond to complaints alleging a violation of whistleblower protections (as defined in section 2307 of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 107) available to employees of the agency—</text> <paragraph id="id0B25367CC9814928BCCFBF1FD7ABF133"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to employees appointed to supervisory positions in the agency who have not previously served as a supervisor; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id6BB29E395A244C39A054EA616CCC682C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on an annual basis, to all employees of the agency serving in a supervisory position.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="idCF796F33A2914E808A2CE905DF39361E"><enum>107.</enum><header>Information on whistleblower protections</header> <subsection id="id5B9D969B04C6481BACB213EB8A6FBC41"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Existing provision</header> <paragraph id="id63E91AB68D2540F3BDFCAB09E2F6C4CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="id484CE35C79D8409BA325AA35328FBD0B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsection (c); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9F160307DF8441F0A3C4C88F8773B10F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id464879A39DE8499F8942CF354FD982F9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header> <subparagraph id="idDED9FB0CB8A347B59DF98D019368F1C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Section 4505a(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE1B38BD811B34387B16282275065C024"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Section 5755(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7EAB41C332CF4D99A1192C313E721BC7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Section 110(b)(2) 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) is amended by striking <quote>section <deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">2303(f)(1)</deleted-phrase> <added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">2302(f)(1) </added-phrase>or (2)<added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic"></added-phrase></quote> and inserting <quote>section <deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">2303(e)(1)</deleted-phrase> <added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">2302(e)(1)</added-phrase> or (2)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph changed="deleted" committee-id="SSGA00" id="id8D038C488DF249DFA11D9FEB8CCD2D3A" reported-display-style="strikethrough"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Section 704 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/344">6 U.S.C. 344</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2302(c)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>2307</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96BDD1E1EEA544178A5AB78D6661B859"><enum>(<deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">E</deleted-phrase><added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">D</added-phrase>)</enum><text>Section 1217(d)(3) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3657">22 U.S.C. 3657(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4EEBCE56DD504D11BDA229C732E41711"><enum>(<deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">F</deleted-phrase><added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">E</added-phrase>)</enum><text>Section 1233(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3673">22 U.S.C. 3673(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA8AED38FBBD14E94998C5FB81B1B96A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provision of information</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/23">Chapter 23</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD682B618FA39478B9BC089A94F112B7A" style="USC"> <section id="id8AF4654D577C44498E8AD59D97205071"><enum>2307.</enum><header>Information on whistleblower protections</header> <subsection id="idE0D4A598F1C24056B41849352697EBCF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text> <paragraph id="idCD6A4F3A4FC74B5C81A09DEABDB8FAA4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="idD58E15F6426344BFB4A4A719D8F3EB08"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), has the meaning given that term in section 2302; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9A882E67F75844928AEA63E5034C2791"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id57C153BFA153492A845426DEB19EBA3B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>new employee</term> means an individual—</text> <subparagraph id="id697F0435AFA34073ADE17ACFDDB91D71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>appointed to a position as an employee of an agency on or after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017</short-title>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB282E50ABB5C404793BF9199DA824E91"><enum>(B)</enum><text>who has not previously served as an employee; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA8E26268518743A3B0E225105C3829DA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>whistleblower protections</term> means the protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel practice described in paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (14) of section 2302(b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id933B7133C0824EBA897FB0E40B44025B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities of head of agency</header><text>The head of each agency shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel practices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency) that employees of the agency are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this chapter and chapter 12, including—</text> <paragraph id="id475A79D898FD4D9BAEE5717E2DA3529A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>information regarding whistleblower protections available to new employees during the probationary period;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id89D7885C0F6445F986781EAE1FCD9DAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board with regard to whistleblower protections; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id45B3865AC39349B1AA672B0096375FE5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive such disclosures.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id73BF371FFAD7409695F1FBA0B28402E2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>The head of each agency shall ensure that the information required to be provided under subsection (b) is provided to each new employee of the agency not later than 6 months after the date the new employee begins performing service as an employee.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idBDE9D147B1A8459D85886D8AB3EC0233"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Information online</header><text>The head of each agency shall make available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to employees of the agency on the public website of the agency, and on any online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency if one exists.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idB098E82BB5EA4F56BA7023A91E8C3D18"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Delegees</header><text>Any employee to whom the head of an agency delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect thereof, shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be responsible for the activities described in subsection (b).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="idC6ABD04CC7FF46CEBDDBDAC5125E00D8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/23">chapter 23</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="id098A070A058948898FC6CB8E2EB4CBD3" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry level="section">2307. Information on whistleblower protections.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section>

115 S585 RS: Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 U.S. Senate 2017-03-08 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

Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017

. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I—Employees generally

Sec. 101. Definitions.

Sec. 102. Stays; probationary employees.

Sec. 103. Prohibited personnel practices.

Sec. 104. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers.

Sec. 105. Suicide by employees.

Sec. 106. Training for supervisors.

Sec. 107. Information on whistleblower protections.

TITLE II—Department of Veterans Affairs employees

Sec. 201. Prevention of unauthorized access to medical records of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 202. Outreach on availability of mental health services available to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 203. Protocols to address threats against employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Sec. 204. Comptroller General of the United States study on accountability of chiefs of police of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

<enum>I</enum><header>Employees generally</header> <section id="id336AD2B7E0D74F049A781230DCD1ACDD"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title—</text> <paragraph id="idE501B04E818243448A960371EBBDFCE3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="id059DC325AFD4406C8528CE2E1F85B03D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to whether one or more portions of title 5 of the United States Code are inapplicable to the entity; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD69BD9FA0AE6440F9C50429C69EFC29E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5AC77599604B40C4BFFCD3D20D613C29"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>employee</term> means an employee (as defined in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) of an agency; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id8C00D159B3EC402E9740D275C89BCD0C"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>personnel action</term> has the meaning given that term under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="idE7FB9E99BA74411195E217DD78E867BD" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Stays; probationary employees</header> <subsection id="id04ADD69212E848439CBC6A9E53F2CA78"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Request by Special Counsel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1214(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F47C4F572454669BBFDD91D8ADF9B54" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="id64872EA62F3C4BBA86ED5C2B0586F94E" indent="up2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay under this subsection, the head of the agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id850CDBC116314102A849243E4AC38639"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Probationary employees</header><text>Section 1221 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBDE544E13754412F8BF4F64B7C797D49" style="OLC"> <subsection id="id4413E0C13C944AB69371D9C2D5180ED5"><enum>(k)</enum><text>If the Merit Systems Protection Board grants a stay to an employee in probationary status under subsection (c), the head of the agency employing the employee shall give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by the employee.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="idEA9DB3CDD9194159A91CA045940208FF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Study regarding retaliation against probationary employees</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report discussing retaliation against employees in probationary status.</text> </subsection></section><section id="id90693C49EC794ABA8766FDA64590AAB7"><enum>103.</enum><header>Prohibited personnel practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id2D82F2D86FBF4B0D94E8F4B00F5AEF73"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (12), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idD9B1170DBC164C52B58129124C82D5BC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idED60473E35C64379928C65E7181687CC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92215F6ED8E543B7AB10DE2B160B81B0" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="id0B0C74869FDE4B3F941E8E371D638EDF"><enum>(14)</enum><text>access the medical record of another employee or an applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance of, any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (13).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="idCFB212F49D8A4436AB27121FBD6AD061"><enum>104.</enum><header>Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers</header> <subsection id="idC83EF4BBA74341B39E5EDCA2BC0CC55A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/75">chapter 75</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0A13F60A02FB48CBB6B30686486B2369" style="USC"> <section id="idB51226F793A8486C96B4F7CEBE2711C8"><enum>7515.</enum><header>Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers</header> <subsection id="idE0868225CBCD45D0AA89F4D3DA90D3DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text> <paragraph id="id786D6E349F6B4F0CAE15A2BF593E0FE5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="id4F4153A952044491BEB4E7E54471081B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), means an entity that is an agency, as defined under section 2302, without regard to whether any other provision of this chapter is applicable to the entity; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5C5E80B410424EC881C85111C4E954C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB620F4CD97864771B7A13F932A574592"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>prohibited personnel action</term> means taking or failing to take an action in violation of paragraph (8), (9), or (14) of section 2302(b) against an employee of an agency; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idA6336B1E9E854C6DAA77A32FAD09DE83"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>supervisor</term> means an employee who would be a supervisor, as defined under section 7103(a), if the entity employing the employee was an agency.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id292ABAD1C94E41D3BB47164E79410803"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Proposed disciplinary actions</header> <paragraph id="id4670795B48E64A4B8AF10440BC49E9E4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the head of the agency employing a supervisor, an administrative law judge, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Special Counsel, a judge of the United States, or the Inspector General of the agency employing a supervisor determines that the supervisor has committed a prohibited personnel action, the head of the agency employing the supervisor, in accordance with the procedures required under paragraph (2)—</text> <subparagraph id="idB436FF16068E48CEBB5C071A856FAD5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for the first prohibited personnel action committed by a supervisor—</text> <clause id="id9A276B2C85C1471FB719718C4D84A66E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall propose suspending the supervisor for a period of not less than 3 days; and</text> </clause><clause id="id1C338798746A4BD8A97486E9EE937083"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may, in addition to a suspension described in clause (i), propose any other action, including a reduction in grade or pay, that the head of the agency determines appropriate; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFD5D1D749A954041942547BD48EBF1C0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for the second prohibited personnel action committed by a supervisor, shall propose removing the supervisor.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id82C3992C2BEE4F0F88B50CBA0D001617"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Procedures</header> <subparagraph id="id0163A87E035E42AEBAA1FF44B8A309F6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>A supervisor against whom an action is proposed to be taken under paragraph (1) is entitled to written notice—</text> <clause id="id80AD94DC940D420D96BE16978EEB184D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>stating the specific reasons for the proposed action; and</text> </clause><clause id="id0ddaf4ee77354276a7091cd50d0eb581"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>informing the supervisor of the right of the supervisor to review the material which is relied on to support the reasons for the proposed action.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44EE3EC2C2364064BA7BEE2063D2D5C5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Answer and evidence</header> <clause id="idA370E80B79B34E89811DD13187A87512"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A supervisor who is notified under subparagraph (A) that the supervisor is the subject of a proposed action under paragraph (1) is entitled to 14 days following such notification to answer and furnish evidence in support of the answer.</text> </clause><clause id="idB8BA57C846564EDA864D45826A4B9EAF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>No evidence furnished; insufficient evidence</header><text>After the end of the 14-day period described in clause (i), if a supervisor does not furnish evidence as described in clause (i) or if the head of the agency determines that such evidence is not sufficient to reverse the proposed action, the head of the agency shall carry out the action.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida88b2d1d5e71440c8f2ebe9ca5808717"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Scope of procedures</header><text>An action carried out under this section—</text> <clause id="id39DC6D0FF8A04C048CC10BDF10213C34"><enum>(i)</enum><text>except as provided in clause (ii), shall be subject to the same requirements and procedures (including regarding appeals) as an action under section 7503, 7513, or 7543; and</text> </clause><clause id="id3B3C4B96D154474CBC20D1FEB2926D3B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall not be subject to—</text> <subclause id="idD3AD246AEEBA4C27A5EDAACDC798F616"><enum>(I)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 7503(b);</text> </subclause><subclause id="id00AD37EABD6446519AAC40F000D4F2FA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and subsection (c) of section 7513; or</text> </subclause><subclause id="idB29358B5A92741EEA5D0A10298F5C68C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) and subsection (c) of section 7543.</text> </subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id321A0C5CCA17401C9AAF49554F854882"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Delegation</header> <subparagraph id="id843966d39ed44b90856e3bfa48149eb2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (B), the head of an agency may delegate any authority or responsibility under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id028ce6b3db784613b17a1d8c365b3413"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Nondelegability of determination regarding prohibited personnel action</header><text>If the head of an agency is responsible for determining whether a supervisor has committed a prohibited personnel action for purposes of paragraph (1), the head of the agency may not delegate that responsibility.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="id990CAF32B719444F80E7931FDF13AFD2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/75">chapter 75</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="id12CCA87D013F4B0CB273EDC8F02B04CC" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry level="section">7515. Discipline of supervisors based on retaliation against whistleblowers.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section id="idB4F18D58A9D04EEDAA0E32C07199D483"><enum>105.</enum><header>Suicide by employees</header> <subsection id="idB7E1AF4F788647C4BE28377680AD510D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Referral</header><text>The head of an agency shall refer to the Special Counsel, along with any information known to the agency regarding the circumstances described in paragraphs (2) and (3), any instance in which the head of the agency has information indicating—</text> <paragraph id="idBCFA724D4C2548149A3C7BB997961F32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an employee of the agency committed suicide;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="idBCBD2A0C450E43FF98D75E77BAB8A585"><enum>(2)</enum><text>prior to the death of the employee, the employee made any disclosure of information which reasonably evidences—</text> <subparagraph id="id24EB6C6E71BA483799FC12BB34E8E631"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ED4D11041DB441AA5AE2D7EFD97F67A"><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; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE20FC6BCE71E4E8CB1FE2D890EAFDE45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>after a disclosure described in paragraph (2), a personnel action was taken against the employee.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4538EA8569AB419D943CCDB2BEDE373D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Office of special counsel review</header><text>For any referral to the Special Counsel under subsection (a), the Special Counsel shall—</text> <paragraph id="id6C146CF9709C4ED7A7C3160F115F7127"><enum>(1)</enum><text>examine whether any personnel action was taken because of any disclosure of information described in subsection (a)(2); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id235199A8171E4D67B36CCA96411EEA51"><enum>(2)</enum><text>take any action the Special Counsel determines appropriate under subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/12">chapter 12</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2917E586C0BB44F49FF1A4564E6925BA"><enum>106.</enum><header>Training for supervisors</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency (or senior ethics official of the agency for an agency without an Inspector General), the head of each agency shall provide training regarding how to respond to complaints alleging a violation of whistleblower protections (as defined in section 2307 of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 107) available to employees of the agency—</text> <paragraph id="id0B25367CC9814928BCCFBF1FD7ABF133"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to employees appointed to supervisory positions in the agency who have not previously served as a supervisor; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id6BB29E395A244C39A054EA616CCC682C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on an annual basis, to all employees of the agency serving in a supervisory position.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="idCF796F33A2914E808A2CE905DF39361E"><enum>107.</enum><header>Information on whistleblower protections</header> <subsection id="id5B9D969B04C6481BACB213EB8A6FBC41"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Existing provision</header> <paragraph id="id63E91AB68D2540F3BDFCAB09E2F6C4CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="id484CE35C79D8409BA325AA35328FBD0B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsection (c); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9F160307DF8441F0A3C4C88F8773B10F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id464879A39DE8499F8942CF354FD982F9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header> <subparagraph id="idDED9FB0CB8A347B59DF98D019368F1C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Section 4505a(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE1B38BD811B34387B16282275065C024"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Section 5755(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7EAB41C332CF4D99A1192C313E721BC7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Section 110(b)(2) 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) is amended by striking <quote>section <deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">2303(f)(1)</deleted-phrase> <added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">2302(f)(1) </added-phrase>or (2)<added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic"></added-phrase></quote> and inserting <quote>section <deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">2303(e)(1)</deleted-phrase> <added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">2302(e)(1)</added-phrase> or (2)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph changed="deleted" committee-id="SSGA00" id="id8D038C488DF249DFA11D9FEB8CCD2D3A" reported-display-style="strikethrough"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Section 704 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/344">6 U.S.C. 344</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2302(c)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>2307</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96BDD1E1EEA544178A5AB78D6661B859"><enum>(<deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">E</deleted-phrase><added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">D</added-phrase>)</enum><text>Section 1217(d)(3) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3657">22 U.S.C. 3657(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4EEBCE56DD504D11BDA229C732E41711"><enum>(<deleted-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="strikethrough">F</deleted-phrase><added-phrase committee-id="SSGA00" reported-display-style="italic">E</added-phrase>)</enum><text>Section 1233(b) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3673">22 U.S.C. 3673(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 2302(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 2302(c)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA8AED38FBBD14E94998C5FB81B1B96A9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Provision of information</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/23">Chapter 23</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD682B618FA39478B9BC089A94F112B7A" style="USC"> <section id="id8AF4654D577C44498E8AD59D97205071"><enum>2307.</enum><header>Information on whistleblower protections</header> <subsection id="idE0D4A598F1C24056B41849352697EBCF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text> <paragraph id="idCD6A4F3A4FC74B5C81A09DEABDB8FAA4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>agency</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="idD58E15F6426344BFB4A4A719D8F3EB08"><enum>(A)</enum><text>except as provided in subparagraph (B), has the meaning given that term in section 2302; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9A882E67F75844928AEA63E5034C2791"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/50/3003">50 U.S.C. 3003(4)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id57C153BFA153492A845426DEB19EBA3B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>new employee</term> means an individual—</text> <subparagraph id="id697F0435AFA34073ADE17ACFDDB91D71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>appointed to a position as an employee of an agency on or after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017</short-title>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB282E50ABB5C404793BF9199DA824E91"><enum>(B)</enum><text>who has not previously served as an employee; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA8E26268518743A3B0E225105C3829DA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>whistleblower protections</term> means the protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel practice described in paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (14) of section 2302(b).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id933B7133C0824EBA897FB0E40B44025B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities of head of agency</header><text>The head of each agency shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel practices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency) that employees of the agency are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this chapter and chapter 12, including—</text> <paragraph id="id475A79D898FD4D9BAEE5717E2DA3529A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>information regarding whistleblower protections available to new employees during the probationary period;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id89D7885C0F6445F986781EAE1FCD9DAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board with regard to whistleblower protections; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id45B3865AC39349B1AA672B0096375FE5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive such disclosures.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id73BF371FFAD7409695F1FBA0B28402E2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>The head of each agency shall ensure that the information required to be provided under subsection (b) is provided to each new employee of the agency not later than 6 months after the date the new employee begins performing service as an employee.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idBDE9D147B1A8459D85886D8AB3EC0233"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Information online</header><text>The head of each agency shall make available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to employees of the agency on the public website of the agency, and on any online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency if one exists.</text> </subsection><subsection id="idB098E82BB5EA4F56BA7023A91E8C3D18"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Delegees</header><text>Any employee to whom the head of an agency delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect thereof, shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be responsible for the activities described in subsection (b).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="idC6ABD04CC7FF46CEBDDBDAC5125E00D8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/23">chapter 23</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="id098A070A058948898FC6CB8E2EB4CBD3" style="USC"><toc><toc-entry level="section">2307. Information on whistleblower protections.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Department of Veterans Affairs employees </header> <section id="id91882B010C1246618866B6086C5AFFBF"><enum>201.</enum><header>Prevention of unauthorized access to medical records of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header> <subsection id="id51DDEB9CEE7A47559B57065E388DA11F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development of plan</header> <paragraph id="id42E3BB39988B4D52B5511EEDF88CB4EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</text> <subparagraph id="id0860009283AC4564BC7DA7B46C3CA18B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop a plan to prevent access to the medical records of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs by employees of the Department who are not authorized to access such records;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id190CB5D8B3464777BBC340BA4F75440D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the plan developed under subparagraph (A); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE7A5B3524B03446C9EF90026C37C1B09"><enum>(C)</enum><text>upon request, provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the plan developed under subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2BD7B5C6C7D741FCBEB83F70BF8BC219"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text> <subparagraph id="id07106B3C6EB8491DA9EE3647592250B4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A detailed assessment of strategic goals of the Department for the prevention of unauthorized access to the medical records of employees of the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89A585F19683408D9ECA395EC8E99C2A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A list of circumstances in which an employee of the Department who is not a health care provider or an assistant to a health care provider would be authorized to access the medical records of another employee of the Department.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFCE66629C5B6492DA42E656D8E9B750B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Steps that the Secretary will take to acquire new or implement existing technology to prevent an employee of the Department from accessing the medical records of another employee of the Department without a specific need to access such records.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE42B09F157C54F2FAC88860A83AE82BC"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Steps the Secretary will take, including plans to issue new regulations, as necessary, to ensure that an employee of the Department may not access the medical records of another employee of the Department for the purpose of retrieving demographic information if that demographic information is available to the employee in another location or through another format.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCF296100B5394F6588D35F4A00EFBF7B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A proposed timetable for the implementation of such plan.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD3E033983B034FB9991E5240C899E605"><enum>(F)</enum><text>An estimate of the costs associated with implementing such plan.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6D3EAC854BFF4B0984127D3AA6264FC6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appropriate committees of Congress defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text> <paragraph id="id8C7103BFB8AA4AFB94BB4E6B3B6199E5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="id0402121A4346439F81C40EC6FBE129DD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id29C49D5702674E3085604CC80D6C3574"><enum>202.</enum><header>Outreach on availability of mental health services available to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a program of outreach to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to inform those employees of any mental health services, including telemedicine options, that are available to them.</text> </section><section id="id7614C212D51049FB96CFEC0F53468C9D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Protocols to address threats against employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure protocols are in effect to address threats from individuals receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs directed towards employees of the Department who are providing such health care.</text> </section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id03D8911517734F7188EAB30DD18DF61F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Comptroller General of the United States study on accountability of chiefs of police of Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs police officers at medical centers of the Department.</text></section>

May 4, 2017

Reported with amendments