summary
Introduced
07/13/2017
07/13/2017
In Committee
07/13/2017
07/13/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs Quality Employment Act of 2017 This bill provides that the annual determination of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff shortages shall include shortages for five clinical and five non-clinical occupations for each network. (Such determination currently includes the five occupations for which there are the largest Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]-wide shortages.) The bill establishes in the VA an executive management fellowship program to provide eligible employees of: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the VHA with private sector training and experience, and (2) a private-sector entity with VA training and experience. The VA shall: conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for VA career senior executive employees; establish a single database that lists each vacant VA position that is critical, difficult to fill, or both, and each vacant mental health position; prescribe regulations to allow for excepted service appointments of qualifying students and recent graduates; provide VHA human resources with training on employee recruitment and retention; establish a promotional track system for employees who are technical experts to advance without being required to transition to management positions; develop a program to transition military medical people into VHA employment; develop a plan to hire qualified directors for each medical center without a permanent director; develop a standardized VA exit survey; and ensure that a recruiter for each Veterans Integrated Service Network visits, at least annually, each allopathic and osteopathic teaching institution with a graduate medical education program within the network to recruit individuals to be appointed to VHA positions. The VA may non-competitively appoint a qualified former career or career conditional employee to any VA position within the competitive service that is one grade higher than the position most recently occupied by the employee.
AI Summary
This bill aims to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) ability to hire and retain high-quality employees, particularly in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Key provisions include:
- Modifying the annual determination of VHA staffing shortages to include the five largest clinical and non-clinical occupations for each medical center, rather than just the top five VA-wide.
- Establishing an Executive Management Fellowship Program to provide training and experience in the private sector for eligible VA employees, as well as private sector employees.
- Requiring the VA Secretary to conduct annual performance plans for political appointees similar to those for career senior executives, focused on recruiting, training, and managing personnel.
- Allowing the VA to non-competitively appoint qualified former VA employees to positions one grade higher than their previous role.
- Establishing a database of critical, hard-to-fill VA positions and requiring the VA to consider qualified applicants for similar openings.
- Mandating training for VHA human resources professionals on recruitment and retention best practices.
- Creating a promotional track system for technical experts at the VA to advance without transitioning to management.
- Directing the VA to develop programs to transition military medical personnel and recent graduates into VA employment.
The overall aim is to improve the VA's ability to attract, develop, and retain high-performing personnel, particularly in mission-critical healthcare occupations.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (on 07/13/2017)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1550/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1550/BILLS-115s1550is.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1550/BILLS-115s1550is.pdf.pdf |
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