Sec. 2. Personnel authorities

466 words·~2 min read·/bill/113/hr/3107/eh/section-2

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Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by section 1 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: The Secretary may exercise with respect to qualified employees of the Department the same authority that the Secretary of Defense has with respect to civilian intelligence personnel and the scholarship program under sections 1601, 1602, 1603, and 2200a of title 10, United States Code, to establish as positions in the excepted service, appoint individuals to such positions, fix pay, and pay a retention bonus to any employee appointed under this section if the Secretary determines that such is needed to retain essential personnel.

Before announcing the payment of a bonus under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a written explanation of such determination. Such authority shall be exercised— to the same extent and subject to the same conditions and limitations that the Secretary of Defense may exercise such authority with respect to civilian intelligence personnel of the Department of Defense; and in a manner consistent with the merit system principles set forth in section 2301 of title 5, United States Code.

Sections 1221 and 2302, and chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to the positions established pursuant to the authorities provided under paragraph (1). Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains a plan for the use of the authorities provided under this subsection.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for four years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a detailed report (including appropriate metrics on actions occurring during the reporting period) that discusses the processes used by the Secretary in implementing this section and accepting applications, assessing candidates, ensuring adherence to veterans’ preference, and selecting applicants for vacancies to be filled by a qualified employee.

In this section, the term qualified employee means an employee who performs functions relating to the security of Federal civilian information systems, critical infrastructure information systems, or networks of either of such systems. . The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 226 (as added by section 1 of this Act) the following new item: Sec. 227. Personnel authorities. .