Sec. 3113. National energy technology laboratory reforms
525 words·~2 min read·
/bill/116/hr/4447/eh/section-3113A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory shall have the authority to— make appointments to positions in the Laboratory to assist in meeting a specific project or research need, without regard to civil service laws, of individuals who— have an advanced scientific or engineering background; or have a business background and can assist in specific technology-to-market needs; fix the basic pay of any employee appointed under this section at a rate not to exceed level II of the Executive Schedule; and pay any employee appointed under this section payments in addition to basic pay, except that the total amount of additional payments paid to an employee under this subsection for any 12-month period shall not exceed the least of— $25,000; the amount equal to 25 percent of the annual rate of basic pay of that employee; and the amount of the limitation that is applicable for a calendar year under section 5307(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code.
The term of any employee appointed under this section shall not exceed 3 years. Not more than 10 full-time employees appointed under this subsection may be employed at the National Energy Technology Laboratory at any given time. The Secretary shall establish mechanisms under which the Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory may use an amount that is, in total, not less than 2 percent and not more than 4 percent of all funds available to the Laboratory for the following purposes:
To fund innovative research that is conducted at the Laboratory and supports the mission of the Department. To fund technology development programs that support the transition of technologies developed by the Laboratory into the commercial market. To fund workforce development activities to strengthen external engineering and manufacturing partnerships to ensure safe, efficient, productive, and useful fossil energy technology production. To fund the revitalization, recapitalization, or minor construction of the Laboratory infrastructure.
The Director shall prioritize innovative experiments and proposals proposed by scientists and researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the use of the authority under this subsection during the preceding fiscal year. The Secretary shall delegate human resources operations of the National Energy Technology Laboratory to the Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report assessing the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s management and research. The report shall include— an assessment of the quality of science and research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory relative to similar work at other national laboratories; a review of the effectiveness of authorities provided in subsections
(a)and (b); and recommendations for policy changes within the Department and legislative changes to provide the National Energy Technology Laboratory the necessary tools and resources to advance its research mission.