Sec. 305. Enhanced requirements for the Department of State relating to telework-ready employees
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/bill/117/hr/8788/ih/section-305A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that all covered personnel— if compensated for the costs of housing abroad through a living quarters allowance, overseas housing allowance, or other similar allowance, may use such allowance to cover the cost of reliable internet access at such housing in the same manner and to the same extent as any other utility; if provided housing at properties owned or leased by the United States, are supplied with reliable internet access at such property in the same manner and to the same extent as any other utility; and are issued by the Department (or, if appropriate, reimbursed by the Department in full for the costs of purchasing) such equipment as may be necessary to be fully and appropriately telework-ready, without regard to the affiliation of any such employee, officer, or member in any specific bureau or office of the Department in determining eligibility to receive or obtain such equipment at the Department’s expense.
With respect to each employee described in subsection (c)(2) for whom the Secretary provides compensation, housing, or equipment in accordance with subsection (a), the employing agency shall reimburse the Department for the costs of such provision, through the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services system. For purposes of this section, the term covered personnel — means employees and officers of the Department, including members of the Foreign Service, who are serving at overseas diplomatic or consular posts; and includes each other employee of the United States under the authority of a chief of mission at an overseas diplomatic or consular post.