6 U.S.C. § 658 | Cybersecurity recruitment and retention

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Collective bargaining agreement

section 7103(a)(8) of title 5The term “collective bargaining agreement” has the meaning given that term in .

(3)

Excepted service

section 2103 of title 5The term “excepted service” has the meaning given that term in .

(4)

Preference eligible

section 2108 of title 5The term “preference eligible” has the meaning given that term in .

(5)

Qualified position

The term “qualified position” means a position, designated by the Secretary for the purpose of this section, in which the incumbent performs, manages, or supervises functions that execute the responsibilities of the Department relating to cybersecurity.

(6)

Senior Executive Service

section 2101a of title 5The term “Senior Executive Service” has the meaning given that term in .

(b)

General authority

(1)

Establish positions, appoint personnel, and fix rates of pay

(A)

General authority

The Secretary may—

(i)

establish, as positions in the excepted service, such qualified positions in the Department as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Department relating to cybersecurity, including positions formerly identified as—

(I)

section 5376 of title 5 senior level positions designated under ; and

(II)

positions in the Senior Executive Service;

(ii)

appoint an individual to a qualified position (after taking into consideration the availability of preference eligibles for appointment to the position); and

(iii)

subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3), fix the compensation of an individual for service in a qualified position.

(B)

Construction with other laws

The authority of the Secretary under this subsection applies without regard to the provisions of any other law relating to the appointment, number, classification, or compensation of employees.

(2)

Basic pay

(A)

Authority to fix rates of basic pay

In accordance with this section, the Secretary shall fix the rates of basic pay for any qualified position established under paragraph (1) in relation to the rates of pay provided for employees in comparable positions in the Department of Defense and subject to the same limitations on maximum rates of pay established for such employees by law or regulation.

(B)

Prevailing rate systems

section 5341 of title 5The Secretary may, consistent with , adopt such provisions of that title as provide for prevailing rate systems of basic pay and may apply those provisions to qualified positions for employees in or under which the Department may employ individuals described by section 5342(a)(2)(A) of that title.

(3)

Additional compensation, incentives, and allowances

(A)

Additional compensation based on title 5 authorities

The Secretary may provide employees in qualified positions compensation (in addition to basic pay), including benefits, incentives, and allowances, consistent with, and not in excess of the level authorized for, comparable positions authorized by title 5.

(B)

Allowances in nonforeign areas

section 5941 of title 5An employee in a qualified position whose rate of basic pay is fixed under paragraph (2)(A) shall be eligible for an allowance under , on the same basis and to the same extent as if the employee was an employee covered by such section 5941, including eligibility conditions, allowance rates, and all other terms and conditions in law or regulation.

(4)

Plan for execution of authorities

December 18, 2014Not later than 120 days after , the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress with a plan for the use of the authorities provided under this subsection.

(5)

Collective bargaining agreements

Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to impair the continued effectiveness of a collective bargaining agreement with respect to an office, component, subcomponent, or equivalent of the Department that is a successor to an office, component, subcomponent, or equivalent of the Department covered by the agreement before the succession.

(6)

Required regulations

The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

(c)

Annual report

December 18, 2014Not later than 1 year after , and every year thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed report that—

(1)

discusses the process used by the Secretary in accepting applications, assessing candidates, ensuring adherence to veterans’ preference, and selecting applicants for vacancies to be filled by an individual for a qualified position;

(2)

describes—

(A)

how the Secretary plans to fulfill the critical need of the Department to recruit and retain employees in qualified positions;

(B)

the measures that will be used to measure progress; and

(C)

any actions taken during the reporting period to fulfill such critical need;

(3)

discusses how the planning and actions taken under paragraph (2) are integrated into the strategic workforce planning of the Department;

(4)

provides metrics on actions occurring during the reporting period, including—

(A)

the number of employees in qualified positions hired by occupation and grade and level or pay band;

(B)

the placement of employees in qualified positions by directorate and office within the Department;

(C)

the total number of veterans hired;

(D)

the number of separations of employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band;

(E)

the number of retirements of employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band; and

(F)

the number and amounts of recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives paid to employees in qualified positions by occupation and grade and level or pay band; and

(5)

describes the training provided to supervisors of employees in qualified positions at the Department on the use of the new authorities.

(d)

Three-year probationary period

The probationary period for all employees hired under the authority established in this section shall be 3 years.

(e)

Incumbents of existing competitive service positions

(1)

In general

December 18, 2014An individual serving in a position on , that is selected to be converted to a position in the excepted service under this section shall have the right to refuse such conversion.

(2)

Subsequent conversion

After the date on which an individual who refuses a conversion under paragraph (1) stops serving in the position selected to be converted, the position may be converted to a position in the excepted service.

(f)

Study and report

December 18, 2014section 2674 of title 10Not later than 120 days after , the National Protection and Programs Directorate shall submit a report regarding the availability of, and benefits (including cost savings and security) of using, cybersecurity personnel and facilities outside of the National Capital Region (as defined in ) to serve the Federal and national need to—

(1)

the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and

(2)

the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.

Pub. L. 107–296, title XXII, § 2208 Pub. L. 113–277, § 3(a)Dec. 18, 2014128 Stat. 3005 Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(2)(I)Nov. 16, 2018132 Stat. 4178(, formerly title II, § 226, as added , , ; renumbered title XXII, § 2208, , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 147 of this title Pub. L. 115–278Section was formerly classified to prior to renumbering by .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 652(a)(2) of this titleNov. 16, 2018Reference to National Protection and Programs Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security deemed to be a reference to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department, see , enacted .