H.R. 693 — VACANT Act

VA medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline Act or the VACANT Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with certain notification and staffing requirements when a VA medical center director is on detail.

Not later than 90 days after detailing a director of a VA medical center to a different position within the VA, the VA must notify Congress with specified information about the detail (e.g., the location of the detail). Additionally, the VA must appoint an individual as acting director not later than 120 days after detailing a director to a different position.

The VA must regularly update Congress regarding the status of the detail.

Generally, not later than 180 days after detailing a director to a different position, the VA must return the individual to the position as director or reassign the individual from the position and begin the process of hiring a new director. This requirement may be waived for a limited amount of time, but the VA must submit to Congress a justification for the waiver.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 693 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 693

     To limit the detailing of directors of medical centers of the 
   Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions within the 
                  Department, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2023

  Mr. Womack introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To limit the detailing of directors of medical centers of the 
   Department of Veterans Affairs to different positions within the 
                  Department, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA medical Center Absence and 
Notification Timeline Act'' or the ``VACANT Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DETAIL OF DIRECTORS OF MEDICAL CENTERS OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

    (a) Notification.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after detailing a 
        director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs to a different position within the Department, the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall notify the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives of such detail.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The notification required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to a director of a 
        medical center who is detailed to a different position within 
        the Department, the following information:
                    (A) The location at which the director is detailed.
                    (B) The position title of the detail.
                    (C) The estimated time the director is expected to 
                be absent from their duties at the medical center.
                    (D) Such other information as the Secretary may 
                determine appropriate.
    (b) Appointment of Acting Director.--Not later than 120 days after 
detailing a director of a medical center of the Department to a 
different position within the Department, the Secretary shall appoint 
an individual as acting director of such medical center with all of the 
authority and responsibilities of the detailed director.
    (c) Update on Detail.--Not later than 120 days after detailing a 
director of a medical center of the Department to a different position 
within the Department, and not less frequently than every 30 days 
thereafter while the detail is in effect or while the director position 
at the medical center is vacant, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives an update regarding 
the status of the detail.
    (d) Return to Position or Reassignment.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
        later than 180 days after detailing a director of a medical 
        center of the Department to a different position within the 
        Department, for a reason other than an ongoing investigation or 
        administrative action with respect to the director, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) return the individual to the position as 
                director of the medical center; or
                    (B) reassign the individual from the position as 
                director of the medical center and begin the process of 
                hiring a new director for such position.
            (2) Waiver.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the 
                requirement under paragraph (1) with respect to an 
                individual for successive 90-day increments for a total 
                period of not more than 540 days from the original date 
                the individual was detailed away from their position as 
                director of a medical center.
                    (B) Notification.--Not later than 30 days after 
                exercising a waiver under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary shall notify Congress of the waiver and 
                provide to Congress information as to why the waiver is 
                necessary.
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VACANT Act

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