H.R. 3286 — what changed
Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016
From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 5 sections amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.
Section 1 Short title
changed
This Act may be cited as the “Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2015” 2016” or the “HIRE Vets Act”.
Sec. 2 HIRE Vets Medallion program
changed
Program Established— Not later than 90 days one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall establish, by rule, a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to solicit voluntary information from employers for purposes of recognizing, by means of an award to be designated a “HIRE Vets Medallion”, verified efforts by such employers—
to recruit, employ, and retain veterans; and
to provide community and charitable services supporting the veteran community.
Application Process— Beginning in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Secretary establishes the program—
the Secretary shall annually—
solicit and accept voluntary applications from employers in order to consider whether those employers should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion;
review applications received in each calendar year; and
provide to the President a list of recipients; and
the President shall annually—
notify such recipients of their awards; and
at a time to coincide with the annual commemoration of Veterans Day—
announce the names of such recipients;
recognize such recipients through publication in the Federal Register; and
issue to each such recipient—
a HIRE Vets Medallion of the level determined under section 3; and
a certificate stating that such employer is entitled to display such HIRE Vets Medallion during the following calendar year, to be designated a “HIRE Vets Medallion Certificate”.
Timing—
Solicitation period— The Secretary shall solicit applications not later than January 31st of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
End of acceptance period— The Secretary shall stop accepting applications not earlier than April 30th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
Review period— The Secretary shall finish reviewing applications not later than August 31st of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
Recommendations to President— The Secretary shall provide to the President a list of employers to receive HIRE Vets Medallions not later than September 30th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
Notice to recipients— The President shall notify employers who will receive HIRE Vets Medallions not later than October 11th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
Sec. 3 Selection of recipients
Application review process—
In general— The Secretary shall review all applications received in a calendar year to determine whether an employer should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion, and, if so, of what level.
Application contents— The Secretary shall require that all applications provide information on the programs and other efforts of applicant employers during the calendar year prior to that in which the medallion is to be awarded, including the categories and activities governing the level of award for which the applicant is eligible under subsection (b).
Verification— In reviewing applications, the Secretary shall verify all information provided in the applications, to the extent that such information is relevant in determining whether or not an applicant should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion or in determining the appropriate level of HIRE Vets Medallion for that employer to receive.
Awards—
Large employers—
changed
In general— The Secretary shall establish four two levels of HIRE Vets Medallions to be awarded to employers employing 500 or more employees, to be designated the “Bronze HIRE Vets Medallion”, the “Silver HIRE Vets Medallion”, the “Gold HIRE Vets Medallion”, Medallion” and the “Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion”.
removed
Bronze HIRE Vets Medallion— No employer shall be eligible to receive a Bronze HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless—
removed
such employer has hired a veteran during the previous calendar year;
removed
such employer provides support to each of its employees who are performing active duty service in the United States National Guard or Reserve, including by providing to each such employee a guarantee of employment following such employee’s active duty service; and
removed
such employer provides charitable resources in support of veteran support organizations.
removed
Silver HIRE Vets Medallion— No employer shall be eligible to receive a Silver HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless—
removed
such employer is eligible to receive a Bronze HIRE Vets Medallion in such year;
removed
veterans constitute not less than 5 percent of all employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar year;
removed
such employer retains through the end of the prior calendar year not less than 75 percent of veteran employees hired during the calendar year before the prior calendar year; and
removed
such employer provides a targeted training program for new veteran employees.
renumbered
was (3)(2)(5)
Gold HIRE Vets Medallion— No employer shall be eligible to receive a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless—
removed
such employer is eligible to receive a Silver HIRE Vets Medallion in such year;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(5)(4)
veterans constitute not less than 7 percent of all employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar year;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(5)(5)
such employer has established an employee veteran organization or resource group to assist new veteran employees with integration, including coaching and mentoring; and
renumbered
was (3)(2)(5)(6)
such employer has established programs to enhance the leadership skills of veteran employees during their employment.
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)
Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion— No employer shall be eligible to receive a Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless—
removed
such employer is eligible to receive a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion in such year;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)(4)
veterans constitute not less than 10 percent of all employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar year;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)(5)
such employer retains through the end of the prior calendar year not less than 85 percent of veteran employees hired during the calendar year before the prior calendar year;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)(6)
such employer employs dedicated human resources professionals to support hiring and retention of veteran employees, including efforts focused on veteran hiring and training;
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)(7)
such employer provides each of its employees serving on active duty in the United States National Guard or Reserve with compensation sufficient, in combination with the employee’s active duty pay, to achieve a combined level of income commensurate with the employee’s salary prior to undertaking active duty; and
renumbered
was (3)(2)(6)(8)
such employer has established a tuition assistance program to support veteran employees’ attendance in postsecondary education during the term of their employment.
renumbered
was (3)(2)(7)
Exemption for smaller employers— An employer shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (E)(iv) if such employer—
renumbered
was (3)(2)(7)(3)
employs 5,000 or fewer employees; and
renumbered
was (3)(2)(7)(4)
employs at least one human resources professional whose regular work duties include those described under subparagraph (E)(iv).
renumbered
was (3)(2)(8)
Additional criteria— The Secretary may provide, by rule, additional criteria with which to determine qualifications for receipt of each level of HIRE Vets Medallion.
Small- and medium-sized employers— The Secretary shall establish similar awards in order to recognize achievements in supporting veterans by—
employers with 50 or fewer employees; and
employers with more than 50 but fewer than 500 employees.
Design by Secretary— The Secretary shall establish the shape, form, and metallic content of each HIRE Vets Medallion.
Sec. 4 Display of award
In general— The recipient of a HIRE Vets Medallion may—
publicly display such medallion through the end of the calendar year following receipt of such medallion; and
publicly display the HIRE Vets Medallion Certificate issued in conjunction with such medallion.
changed
Unlawful display prohibited— It is unlawful for any employer to publicly display a HIRE Vets Medallion—Medallion, in connection with, or as a part of, any advertisement, solicitation, business activity, or product—
changed
for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, if such employer did not receive such medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program; or
changed
for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program during the preceding calendar year if it is after the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such medallion was issued to such employer through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
Sec. 5 Application fee and funding
changed
Fee authorized—Fund established— The Secretary may assess a reasonable fee on employers that apply for receipt There is established in the Treasury of the United States a HIRE fund to be designated the “HIRE Vets Medallion.Medallion Award Fund”.
changed
Fund established—Fee authorized— There is established in the Treasury of the United States The Secretary may assess a separate account reasonable fee on employers that apply for receipt of a HIRE Vets Medallion and the Secretary shall deposit of such fees collected under subsection (a), to be designated into the “HIRE HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund”.Fund. The Secretary shall establish the amount of the fee such that the amounts collected as fees and deposited into the Fund are sufficient to cover the costs associated with carrying out this Act.
changed
Deposit—Use of funds— The Secretary Amounts in the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund shall deposit any fees collected pursuant be available, without further appropriation, to subsection (a) into the Secretary to carry out the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund.Program.
removed
Authorization of appropriations—
removed
Sources of appropriations—
removed
First year— There are authorized to be appropriated for the first fiscal year in which applications are to be solicited under section 2(b) such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act in such fiscal year.
removed
Following years— There is authorized to be appropriated from the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund, for each fiscal year following a fiscal year in which fees are collected under subsection (a), an amount equal to the total fees collected under subsection (a) during such prior fiscal year.
removed
Availability— Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended.
removed
Use— Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used for carrying out the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
Sec. 8 Limitation on awards and bonuses paid to senior executive employees of Department of Veterans Affairs
addedadded Section 705 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 703 note) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: , “of which, during fiscal year 2016, not more than an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 may be paid to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are members of the Senior Executive Service.”.