Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023”.
VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress reports regarding security and safety at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Annual review of security at covered facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Annual survey—
In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following five years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Security and Law Enforcement of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall conduct an annual survey of covered employees to collect information regarding security at each covered facility.
Elements— Each annual survey required by paragraph (1) with respect to a covered facility shall include questions about—
the type and frequency of criminal activity experienced at the covered facility during the 12 months prior to the date the covered employee completes the survey;
the number of vacant positions for Department police officers at the covered facility and the number of days each vacant position has been vacant;
the availability and adequacy of covered equipment;
the availability and adequacy of resources, classes, or other time set aside for training Department police officers who work at each covered facility about any skill or tactic related to law enforcement, including the proper use of force, firearms qualifications and training, procedures for responding to an active threat, and any other training required for Department police officers;
any security weakness;
an analysis of the relationship between the covered facility (including the Department police officers who work at the covered facility) and local law enforcement agencies;
efforts by the personnel of the covered facility to address and reduce criminal activity at, or in close proximity to, the covered facility; and
recommendations for the Secretary to better address and reduce criminal activity at, or in close proximity to, covered facilities.
Report—
In general— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following five years, 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 annual report regarding security at covered facilities.
Contents— Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
The results of the annual survey required by subsection (a) for the year covered by the report.
An analysis, made in coordination with the Director of the Office of Security and Law Enforcement of such Department and each director and police chief of a Veterans Integrated Service Network, of the results of the annual survey required by subsection (a) for the year covered by the report.
A plan of action that describes how the Secretary plans to address any security weakness identified in the results of the annual survey and includes clearly-stated goals with measurable benchmarks for each goal and deadlines for each benchmark.
A list of each vacant position for police chief or deputy police chief at each covered facility, and the number of days the position has been vacant.
Definitions— In this section:
Covered equipment— The term covered equipment means any item issued by the Secretary to a Department police officer (including batons, firearms, pepper spray, ballistic vests, body-worn cameras, and radios) for use in the provision of services under section 902 of title 38, United States Code.
Covered employee— The term covered employee means any employee of the Department who is employed at a covered facility as a police chief, a facility emergency management leader, a facility director, or a person carrying out the responsibilities of one of these positions in an acting capacity.
Covered facility— The term covered facility means any facility of the Department where Department police officers have jurisdiction.
Department police officer— The term Department police officer has the meaning given to such term as used in section 902 of title 38, United States Code.
Security weakness— The term security weakness means a deficiency in the facilities, staffing, or covered equipment at a covered facility that a covered employee of the covered facility determines presents a risk to the safety of visitors or staff, including an unsecured door, inoperable security camera, unsecured police operations room, a lack of security presence at an entrance to the covered facility, and a lack of security presence in an area of the covered facility or the grounds of the covered facility that the director of the covered facility determines requires an increased security presence.
Sec. 3 Comptroller General report on security and safety issues at covered facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
In general— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on security and safety issues at covered facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Elements— The report required by subsection (a) shall examine the following:
The ability of Department police officers and other employees of the Department to respond to emergencies at covered facilities of the Department in a consistent and trained manner, including at covered facilities in rural or highly rural areas and across campuses that encompass a vast number of outlying buildings.
The challenges, both physical and organizational, that must be overcome by the Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness of the Department to ensure patient, visitor, and workforce safety.
The quality and functionality of emergency equipment furnished and available to employees at covered facilities of the Department in times of need.
The Department-wide processes and protocols established to mitigate risks from aging buildings and systems and the emergence of new possible threats.
The level of training, familiarity, and adoption of such processes and protocols by employees throughout the Department.
The progress made by the Department in addressing the privacy, safety, and dignity of women veterans at medical facilities of the Department.
How the Department has implemented policies to ensure privacy and safety of women veterans receiving care furnished by the Department.
The availability and adequacy of resources, classes, or other time set aside for training Department police officers who work at a covered facility of the Department about any skill or tactic related to law enforcement, including the proper use of force, firearms qualifications and training, procedures for responding to an active threat, and any other training, including crisis intervention training, required for Department police officers.
The availability and adequacy of equipment furnished to Department police officers for use in the provision of services under section 902 of title 38, United States Code, including batons, firearms, pepper spray, ballistic vests, body-worn cameras, and radios.
The typical relationship between Department police officers at a covered facility of the Department and local law enforcement agencies.
Any best practices observed that should be made the standard throughout the Department.
Any controls used by the Department and covered facilities of the Department to ensure that stationary, computer-based, and portable panic alarm systems operate effectively, notify relevant clinical, police, and security staff when activated, are located in high-risk areas, as determined with input from clinical staff, and are regularly tested.
What security and incident preparedness features are included as part of facility condition assessments conducted by the Department for covered facilities of the Department, including panic alarm systems.
What security and incident preparedness features are part of—
the capital program requirements management process of the Department; and
the strategic capital investment planning business case development and review processes of the Department.
Any related areas of interest determined by the Comptroller General to be relevant for inclusion in the report.
Definitions— In this section:
Covered facility— The term covered facility means any facility of the Department where Department police officers have jurisdiction.
Department police officer— The term Department police officer means an employee of the Department described in section 902(a) of title 38, United States Code.