US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title I — Peace Corps Volunteer Support

115th Congress · Approved Oct 9, 2018 · 132 Stat. 3650 · Lineage

TITLE I Peace Corps Volunteer Support

SEC. 101. Peace Corps Volunteer Medical Care Reform.

(a)
In General.— The Peace Corps Act is amended—
(1)
in section 5 (22 U.S.C. 2504)—
(A)
in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by striking “ receive such immunization and dental care preparatory to their service” and inserting “ receive, preparatory to their service, such immunization, dental care, and information on prescription options and potential interactions, as necessary and appropriate and in accordance with subsection (f)”;
(B)
by re-designating subsections (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), and (o);
(C)
by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection—

“(f) The Director of the Peace Corps shall consult with health experts outside the Peace Corps, including experts licensed in the field of mental health, and follow guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the prescription of medications to a volunteer.”

; and

(D)
in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by striking “ section, and” and inserting “ section), and”; and
(2)
by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

“SEC. 5A. HEALTH CARE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT PEACE CORPS POSTS.

“(a) In General.—The President shall ensure that each overseas post has the services of a medical office that is consistent in size and scope with the needs of the Peace Corps at such post, including, if necessary, by detailing to any such post the licensed medical staff of other United States departments, agencies, or establishments.

“(b) Hiring Criteria.—In selecting medical officers and support staff for overseas Peace Corps posts, the Director of the Peace Corps shall hire well-qualified and capable personnel to support the effectiveness of health care for Peace Corps volunteers by evaluating each candidate’s—

“(1) medical training, experience, and accreditations or other qualifications;

“(2) record of performance;

“(3) administrative capabilities;

“(4) understanding of the local language and culture;

“(5) ability to work in the English language;

“(6) interpersonal skills; and

“(7) such other factors that the Director determines appropriate.

“(c) Certain Training.—The Director of the Peace Corps shall ensure that each Peace Corps medical officer serving in a malaria-endemic country receives training in the recognition of the side effects of such medications.

“(d) Review and Evaluation.—

“(1) In general.—The Director of the Peace Corps, acting through the Associate Director of the Office of Health Services and the country directors, shall review and evaluate the performance and health care delivery of all Peace Corps medical staff, including medical officers, to—

“(A) ensure compliance with all relevant Peace Corps policies, practices, and guidelines; and

“(B) ensure that medical staff complete the necessary continuing medical education to maintain their skills and satisfy licensing and credentialing standards, as designated by the Director.

“(2) Report to congress.—The Director of the Peace Corps shall include, in the annual Peace Corps congressional budget justification, a confirmation that the review and evaluation of all Peace Corps medical staff required under paragraph (1) has been completed.

“(e) Antimalarial Drugs.—The Director of the Peace Corps shall consult with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding recommendations for prescribing malaria prophylaxis, in order to provide the best standard of care within the context of the Peace Corps environment.”

(b)
Implementation of Recommendations by the Inspector General of the Peace Corps.—
(1)
Inspector general report.— As promptly as practicable, the Director shall implement the actions outlined in the agency response for all open recommendations of the Inspector General of the Peace Corps set forth in the report entitled “Final Program Evaluation Report: OIG Follow-up Evaluation of Issues Identified in the 2010 Peace Corps/Morocco Assessment of Medical Care” (Report No. IG–16–01–E).
(2)
Semiannual reports.—
(A)
Initial report.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the Director’s strategy for implementing the recommendations referred to in paragraph (1).
(B)
Subsequent reports.— Not later than 180 days after the submission of the report required under subparagraph (A), and semiannually thereafter, the Director shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the progress in implementing the recommendations referred to in paragraph (1) until all such recommendations have been implemented in accordance with the agency’s response to the report referred to in such paragraph.
(3)
Notification.— After the submission of each report required under paragraph (2), the Inspector General of the Peace Corps may notify the appropriate congressional committees of any recommendations from the report referred to in paragraph (1) that the Inspector General determines remain unresolved.

SEC. 102. Post-Service Peace Corps Volunteer Medical Care Reform.

Section 8142 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(d)

(1) The Secretary shall authorize the Director of the Peace Corps to furnish medical benefits to a volunteer, who is injured during the volunteer’s period of service, for a period of 120 days following the termination of such service if the Director certifies that the volunteer’s injury probably meets the requirements under subsection (c)(3). The Secretary may then certify vouchers for these expenses for such volunteer out of the Employees’ Compensation Fund.

“(2) The Secretary shall prescribe the form and content of the certification required under paragraph (1).

“(3) A certification under paragraph (1) will cease to be effective if the volunteer sustains compensable disability in connection with volunteer service.

“(4) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize the furnishing of any medical benefit that the Secretary of Labor is not otherwise authorized to reimburse for former Peace Corps volunteers who receive treatment for injury or disease proximately caused by their service in the Peace Corps in accordance with this chapter.”

SEC. 103. Peace Corps Impact Survey.

(a)
In General.— Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and once every 2 years thereafter for the following 6 years, the Director shall conduct a survey of former Peace Corps volunteers.
(b)
Scope of Survey.— The survey required under subsection (a) shall assess, with respect to each former Peace Corps volunteer completing the survey, the impact of the Peace Corps on the former volunteer, including the volunteer’s—
(1)
well-being;
(2)
career;
(3)
civic engagement; and
(4)
commitment to public service.
(c)
Report.— The Director shall submit a report containing the results of the survey conducted under subsection (a) to—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;
(3)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(4)
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 104. Extension of Positions for Peace Corps Employees.

Section 7(a) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2506(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(8)

(A) The Director of the Peace Corps may designate Peace Corps positions as critical management or management support positions that require specialized technical or professional skills and knowledge of Peace Corps operations. Such positions may include positions in the following fields:

“(i) Volunteer health services.

“(ii) Financial management.

“(iii) Information technology.

“(iv) Procurement.

“(v) Personnel.

“(vi) Legal services.

“(vii) Safety and security.

“(B) Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), with respect to positions designated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Director may make or extend renewable appointments or assignments under paragraph (2) notwithstanding limitations under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (5).

“(C) In exercising authority under subparagraph (B), the Director shall ensure that all decisions regarding the appointment, assignment, or extension of employees to any position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A)—

“(i) are consistent with Federal law and Peace Corps policy; and

“(ii) are based upon operational and programmatic factors.

“(D) The term of any appointment or assignment to any position designated pursuant to subparagraph (A) may not exceed 5 years.”