Weather Workforce Improvement Act

(1) accurate and timely weather forecasting is of vital importance;

(2) employees of the National Weather Service, particularly employees responsible for the regular launching of weather balloons, are critical for public safety; and

(3) staffing positions relating to the regular launching of weather balloons should be prioritized and categorized as critical for public safety.

The Director of the National Weather Service may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 (other than sections 3303, 3307, and 3328 of such chapter) of title 5, United States Code, qualified candidates to any of the following positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and fill vacancies at the Service:

(1) Employees performing public safety mission functions, including the following:

(A) Meteorologists (classification series 1340).

(B) General physical scientists (classification series 1301).

(C) Hydrologists (classification series 1315).

(D) Computer specialists (classification series 334).

(E) Electronic technicians (classification series 856).

(2) Other positions for which primary responsibilities include equipment operations, maintenance, and analysis, information technology, or engineering.

The authority under subsection (a) shall expire on the earlier of—

(1) the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; or

(2) the date on which all positions to satisfy to critical staffing needs and vacancies have been filled.

The Director of the Office of Personal Management shall designate the positions specified in subsection (a) as pertaining to public safety.

Title I of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511 et seq.), is amended—

(A) in section 101 (15 U.S.C. 8511), by adding at the end the following new sentence: The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate and timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and enhance the national economy by disseminating to the public and core partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather information and impact-based decision support services.;

(B) by redesignating section 110 (15 U.S.C. 8519), as section 111; and

(C) by inserting after section 109, the following new section:

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Director of the National Weather Service shall submit to the Under Secretary, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the milestones, timelines, and service level expectations required for the hiring and timely on-boarding of employees of the National Weather Service.

Each assessment under paragraph (1) may include determinations of the number of employees of the National Weather Service required at each forecasting office to provide services to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy in the geographic region of responsibility.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Director of the National Weather Service shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of medical impacts, including stress and long-term health impacts, on employees of the National Weather Service, including such employees’ morale, related to required rotating shift work.

The Director of the National Weather Service is authorized to enter into a contract with a private sector entity to conduct the assessment required under paragraph (1).

Each assessment under paragraph (1) may include the following:

(A) Options for mitigating the impacts on employees identified in each such assessment.

(B) Recommendations for improving benefits related to required rotating shift work.

The table of contents in section 1(b) of Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the item relating to section 110 and inserting the following new items: