Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 3.djvu/378

 115 STAT. 2452 PUBLIC LAW 107-135—JAN. 23, 2002 report shall address the matters specified in subsection (c) and include any other information, and any recommendations, that the Records. Secretary considers appropriate. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the report to the National Commission on VA Nursing established under subtitle D. SEC. 124. STAFFING LEVELS FOR OPERATIONS OF MEDICAL FACILI- TIES. 38 USC 8110. (a) IN GENERAL. —Section 8110(a) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting after "complete care of patients," in the fifth sentence the following: "and in a manner consistent with the policies of the Secretary on overtime,"; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting ", including the staffing required to maintain such capacities," after "all Department medical facilities"; (B) by striking "and to minimize" and inserting ", to minimize"; and (C) by inserting before the period the following: ", and to ensure that eligible veterans are provided such care and services in an appropriate manner". (b) NATIONWIDE POLICY ON STAFFING. — Paragraph (3) of that section is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting "the adequacy of staff levels for compliance with the policy established under subparagraph (C)," after "regarding"; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: "(C) The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Health, establish a nationwide policy on the staffing of Department medical facilities in order to ensure that such facilities have adequate staff for the provision to veterans of appropriate, high-quality care and services. The policy shall take into account the staffing levels and mixture of staff skills required for the range of care and services provided veterans in Department facilities.". SEC. 125. ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF AUTHORITIES TO ENHANCE RETENTION OF EXPERIENCED NURSES. (a) ANNUAL REPORT.—(1) Subchapter II of chapter 73 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "§ 7324. Annual report on use of authorities to enhance retention of experienced nurses Deadline. "(a) ANNUAL REPORT. —Not later than January 31 each year, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall submit to Congress a report on the use during the preceding year of authorities for purposes of retaining experienced nurses in the Veterans Health Administration, as follows: "(1) The authorities under chapter 76 of this title. "(2) The authority under VA Directive 5102.1, relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs nurse qualification standard, dated November 10, 1999, or any successor directive. "(3) Any other authorities available to the Secretary for those purposes. "(b) REPORT ELEMENTS. — Each report under subsection (a) shall specify for the period covered by such report, for each Department Policy.

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