S 90
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 90
To establish the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award for
employers that have developed and implemented workplace flexibility
policies to assist the working spouses and caregivers of service members,
and returning service members, in addressing family and home needs during
deployments.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011
Mr. CRAPO (for himself and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To establish the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award for
employers that have developed and implemented workplace flexibility
policies to assist the working spouses and caregivers of service members,
and returning service members, in addressing family and home needs during
deployments.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Military Family-Friendly Employer Award
Act'.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(1) EMPLOYER- The term `employer'--
(A) means any person (as defined in section 3(a) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 202(a))) engaged in commerce or
in any industry or activity affecting commerce; and
(B) includes any agency of a State, or political subdivision thereof.
The term does not include the Government of the United States or any
agency thereof.
(2) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Defense.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITARY FAMILY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARD.
(a) In General- There is established in the Department of Defense an
annual award to be known as the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award
(hereafter referred to in this Act as the `Award') for employers that
have developed and implemented workplace flexibility policies and practices--
(1) to assist the working spouses and caregivers of members of the
Armed Forces who are deployed away from home, and to assist such members
upon their return from deployment, so that the needs of the home may
be addressed during and after such deployments; and
(2) that reflect a deep awareness and commitment in response to the
needs of the military family unit.
(b) Plaque- The Award shall be evidenced by a plaque bearing the title
`Military Family-Friendly Employer Award'.
(1) IN GENERAL- An employer desiring consideration for an Award shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as such Secretary may require.
(2) REAPPLICATION- An employer may reapply for an Award, regardless
of whether the employer has been a previous recipient of such Award.
(d) Display on Web Site- The Secretary shall make publically available
on its Internet Web site the names of each recipient of the Award.
(e) Presentation of Award- The Secretary (or the Secretary's designee)
shall present annually the Award to employers under this section.
SEC. 4. MILITARY FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPECIAL TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment- There is established within the Department of Defense
a Military Family-Friendly Special Task Force (hereafter referred to
in this Act as the `Task Force').
(1) IN GENERAL- The Task Force shall be composed of 9 members to be
appointed as follows:
(A) The Secretary shall appoint one individual to serve as the chairperson
of the Task Force.
(B) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and
based on recommendations made by the majority and minority leaders
of the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader of the House of
Representatives, shall appoint--
(i) two members who shall be work-life experts; and
(ii) two members who shall be representatives of the general business
community.
(C) The Secretary, based on recommendations made by the majority
and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority
leader of the House of Representatives, shall appoint--
(i) two members who shall be experts on the Armed Forces; and
(ii) two members who shall be representatives of families with
one or more members serving in the Armed Forces.
(2) QUALIFICATIONS- In appointing members of the Task Force the Secretary
shall ensure--
(A) that such members are individuals with knowledge and experience
in workplace flexibility policies as such policies relate to services
in and support for the Armed Forces;
(B) that not more than 2 members appointed under paragraph (1)(B)
are from the same political party; and
(C) that not more than 2 members appointed under paragraph (1)(C)
are from the same political party.
(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided under subparagraphs (B) and (C),
each member of the Task Force shall be appointed for 2 years and
may be reappointed.
(B) TERMS OF INITIAL APPOINTEES- As designated by the Secretary
at the time of appointment, of the members of the Task Force first
appointed, 4 shall each be appointed for a 1-year term and the remainder
shall each be appointed for a 2-year term.
(C) VACANCIES- Any member of the Task Force appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the
member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the
remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration
of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
(4) LIMITATION- The Secretary may not appoint any Member of Congress
to the Task Force.
(c) Duties- The Task Force shall--
(1) develop and review military-centered questions for integration
into the award model for determining which applicant employers should
receive an Award;
(2) determine how such questions should be weighed in making Award
determinations what threshold should be used as the minimum for making
such Awards;
(3) review responses to a sample of such questions posed as part of
any questionnaire used for purposes of making such Awards;
(4) consider private sector award models such as the Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award or the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence
in Workplace Flexibility;
(5) determine criteria for the delivery of the Award; and
(6) carry out any other activities determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(A) IN GENERAL- Except for the initial meeting of the Task Force
under subparagraph (B), the Task Force shall meet at the call of
the chairperson or a majority of its members.
(B) INITIAL MEETING- The Task Force shall conduct its first meeting
not later than 90 days after the appointment of all of its members.
(2) VOTING AND RULES- A majority of members of the Task Force shall
constitute a quorum to conduct business. The Task Force may establish
by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the business of
the Task Force, if such rules are not inconsistent with this section
or other applicable law.
(3) COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL- All members of the Task Force shall be
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including
travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance
of duties of the Task Force. The members of the Task Force shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
Task Force.
SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of
this Act.
END
