Incident meteorologist workforce

(a) Workforce and training assessment Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 the results of an assessment of National Weather Service workforce and training challenges for Incident Meteorologists, and a roadmap for overcoming such challenges. Such assessment shall take into consideration information technology support, logistical and administrative operations, anticipated weather and climate conditions, and feedback from relevant stakeholders, and shall include, to the maximum extent practicable, an identification by the National Weather Service of the following: (1) The expected number of Incident Meteorologists needed over the next five years. (2) Potential hiring authorities necessary to overcome any identified workforce and training challenges. (3) Alternative services or assistance options the National Weather Service could provide to meet operational needs. (b) Overtime pay (1) In general Any premium pay for services performed by Incident Meteorologists of the National Weather Service that are determined by the Secretary of Commerce to be primarily related to emergency wildland fire suppression activities shall be disregarded in calculating the aggregate of such employee’s basic pay and premium pay for purposes of a limitation under section 5547 of title 5, United States Code, or under any other provision of law. (2) Rates Section 5542(a)(5) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting, the National Weather Service, after Interior.