Pilot program on recruitment and retention of employees for child development programs

(a) In general The Secretary of Defense may develop and implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of increasing compensation or other benefits for employees of child development programs on military installations in improving the ability of such programs to recruit and retain such employees. (b) Compensation If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for the payment of compensation to employees of child development programs under the pilot program at a fair and competitive wage that maintains sustainable and high-quality child care conditions. (c) Selection of locations (1) In general If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall select not fewer than three military installations for purposes of carrying out the pilot program. (2) Considerations In selecting military installations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider military installations with child development programs— (A) with a shortage of qualified employees; or (B) subject to other conditions identified by the Secretary that affect the ability of the programs to operate at full capacity. (d) Regulations The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (e) Duration of pilot program If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the pilot program shall— (1) commence on the date on which the Secretary prescribes regulations under subsection (d); and (2) terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date described in paragraph (1). (f) Briefings required (1) Initial briefing If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, when the pilot program commences in accordance with subsection (e)(1), brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on— (A) the military installations selected under subsection (c) for purposes of carrying out the pilot program; (B) the data that informed those selections; and (C) the compensation or other benefits to be offered under the pilot program. (2) Final briefing If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 180 days before the pilot program terminates in accordance with subsection (e)(2), brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the outcomes and findings of the pilot program, including— (A) data collected and analyses conducted under the pilot program with respect to the relationship between increased compensation for employees of child development programs and improved recruitment or retention of those employees; and (B) any recommendations with respect to increases in compensation or other benefits for employees of child development programs across the Department of Defense as a result of the pilot program. (g) Child development program defined In this section, the term child development program means a program to provide child care services for children, between birth through 12 years of age, of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

(a) In general The Secretary of Defense may develop and implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of increasing compensation or other benefits for employees of child development programs on military installations in improving the ability of such programs to recruit and retain such employees. (b) Compensation If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for the payment of compensation to employees of child development programs under the pilot program at a fair and competitive wage that maintains sustainable and high-quality child care conditions. (c) Selection of locations (1) In general If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall select not fewer than three military installations for purposes of carrying out the pilot program. (2) Considerations In selecting military installations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider military installations with child development programs— (A) with a shortage of qualified employees; or (B) subject to other conditions identified by the Secretary that affect the ability of the programs to operate at full capacity. (d) Regulations The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (e) Duration of pilot program If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the pilot program shall— (1) commence on the date on which the Secretary prescribes regulations under subsection (d); and (2) terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date described in paragraph (1). (f) Briefings required (1) Initial briefing If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, when the pilot program commences in accordance with subsection (e)(1), brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on— (A) the military installations selected under subsection (c) for purposes of carrying out the pilot program; (B) the data that informed those selections; and (C) the compensation or other benefits to be offered under the pilot program. (2) Final briefing If the Secretary implements the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 180 days before the pilot program terminates in accordance with subsection (e)(2), brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the outcomes and findings of the pilot program, including— (A) data collected and analyses conducted under the pilot program with respect to the relationship between increased compensation for employees of child development programs and improved recruitment or retention of those employees; and (B) any recommendations with respect to increases in compensation or other benefits for employees of child development programs across the Department of Defense as a result of the pilot program. (g) Child development program defined In this section, the term child development program means a program to provide child care services for children, between birth through 12 years of age, of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.