DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES PROVIDERS FOR DEPARTMENT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

SEC. 559. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES PROVIDERS FOR DEPARTMENT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense may appoint, without regard to any provision of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, qualified childcare services providers in the competitive service if the Secretary determines that—(1) there is a critical hiring need for childcare services providers for Department of Defense child development centers; and(2) there is a shortage of childcare services providers.(b) Regulations.—The Secretary shall carry out this section in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary for purposes of this section.(c) Deadline for Implementation.—The Secretary shall prescribe the regulations required by subsection (b), and commence implementation of subsection (a), by not later than May 1, 2018.(d) Briefing.—Not later than 90 days after the end of each of fiscal years 2019 and 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the use of the appointment authority provided by subsection (a).(e) Childcare Services Provider Defined.—In this section, the term “childcare services provider” means a person who provides childcare services for dependent children of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense in child development centers on Department installations.(f) Expiration of Authority.—The appointment authority provided by subsection (a) expires on September 30, 2021.