RATES OF PAY FOR TRANSFERRING NURSES.

SEC. 304. RATES OF PAY FOR TRANSFERRING NURSES. (a) Save-Pay Authority For Nurses Transferring To Another Facility.— Section 7452(e) is amended by striking out the period at the end and inserting in lieu thereof “, except that in the case of an employee whose transfer (other than pursuant to a disciplinary action otherwise authorized by law) to another health-care facility is at the request of the Secretary, the Secretary may provide that for at least the first year following such transfer the employee shall be paid at a rate of basic pay up to the rate applicable to such employee before the transfer, if the Secretary determines that such rate of pay is necessary to fill the position. Whenever the Secretary exercises the authority under the preceding sentence relating to the rate of basic pay of a transferred employee, the Secretary shall, in the next annual report required under section 7451(g) of this title, provide justification for doing so.”. (b) Conforming Amendment.— Section 7451(g) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(9) The justification required by section 7452(e) of this title.”.