EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

SEC. 1107. EXPEDITED HIRING AUTHORITY FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.(a) Expedited Hiring Authority.—Section 1599c(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(1) by inserting “(1)” before “The Secretary of Defense may”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(2)(A) For purposes of sections 3304, 5333, and 5753 of title 5, the Secretary of Defense may—122 STAT. 4618“(i) designate any category of medical or health professional positions within the Department of Defense as shortage category positions; and“(ii) utilize the authorities in such sections to recruit and appoint highly qualified persons directly to positions so designated.“(B) In using the authority provided by this paragraph, the Secretary shall apply the principles of preference for the hiring of veterans and other persons established in subchapter 1 of chapter 33 of title 5.”.(b) Termination of Authority.—Section 1599c(c) of such title is amended—(1) by inserting “(1)” before “The authority of”;(2) by striking “September 30, 2010” and inserting “September 30, 2012”; and(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(2) The Secretary may not appoint a person to a position of employment under subsection (a)(2) after September 30, 2012.”.