DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES PROVIDERS FOR DEPARTMENT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND EMPLOYEES AT INSTALLATION MILITARY HOUSING OFFICES.

SEC. 559. [10 U.S.C. 1792 note] DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES PROVIDERS FOR DEPARTMENT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND EMPLOYEES AT INSTALLATION MILITARY HOUSING OFFICES. (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, and individuals to fill vacancies in installation military housing offices, 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 or for employees at installation military housing offices; and (2) there is a shortage of childcare services providers or for installation military housing office employees. (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 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 (including family childcare coordinator services and school age childcare coordinator 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) Installation Military Housing Office Defined.—The term “installation military housing office” means any office whose primary function is performing day-to-day supervision of military housing covered by subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code. (g) Expiration of Authority.—The appointment authority provided by subsection (a) expires on September 30, 2021.