PIPELINE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SEC. 102. [49 U.S.C. 60101 note] PIPELINE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. (a) Inspector Training.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— (1) review the inspector training programs provided at the Inspector Training and Qualifications Division of the Administration in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and (2) determine whether any of the programs referred to in paragraph (1), or any portions of the programs, could be provided online through teletraining or another type of distance learning. (b) Staffing.— (1) In general.—The Secretary shall increase the number of full-time equivalent employees (as compared to the number of positions on the date of enactment of this Act) by 8 full-time employees with subject matter expertise in pipeline safety, pipeline facilities, and pipeline systems to finalize outstanding rulemakings and fulfill congressional mandates. (2) Pipeline inspection and enforcement personnel.—The Secretary shall ensure that the number of full-time positions for pipeline inspection and enforcement personnel in the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Administration does not fall below the following: (A) 224 for fiscal year 2021. (B) 235 for fiscal year 2022. (C) 247 for fiscal year 2023. (c) Recruitment and Retention Incentives.— (1) In general.—The Secretary shall use incentives, as necessary, to recruit and retain a qualified workforce, including inspection and enforcement personnel and attorneys and subject matter experts at the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Administration, including— (A) special pay rates permitted under section 5305 of title 5, United States Code; (B) repayment of student loans permitted under section 5379 of that title; (C) tuition assistance permitted under chapter 41 of that title; (D) recruitment incentives permitted under section 5753 of that title; and (E) retention incentives permitted under section 5754 of that title. (2) Continued service agreement.—The Secretary shall ensure that the incentives described in paragraph (1) are accompanied by a continued service agreement. (3) Approval.—The Secretary shall request, as necessary, the approval of the Office of Personnel Management to use the incentives described in paragraph (1).