§19151 Federal research agency policies for caregivers

Summary

Within 12 months after August 9, 2022, the Director must give guidance to each Federal research agency to make policies. The policies must cover all agency research awards and lead researchers (principal investigators) and their trainees, like postdocs and graduate students, who have caregiving duties such as a newborn, a newly adopted child, or an immediate family member with a disability or serious health condition. Where possible, the guidance should allow flexible start dates, no-cost extensions, award supplements, and other appropriate accommodations chosen by each agency director. The Director must push for consistency across agencies. Agencies must put these policies in place and share them in easy-to-find formats. They must consider collecting data on who uses the policies, broken down by sex, location, and socioeconomic factors (for example, employment, job, education, parental education, and income) at colleges and Federal labs. Agencies must also consider reporting that data to the Director each year in the form the Director requires.