text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Voluntary Protection Program Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish 
  a program of entering into cooperative agreements with employers to 
  encourage the establishment of comprehensive safety and health 
  management systems that include--
              (1) requirements for systematic assessment of hazards;
              (2) comprehensive hazard prevention, mitigation, and 
          control programs;
              (3) active and meaningful management and employee 
          participation in the voluntary program described in subsection 
          (b); and
              (4) employee safety and health training.
      (b) Voluntary Protection Program.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall establish and 
          carry out a voluntary protection program (consistent with 
          subsection (a)) to encourage excellence and recognize the 
          achievement of excellence in both the technical and managerial 
          protection of employees from occupational hazards.
              (2) Program requirements.--The voluntary protection program 
          shall include the following:
                      (A) Application.--Employers who volunteer under the 
                  program shall be required to submit an application to 
                  the Secretary of Labor demonstrating that the worksite 
                  with respect to which the application is made meets 
                  such requirements as the Secretary of Labor may require 
                  for participation in the program.
                      (B) Onsite evaluations.--There shall be onsite 
                  evaluations by representatives of the Secretary of 
                  Labor to ensure a high level of protection of 
                  employees. The onsite visits shall not result in 
                  enforcement of citations under the Occupational Safety 
                  and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
                      (C) Information.--Employers who are approved by the 
                  Secretary of Labor for participation in the program 
                  shall assure the Secretary of Labor that information 
                  about the safety and health program shall be made 
                  readily available to the Secretary of Labor to share 
                  with employees.
                      (D) Reevaluations.--Periodic reevaluations by the 
                  Secretary of Labor of the employers shall be required 
                  for continued participation in the program.
              (3) Monitoring.--To ensure proper controls and measurement 
          of program performance for the voluntary protection program 
          under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall direct the 
          Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health 
          to take the following actions:
                      (A) Develop a documentation policy regarding 
                  information on follow-up actions taken by the regional 
                  offices of the Occupational Safety and Health 
                  Administration in response to fatalities and serious 
                  injuries at worksites participating in the voluntary 
                  protection program.
                      (B) Establish internal controls that ensure 
                  consistent compliance by the regional offices of the 
                  Occupational Safety and Health Administration with the 
                  voluntary protection program policies of the 
                  Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 
                  conducting onsite reviews and monitoring injury and 
                  illness rates, to ensure that only qualified worksites 
                  participate in the program.
                      (C) Establish a system for monitoring the 
                  performance of the voluntary protection program by 
                  developing specific performance goals and measures for 
                  the program.
              (4) Exemptions.--A site with respect to which a voluntary 
          protection program has been approved shall, during 
          participation in the program, be exempt from inspections or 
          investigations and certain paperwork requirements to be 
          determined by the Secretary of Labor, except that this 
          paragraph shall not apply to inspections or investigations 
          arising from employee complaints, fatalities, catastrophes, or 
          significant toxic releases.
              (5) No payments required.--The Secretary of Labor shall not 
          require any form of payment for an employer to qualify or 
          participate in the voluntary protection program.
      (c) Transition.--The Secretary of Labor shall take such steps as 
  may be necessary for the orderly transition from the cooperative 
  agreements and voluntary protection programs carried out by the 
  Occupational Safety and Health Administration as of the day before the 
  date of enactment of this Act, to the cooperative agreements and 
  voluntary protection program authorized under this section. In making 
  such transition, the Secretary shall ensure that--
              (1) the voluntary protection program authorized under this 
          section is based upon and consistent with the voluntary 
          protection programs carried out on the day before the date of 
          enactment of this Act; and
              (2) each employer that, as of the day before the date of 
          enactment of this Act, had an active cooperative agreement 
          under the voluntary protection programs carried out by the 
          Occupational Safety and Health Administration and was in good 
          standing with respect to the duties and responsibilities under 
          such agreement, shall have the option to continue participating 
          in the voluntary protection program authorized under this 
          section.
      (d) Regulations and Implementation.--Not later than 2 years after 
  the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall issue 
  final regulations for the voluntary protection program authorized under 
  this section and shall begin implementation of the program.
  
  SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
  sums as may be necessary.
target: Voluntary Protection Program Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) voluntary protection program, under which management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.
feat_title: Voluntary Protection Program Act