Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PROVISIONS RELATING TO PROBATIONARY PE-
RIODS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3321 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The Presi-
dent’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsections (c) and 
(d), the President’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(e); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) The length of a probationary period under para-
graph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), established by rule, regu-
lation, or other action of the President, shall be— 
‘‘(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
less than 2 years; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of a preference eligible, not 
longer than— 
‘‘(A) if the appointment (as referred to in 
subsection (a)(1)) or the initial appointment (as 
referred to in subsection (a)(2)) is to a position 
that exists on the effective date of this subsection, 
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the length of the probationary period which ap-
plies to such position as of such effective date; or 
‘‘(B) if the appointment (as referred to in 
subsection (a)(1)) or the initial appointment (as 
referred to in subsection (a)(2)) is to a position 
that does not exist on the effective date of this 
subsection, such length of time as the President 
may establish, consistent with the purposes of 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(d) The head of each agency shall, in the administra-
tion of this section, take appropriate measures to ensure 
that— 
‘‘(1) any announcement of a vacant position 
within such agency and any offer of appointment 
made to any individual with respect to any such po-
sition shall clearly state the terms and conditions of 
the probationary period applicable to such position; 
‘‘(2) any individual who is required to complete 
a probationary period under this section shall receive 
timely notice of the performance and other require-
ments which must be met in order to successfully com-
plete the probationary period; and 
‘‘(3) upon successful completion of a proba-
tionary period under this section, certification to that 
effect shall be made, supported by a brief statement of 
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the basis for that certification, in such form and 
manner as the President may by regulation pre-
scribe.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 3321(e) of title 
5, United States Code (as so redesignated by subsection 
(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘Subsections (a) and (b) of 
this section’’ and inserting ‘‘This section’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section— 
(1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act; and 
(2) shall apply in the case of any appointment 
(as referred to in section 3321(a)(1) of title 5, United 
States Code) and any initial appointment (as re-
ferred to in section 3321(a)(2) of such title) taking ef-
fect on or after the date on which this section takes 
effect. 
SEC. 2. APPEALS FROM ADVERSE ACTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7501(1) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘1 year’’ the first place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘not less than 2 years’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘1 year’’ the second place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘2 years’’. 
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(b) DEFINITION AMENDMENT.—Section 7511(a)(1) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘1 
year’’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘‘not 
less than 2 years’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ‘‘2 
years’’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘‘not 
less than 2 years’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section— 
(1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act; and 
(2) shall apply in the case of any individual 
whose period of continuous service (as referred to in 
the provision of law amended by paragraph (1) or (2) 
of subsection (b), as the case may be) commences on 
or after the date on which this section takes effect. 
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Union Calendar No. 67 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1470 
[Report No. 112–116] 
A BILL 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to extend the 
probationary period applicable to appointments 
in the civil service, and for other purposes. 
JUNE 23, 2011 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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