TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4803
Sponsor: Rep. Sanford, Mark [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2014-06-05 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Firearms and explosives
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Law enforcement officers
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2014-06-05
text: 
TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014 - Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) analyze the data and methods that the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security) uses to identify Transportation Security Administration (TSA) law enforcement officers and criminal investigators; and (2) provide relevant findings to the Assistant Secretary, including regarding whether the data and methods are adequate and valid.
 
Prohibits TSA from hiring any new employee to work in its Office of Inspection if the Inspector General finds that such data and methods are inadequate or invalid, until: (1) the Assistant Secretary certifies that only TSA employees who meet such requirements are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with such classification, and (2) the Inspector General submits a finding that the Assistant Secretary utilized adequate and valid data and methods to make such certification.
 
Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) reclassify criminal investigator positions in the Office of Inspection as noncriminal investigator positions or non-law enforcement positions if the individuals in those positions do not, or are not expected to, spend an average of at least 50% of their time performing criminal investigative duties; and (2) estimate the total long-term cost savings to the federal government resulting from such reclassification.

action_date: 2014-07-03
text: 
TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) analyze the data and methods that the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security) uses to identify Transportation Security Administration (TSA) law enforcement officer and criminal investigators; and (2) provide relevant findings to the Assistant Secretary, including regarding whether the data and methods are adequate and valid.
 
Prohibits TSA from hiring any new employee to work in its Office of Inspection if the Inspector General finds that such data and methods are inadequate or invalid, until: (1) the Assistant Secretary makes a certification to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that only TSA employees who meet such requirements are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with such classification; and (2) the Inspector General submits a finding that the Assistant Secretary utilized adequate and valid data and methods to make such certification.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) reclassify criminal investigator positions in the Office of Inspection as noncriminal investigator positions or non-law enforcement positions if the individuals in those positions do not, or are not expected to, spend an average of at least 50% of their time performing criminal investigative duties; and (2) estimate the total long-term cost savings to the federal government resulting from such reclassification and provide such estimate to such committees. Requires such estimate to identify savings associated with the positions reclassified, including savings from: law enforcement training, early retirement benefits, law enforcement availability pay, weapons, vehicles, and communications devices.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Assistant Secretary to submit to such committees: (1) any materials in the possession or control of DHS associated with the Office of Inspection's review of the use of a federal firearms license by Federal Air Marshal Service officials to obtain discounted or free firearms for personal use; and (2) information on specific actions that will be taken to prevent Service officials from using a federal firearms license, or exploiting the Service's relationships with private vendors, to obtain discounted or free firearms for personal use.

action_date: 2014-07-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 3, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2014 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) analyze the data and methods that the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security) uses to identify Transportation Security Administration (TSA) law enforcement officer and criminal investigators; and (2) provide relevant findings to the Assistant Secretary, including regarding whether the data and methods are adequate and valid.
 
Prohibits TSA from hiring any new employee to work in its Office of Inspection if the Inspector General finds that such data and methods are inadequate or invalid, until: (1) the Assistant Secretary makes a certification to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that only TSA employees who meet such requirements are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with such classification; and (2) the Inspector General submits a finding that the Assistant Secretary utilized adequate and valid data and methods to make such certification.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) reclassify criminal investigator positions in the Office of Inspection as noncriminal investigator positions or non-law enforcement positions if the individuals in those positions do not, or are not expected to, spend an average of at least 50% of their time performing criminal investigative duties; and (2) estimate the total long-term cost savings to the federal government resulting from such reclassification and provide such estimate to such committees. Requires such estimate to identify savings associated with the positions reclassified, including savings from: law enforcement training, early retirement benefits, law enforcement availability pay, weapons, vehicles, and communications devices.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Assistant Secretary to submit to such committees: (1) any materials in the possession or control of DHS associated with the Office of Inspection's review of the use of a federal firearms license by Federal Air Marshal Service officials to obtain discounted or free firearms for personal use; and (2) information on specific actions that will be taken to prevent Service officials from using a federal firearms license, or exploiting the Service's relationships with private vendors, to obtain discounted or free firearms for personal use.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-23
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6604-6605)
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6604-6605)
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4803.
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6604-6606)
action_date: 2014-07-22
text: Mr. Sanford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2014-07-03
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 385.
action_date: 2014-07-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 113-513.
action_date: 2014-07-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 113-513.
action_date: 2014-06-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2014-06-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-06-11
text: Subcommittee on Transportation Security Discharged.
action_date: 2014-06-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security.
action_date: 2014-06-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2014-06-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-06-05
text: Introduced in House