U.S. Customs and Border Protection Hiring and Retention Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1305
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Commuting
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Employee hiring
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Personnel records
Rural conditions and development
Transportation costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-07
text: 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Hiring and Retention Act of 2017 or the CBP HiRe Act

 
This bill provides the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with hiring and compensation flexibilities to support the recruitment, relocation, and retention of employees in rural or remote areas.
 
Specifically, if the CBP demonstrates a direct relationship between the rural or remote nature of an area and the difficulty recruiting and retaining employees in that area, then it may exercise direct hire authority; pay recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses; establish special pay rates; and provide an allowance for commuting to a remote worksite.
 
The bill prohibits the CBP from disclosing to another employer the failed polygraph examination results of a job applicant, unless the applicant signs a release granting permission.

action_date: 2018-06-07
text: 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Hiring and Retention Act of 2017 or the CBP HiRe Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill provides hiring and compensation flexibilities to support the recruitment, relocation, and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees in rural or remote areas.
 
Specifically, if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines there is a critical hiring need and a direct relationship between the rural or remote nature of an area and the difficulty recruiting and retaining CBP employees in that area, then it may exercise direct hire authority and pay recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses. Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management may establish special pay rates.
 
The DHS Office of Inspector General must review the use of hiring and compensation flexibilities and determine whether they help meet hiring and retention needs in rural and remote areas. 
 
DHS must report to Congress on the number of requests it receives from other federal agencies for the file of an applicant for a position in the CBP that includes the results of a polygraph examination.

action_date: 2018-10-10
text: 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Hiring and Retention Act of 2017 or the CBP HiRe Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill provides hiring and compensation flexibilities to support the recruitment, relocation, and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees in rural or remote areas.
 
Specifically, if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines there is a critical hiring need and a direct relationship between the rural or remote nature of an area and the difficulty recruiting and retaining CBP employees in that area, then it may exercise direct hire authority and pay recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses. Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management may establish special pay rates.
 
The DHS Office of Inspector General must review the use of hiring and compensation flexibilities and determine whether they help meet hiring and retention needs in rural and remote areas. 
 
DHS must report to Congress on the number of requests it receives from other federal agencies for the file of an applicant for a position in the CBP that includes the results of a polygraph examination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-10-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2018-10-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-10-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6774-6775; text: CR S6774-6775)
action_date: 2018-10-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6774-6775; text: CR S6774-6775)
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 447.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-270.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-270.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3329-3330)
action_date: 2017-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate