Government Employee Accountability Act

Bill: 114-s-362
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2015-02-04
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Administrative remedies

Congressional oversight

Employee leave

Federal officials

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government studies and investigations

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Latest action: action_date: 2015-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Government Employee Accountability Act</strong></p> <p>Sets forth guidelines for placing career employees of the Senior Executive Service (SES) on investigative leave. Defines "investigative leave" as a temporary absence without duty for disciplinary reasons, for not more than 90 days.</p> <p>Authorizes a federal agency to: (1) place an SES employee on investigative leave, without loss of pay and without charge to annual or sick leave, only for alleged misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds; (2) place such employee on leave without pay if such employee's alleged conduct is determined to be serious or flagrant; or (3) remove such employee if such employee acted in a manner that endangers the interest of the agency mission. </p> <p>Requires an agency to periodically review the investigation into the conduct of an SES employee placed on investigative leave and take certain actions with respect to such employee at the end of a period of investigative leave, including removal, suspension without pay, or reinstatement to duty. Grants an employee placed on investigative leave certain rights, including: (1) advance written notice of, and a reasonable time (not less than seven days) to answer, charges; (2) the right to be represented by an attorney; and (3) the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. </p> <p>Includes misappropriation of funds as a ground in suspending or reinstating an SES employee or placing such employee in another civil service position.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 362 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 4, 2015 Mr. Blunt (for himself, Mr. Grassley , Mr. Roberts , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Coats , Mr. Scott , and Mr. Risch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for investigative leave requirements with respect to Senior Executive Service employees, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Government Employee Accountability Act . 2. Suspension for 14 days or less for senior executive service employees Paragraph (1) of section 7501 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (1) employee means— (A) an individual in the competitive service who is not serving a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment or who has completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar positions under other than a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less; or (B) a career appointee in the Senior Executive Service who— (i) has completed the probationary period prescribed under section 3393(d); or (ii) was covered by the provisions of subchapter II of this chapter immediately before appointment to the Senior Executive Service; and . 3. Investigative leave and termination authority for Senior Executive Service employees (a) In general Chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: VI Investigative leave for Senior Executive Service employees 7551. Definitions For the purposes of this subchapter— (1) the term employee has the meaning given the term in section 7541; and (2) the term investigative leave means a temporary absence without duty for disciplinary reasons that, except as provided in section 7553(b)(4), shall not exceed a period of more than 90 days. 7552. Actions covered This subchapter applies to investigative leave. 7553. Cause and procedure (a) Placing on investigative leave (1) In general Under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, an agency may place an employee on investigative leave, without loss of pay and without charge to annual or sick leave, only for alleged misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds. (2) Without pay If an agency determines that the alleged conduct of an employee is serious or flagrant, the agency may place the employee on investigative leave without pay. (b) Review (1) In general At the end of each 45-day period during a period of investigative leave, the agency employing the employee on investigative leave shall review the investigation of the alleged misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds by the employee. (2) Report Not later than 5 business days after the end of each 45-day period described in paragraph (1), an agency shall submit a report describing the review under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives. (3) Action At the end of a period of investigative leave implemented under this section, the agency shall— (A) remove an employee placed on investigative leave under this section; (B) suspend the employee without pay; or (C) reinstate or restore the employee to duty. (4) Extension of period An agency may extend the period of investigative leave with respect to an employee for 1 additional period not to exceed 90 days. (c) Procedure An employee against whom an action under this subchapter is proposed is entitled to, before being placed on investigative leave under this section— (1) at least 30 days advance written notice, stating specific reasons for the proposed action, unless— (A) there is reasonable cause to believe that the employee has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment can be imposed; or (B) the agency determines that the conduct of the employee with respect to which an action covered by this subchapter is proposed is serious or flagrant, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management; (2) a reasonable time, but not less than 7 days, to answer orally and in writing and to furnish affidavits and other documentary evidence in support of the answer; (3) be represented by an attorney or other representative; and (4) a written decision and specific reasons therefor at the earliest practicable date. (d) Hearings permissible An agency may provide, by regulation, for a hearing which may be in lieu of or in addition to the opportunity to answer provided under subsection (c)(2). (e) Appeal An employee against whom an action is taken under this section is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701. (f) Materials Copies of the notice of proposed action, the answer of the employee when written, a summary of the answer when made orally, the notice of decision and reasons therefor, and any order effecting an action covered by this subchapter, together with any supporting material, shall be maintained by the agency and shall be furnished to the Merit Systems Protection Board upon its request and to the employee affected upon the request of the employee. VII Removal of Senior Executive Service employees 7561. Definition For purposes of this subchapter, the term employee has the meaning given the term in section 7541. 7562. Removal of Senior Executive Service employees (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of an agency may remove an employee for neglect of duty, misappropriation of funds, or malfeasance if the head of the agency— (1) determines that the employee acted in a manner that endangers the interest of the agency mission; (2) considers the removal to be necessary or advisable in the interests of the United States; and (3) determines that the procedures prescribed in other provisions of law that authorize the removal of the employee cannot be used in a manner that the head of the agency considers consistent with the efficiency of the Government. (b) Procedure An employee removed under this section— (1) shall be notified of the reasons for the removal; (2) is entitled to submit, not later than 30 days after the date of the notification, to the official designated by the head of the agency statements or affidavits to show why the employee should be restored to duty; (3) shall be provided a written response by the head of the agency if statements and affidavits are submitted under paragraph (2); and (4) may be restored to duty if the head of the agency determines it appropriate. (c) Notice If the head of an agency removes an employee under the authority under this section, the head of the agency shall notify Congress of the removal and the reasons for the removal. (d) Appeal An employee against whom an action is taken under this section is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701. (e) Records Copies of the notice of proposed action, the answer of the employee when written, a summary of the answer when made orally, the notice of decision and reasons therefor, and any order effecting an action covered by this section, together with any supporting material, shall be maintained by the agency and shall be furnished to the Merit Systems Protection Board upon its request and to the employee affected upon the request of the employee. (f) Other employment A removal under this section shall not affect the right of the employee removed to seek or accept employment with any other agency if the employee is declared eligible for that employment by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. (g) No delegation The authority of the head of the agency under this section may not be delegated. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 7543 the following: Subchapter VI—Investigative leave for Senior Executive Service employees 7551. Definitions. 7552. Actions covered. 7553. Cause and procedure. Subchapter VII—Removal of Senior Executive Service employees 7561. Definition. 7562. Removal of Senior Executive Service employees. . 4. Suspension of Senior Executive Service employees Section 7543 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting misappropriation of funds, after malfeasance, ; and (2) in subsection (b), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) at least 30 days’ advance written notice, stating specific reasons for the proposed action, unless— (A) there is reasonable cause to believe that the employee has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment can be imposed; or (B) the agency determines that the conduct of the employee with respect to which an action covered by this subchapter is proposed is serious or flagrant, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management; . 5. Misappropriation of funds amendments (a) Reinstatement in the Senior Executive Service Section 3593 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting misappropriation of funds, after malfeasance, ; and (2) in subsection (b), by striking or malfeasance and inserting malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds . (b) Placement in other personnel systems Section 3594(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking or malfeasance and inserting malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds .