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[USC02] 5 USC 2302: Prohibited personnel practices
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5 USC 2302: Prohibited personnel practices Text contains those laws in effect on September 21, 2019
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(A) "personnel action" means-
(B) "covered position" means, with respect to any personnel action, any position in the competitive service, a career appointee position in the Senior Executive Service, or a position in the excepted service, but does not include any position which is, prior to the personnel action-
(C) "agency" means an Executive agency and the Government Publishing Office, but does not include-
(D) "disclosure" means a formal or informal communication or transmission, but does not include a communication concerning policy decisions that lawfully exercise discretionary authority unless the employee or applicant providing the disclosure reasonably believes that the disclosure evidences-
(b) Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority-
(1) discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment-
(2) solicit or consider any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any individual who requests or is under consideration for any personnel action unless such recommendation or statement is based on the personal knowledge or records of the person furnishing it and consists of-
(A) any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences-
(B) any disclosure to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another employee designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, of information which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences-
(A) the exercise of any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation-
(c)(1) In this subsection-
(A) the term "new employee" means an individual-
(2) The head of each agency shall be responsible for-
(C) ensuring, in consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency, that employees of the agency are informed of the rights and remedies available to the employees under this chapter and chapter 12, including-
(iii) the means by which, with respect to information that is otherwise required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs, an employee may make a lawful disclosure of the information to-
(d) This section shall not be construed to extinguish or lessen any effort to achieve equal employment opportunity through affirmative action or any right or remedy available to any employee or applicant for employment in the civil service under-
(f)(1) A disclosure shall not be excluded from subsection (b)(8) because-
(Added Pub. L. 95–454, title I, §101(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1114 ; amended Pub. L. 101–12, §4, Apr. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 32 ; Pub. L. 101–474, §5(d), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1099 ; Pub. L. 102–378, §2(5), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1346 ; Pub. L. 103–94, §8(c), Oct. 6, 1993, 107 Stat. 1007 ; Pub. L. 103–359, title V, §501(c), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3429 ; Pub. L. 103–424, §5, Oct. 29, 1994, 108 Stat. 4363 ; Pub. L. 104–197, title III, §315(b)(2), Sept. 16, 1996, 110 Stat. 2416 , Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1122(a)(1), title XVI, §1615(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2687 , 2741; Pub. L. 105–339, §6(a), (b), (c)(2), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3187 , 3188; Pub. L. 108–271, §8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814 ; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title IX, §931(a)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4575 ; Pub. L. 112–199, title I, §§101(a), (b)(1)(B), (2)(B), (C), 102–104(b)(1), 105, 112, Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1465–1468 , 1472; Pub. L. 112–277, title V, §505(a), Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2478 ; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, §1301(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537 ; Pub. L. 114–113, div. J, title II, §238, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2700 ; Pub. L. 115–40, §2, June 14, 2017, 131 Stat. 861 ; Pub. L. 115–73, title I, §§103, 107(a)(1), Oct. 26, 2017, 131 Stat. 1236 , 1238; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1097(b)(1)(B), (c)(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1616 , 1618.)
Section 7802(5) of title 38, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(E), was redesignated section 7802(e) of title 38 by Pub. L. 108–170, title III, §304(b)(3), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2059 .
2017-Subsec. (b)(9)(C). Pub. L. 115–91, §1097(c)(1)(A), inserted "(or any other component responsible for internal investigation or review)" after "Inspector General".
2015-Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(viii). Pub. L. 114–113 inserted "or under title 38" after "chapter 43 of this title".
2013-Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 112–277 added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows:
2012-Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(xi), (xii). Pub. L. 112–199, §104(a), added cl. (xi) and redesignated former cl. (xi) as (xii).
2008-Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted "National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency" for "National Imagery and Mapping Agency".
2004-Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted "Government Accountability Office" for "General Accounting Office".
1998-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–339, §6(c)(2), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "For purposes of this title, 'prohibited personnel practice' means the following:
1996-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–201, §1615(b), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "For the purpose of this title, 'prohibited personnel practice' means any action described in subsection (b) of this section."
1994-Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–424, §5(a)(3), in concluding provisions, inserted before semicolon ", and in the case of an alleged prohibited personnel practice described in subsection (b)(8), an employee or applicant for employment in a Government corporation as defined in section 9101 of title 31".
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–424, §5(b), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: " 'covered position' means any position in the competitive service, a career appointee position in the Senior Executive Service, or a position in the excepted service, but does not include-
1993-Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–94 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "solicit or consider any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any individual who requests or is under consideration for any personnel action unless such recommendation or statement is based on the personal knowledge or records of the person furnishing it and consists of-
1992-Subsec. (b)(8)(B). Pub. L. 102–378 substituted "Special Counsel" for "Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board".
1990-Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 101–474 struck out ", the Administrative Office of the United States Courts," after "means an Executive agency".
1989-Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 101–12, §4(a), in introductory provision inserted ", or threaten to take or fail to take," after "fail to" and substituted "because of" for "as a reprisal for", in subpar. (A) substituted "any disclosure" for "a disclosure", in subpar. (A)(ii) inserted "gross" before "mismanagement", in subpar. (B) substituted "any disclosure" for "a disclosure", and in subpar. (B)(ii) inserted "gross" before "mismanagement".
Pub. L. 104–197, title III, §315(c), Sept. 16, 1996, 110 Stat. 2416 , provided that: "This section [amending this section and section 3303 of this title] shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 16, 1996]."
Pub. L. 112–199, title II, §201, Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1475 , provided that: "Nothing in this Act [see section 1 of Pub. L. 112–199, set out as a Short Title of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title] shall be construed to imply any limitation on any protections afforded by any other provision of law to employees and applicants."
Pub. L. 105–339, §6(d), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3188 , provided that: "This section [amending this section and repealing section 1599c of Title 10, Armed Forces] shall be treated as if it had never been enacted for purposes of any personnel action (within the meaning of section 2302 of title 5, United States Code) preceding the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 31, 1998]."
Pub. L. 112–199, title I, §104(b)(2), Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1467 , provided that: "Agencies making use of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also post the statement required under section 2302(b)(13) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this Act) on the agency website, accompanied by the specific list of controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions."
Pub. L. 112–199, title I, §104(b)(3), Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1467 , provided that: "With respect to a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that was in effect before the effective date of this Act [see Effective Date of 2012 Amendment note above], but that does not contain the statement required under section 2302(b)(13) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this Act) for implementation or enforcement-
Pub. L. 112–199, title I, §110, Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1471 , as amended by Pub. L. 115–73, title I, §107(a)(2)(C), Oct. 26, 2017, 131 Stat. 1239 ; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1097(b)(3)(C), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1618 , provided that:
"(a) Definitions.-In this subsection-
"(b) Protected Disclosure.-
"(1) In general.-Any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant for employment that the employee or applicant reasonably believes is evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information-
"(A) shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(A) of title 5, United States Code, if-
"(i) the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause-
"(B) shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(B) of title 5, United States Code, if-
"(2) Disclosures not excluded.-A disclosure shall not be excluded from paragraph (1) for any reason described under section 2302(f)(1) or (2) of title 5, United States Code.
"(3) Rule of construction.-Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply any limitation on the protections of employees and applicants afforded by any other provision of law, including protections with respect to any disclosure of information believed to be evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information."
Pub. L. 112–199, title I, §115, Nov. 27, 2012, 126 Stat. 1472 , provided that:
"(1) Requirement.-Each agreement in Standard Forms 312 and 4414 of the Government and any other nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement of the Government shall contain the following statement: 'These provisions are consistent with and do not supersede, conflict with, or otherwise alter the employee obligations, rights, or liabilities created by existing statute or Executive order relating to (1) classified information, (2) communications to Congress, (3) the reporting to an Inspector General of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or (4) any other whistleblower protection. The definitions, requirements, obligations, rights, sanctions, and liabilities created by controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions are incorporated into this agreement and are controlling.'.
"(2) Agency websites.-Agencies making use of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also post the statement required under paragraph (1) on the agency website, accompanied by the specific list of controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions.
"(3) Enforceability.-
"(A) In general.-Any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement described under paragraph (1) that does not contain the statement required under paragraph (1) may not be implemented or enforced to the extent such policy, form, or agreement is inconsistent with that statement.
"(B) Nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement in effect before the effective date.-With respect to a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that was in effect before the effective date of this Act [see Effective Date of 2012 Amendment note above], but that does not contain the statement required under paragraph (1) for implementation or enforcement-
"(b) Persons Other Than Government Employees.-Notwithstanding subsection (a), a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that is to be executed by a person connected with the conduct of an intelligence or intelligence-related activity, other than an employee or officer of the United States Government, may contain provisions appropriate to the particular activity for which such document is to be used. Such policy, form, or agreement shall, at a minimum, require that the person will not disclose any classified information received in the course of such activity unless specifically authorized to do so by the United States Government. Such nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also make it clear that such forms do not bar disclosures to Congress or to an authorized official of an executive agency or the Department of Justice that are essential to reporting a substantial violation of law, consistent with the protection of sources and methods."