Bill > HR1688

This bill, known as the Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act, aims to increase oversight and reporting requirements for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) regarding political activity investigations. The bill introduces new definitions for "career employees" and "noncareer employees" and requires the OSC to submit detailed reports to Congress every 180 days about complaints received and referred for disciplinary action. Specifically, the OSC must report on the number of complaints, include copies of complaints, and identify whether the employees involved are career or noncareer employees. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual report to congressional committees detailing covered allegations against noncareer employees, including the number of allegations received, investigated, and their outcomes. The bill also requires the OSC to publish anonymized demographic information about these allegations on its website for at least 10 fiscal years, tracking details such as race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, and disability status of employees involved in complaints. This increased transparency is intended to ensure consistent and unbiased enforcement of the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities of federal employees, regardless of the employees' political affiliation, career status, or personal characteristics.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1688/all-info