The House has passed HR-4639, to reauthorize the Office of Special Counsel through FY 2020 and expand its investigative powers.
The bill would give OSC access to any record or other information of any agency under its jurisdiction and similarly require cooperation of any employee of that agency.
It also would extend from 15 to 45 days the period for the OSC to review a disclosed prohibited practice; require an agency to provide a detailed explanation of any failure to take action to address information about a prohibited practice transmitted to it by the OSC; and require an agency to report on whether it has taken action in response to an investigation and if not, why not.
The measure also specifies situations in which the OSC can end an investigation into alleged prohibited personnel practices without bringing charges, including if the complaining employee should have known of the practice earlier than three years before the OSC received the allegation.
It also would clarify that penalties for violations of Hatch Act prohibitions against engaging in political activities may include a combination of the disciplinary actions and the civil penalty prescribed under current law.
