Fedweek

The Office of Personnel Management proposed rules in the March 17 Federal Register to create a new government-wide excepted appointing authority, with noncompetitive conversion to the competitive service for persons with psychiatric disabilities. The rules would put them on a par with those who have mental retardation or severe physical disabilities, who are able to acquire competitive status after two years of satisfactory service under a special authority applying to them. The proposed regs are designed to carry out a 1998 presidential order on employment of those with disabilities.