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Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act

USA119th CongressS-806| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
Ben Ray Luján

Ben Ray Luján

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Cosponsors (1)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act seeks to enhance the Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) accountability and transparency in enforcing the Hatch Act. It introduces specific definitions for "career employee" and "noncareer employee," which are central to its new reporting and disclosure requirements. The bill aims to ensure vigorous and consistent enforcement, irrespective of an individual's political affiliation or career status. A key provision requires the Special Counsel to submit semi-annual reports to Congress detailing complaints referred for disciplinary action, specifically identifying the name and position of employees, and distinguishing between career and noncareer employee personnel. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual report to Congress focusing on covered allegations against noncareer employees and former noncareer employees. This report must include the number of allegations received and investigated, along with a confidential addendum providing names and outcomes for non-investigated cases. To bolster public transparency, the Act amends existing law to require the Special Counsel to publish a detailed written explanation for any decision not to present a complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board against certain noncareer employees found to have violated the Hatch Act. This provision excludes Senate-confirmed presidential appointees unless they are in the Foreign Service. Additionally, the bill directs the Special Counsel to track, publish, and maintain on its official website anonymized demographic information , including race, sex, and ethnicity, for both career and noncareer employees involved in Hatch Act allegations, investigations, and complaints. This data, organized by fiscal year, must remain accessible for at least ten years, promoting a clearer understanding of enforcement patterns across different employee groups.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1629
Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1688
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1629
    Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1688
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1688: Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act
Census and government statisticsCongressional oversightFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesOffice of Special CounselPersonnel records

Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act

USA119th CongressS-806| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
The Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act seeks to enhance the Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) accountability and transparency in enforcing the Hatch Act. It introduces specific definitions for "career employee" and "noncareer employee," which are central to its new reporting and disclosure requirements. The bill aims to ensure vigorous and consistent enforcement, irrespective of an individual's political affiliation or career status. A key provision requires the Special Counsel to submit semi-annual reports to Congress detailing complaints referred for disciplinary action, specifically identifying the name and position of employees, and distinguishing between career and noncareer employee personnel. Furthermore, the bill mandates an annual report to Congress focusing on covered allegations against noncareer employees and former noncareer employees. This report must include the number of allegations received and investigated, along with a confidential addendum providing names and outcomes for non-investigated cases. To bolster public transparency, the Act amends existing law to require the Special Counsel to publish a detailed written explanation for any decision not to present a complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board against certain noncareer employees found to have violated the Hatch Act. This provision excludes Senate-confirmed presidential appointees unless they are in the Foreign Service. Additionally, the bill directs the Special Counsel to track, publish, and maintain on its official website anonymized demographic information , including race, sex, and ethnicity, for both career and noncareer employees involved in Hatch Act allegations, investigations, and complaints. This data, organized by fiscal year, must remain accessible for at least ten years, promoting a clearer understanding of enforcement patterns across different employee groups.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1629
Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1688
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1629
    Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1688
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Ben Ray Luján

Ben Ray Luján

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Cosponsors (1)
Martin Heinrich (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1688: Hatch Act Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Census and government statisticsCongressional oversightFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesOffice of Special CounselPersonnel records