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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 3841 (104th)

Omnibus Civil Service Reform Act of 1996

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

17 July 1996

Last action

—

Status

Received in the Senate.

Sponsors

—

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

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Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Demonstration Projects Title II: Simplifying Appeals Title III: Performance Management Enhancement Title IV: Enhancement of Thrift Savings Plan and Certain Other Benefits Subtitle A: Additional Investment Funds for the Thrift Savings Plan Subtitle B: Thrift Savings Accounts Liquidity Subtitle C: Other Provisions Relating to the Thrift Savings Subtitle D: Resumption of Certain Survivor Annuities That Terminate by Reason of Marriage Subtitle E: Life Insurance Benefits Title V: Reorganization Flexibility Title VI: Soft Landing Provisions Title VII: Miscellaneous Omnibus Civil Service Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Demonstration Projects - Amends Federal law provisions concerning Government organization to modify certain provisions concerning demonstration projects. Title II: Simplifying Appeals - Eliminates mixed-case procedures involving an action or complaint of discrimination. (Sec. 202) Provides that an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board be the exclusive administrative remedy for any action by an employee or applicant under certain circumstances. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the development of an internal procedure to encourage each agency to use alternative dispute resolution techniques to resolve discrimination complaints. Establishes a task force to study and evaluate the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques and issue a report to the Congress. Title III: Performance Management Enhancement - Requires that increased weight be given to an employee's performance rating for order-of-retention purposes in a reduction in force. (Sec. 302) Prohibits an appeal with respect to a denial of a periodic step-increase. Modifies requirements regarding performance ratings. (Sec. 303) Modifies performance appraisal requirements. (Sec. 304) Amends provisions respecting cash awards honoring invention or superior accomplishment. (Sec. 305) Revises labor management and employee relations grievance procedures. (Sec. 306) Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to collect information on training programs within and outside of Government and submit a report to the Congress on an annual basis. Title IV: Enhancement of Thrift Savings Plan and Certain Other Benefits - Subtitle A: Additional Investment Funds for the Thrift Savings Plan -Thrift Savings Investment Funds Act of 1996 - Adds two new funds, the International Stock Index Investment Fund and the Small Capitalization Stock Index Fund, to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) under the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Subtitle B: Thrift Savings Accounts Liquidity - Thrift Savings Plan Act of 1996 - Increases withdrawal options for TSP participants upon separation from employment. Eliminates the purpose requirements for taking a TSP loan. Permits a TSP participant, before separation, to make a one-time withdrawal from the account upon: (1) attaining age 59 and one-half; or (2) financial hardship. (Sec. 414) Revises provisions concerning notification of an employee's or Member's spouse upon making or changing a withdrawal election. (Sec. 416) Eliminates the definition of basic pay with respect to the TSP. (Sec. 417) Allows eligible rollover distributions from a qualified plan to the Thrift Savings Fund. Subtitle C: Other Provisions Relating to the Thrift Savings Plan - Eliminates percentage limitations on contributions made to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). (Sec. 422) Provides for loans under the Thrift Savings Plan for furloughed employees. (Sec. 423) Allows immediate participation in the Thrift Savings Plan. Subtitle D: Resumption of Certain Survivor Annuities That Terminate by Reason of Marriage - Allows resumption of certain survivor annuities that terminate because of marriage. Subtitle E: Life Insurance Benefits - Revises provisions concerning the payment of Federal employee life insurance benefits pursuant to a domestic relations court order. (Sec. 442) Requires that additional optional life insurance be excepted from provisions requiring reduction under specified circumstances for a permanently disabled individual. (Sec. 443) Permits an involuntarily separated employee to make payments which will continue his or her Federal life insurance coverage for up to 18 months following the separation. Title V: Reorganization Flexibility - Authorizes the head of an Executive agency or military department, until September 30, 2001, to: (1) separate any employee volunteering to separate (except for an employee with critical skills) whether or not such employee is subject to separation due to a reduction in force; and (2) retain an employee, for each such employee voluntarily separated, in a similar position who would otherwise be separated due to a reduction in force. (Sec. 502) Authorizes nonreimbursable details within Executive agencies and military departments before a reduction in force. Title VI: Soft-Landing Provisions - Makes provisions for the continued eligibility of involuntarily separated Federal employees for life and health insurance. (Sec. 603) Authorizes each Executive agency to establish an agencywide priority placement program for employees affected by a reduction in force. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the establishment of a program to provide job placement and counseling services to current and former employees. (Sec. 605) Authorizes non-Federal employment incentive payments for education and retraining. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Authorizes the use of appropriated funds to reimburse qualified Federal employees for professional liability insurance. (Sec. 702) Requires a contractor to offer the right of first refusal of employment to the former Federal employee whose position was abolished because of the conversion of his or her duties to contract. (Sec. 703) Sets forth provisions regarding the debarment of any health care provider found to have engaged in fraudulent practices. (Sec. 704) Prohibits the extension of certain procedural and appeal rights to certain personnel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation against whom such agency is taking an adverse action. (Sec. 705) Provides for the conversion of certain excepted service positions in the United States Fire Administration to competitive service positions. (Sec. 706) Sets forth the eligibility requirements for survivor annuity benefits for a former spouse.

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11 official files

Received in Senate (text)

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