Ask AI
Bill115th CongressFiled Apr 25, 2017Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 2131

Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed house amended (Jun 21, 2017)

Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act or the DHS FIRM Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a DHS-wide policy related to discipline and adverse actions, which shall provide guidance:

  • to the senior human resources official overseeing discipline and adverse actions for headquarters personnel and non-component entities and relevant component heads regarding informing the public about how to report employee misconduct;
  • on how DHS employees should report employee misconduct;
  • on the type, quantity, and frequency of data regarding discipline and adverse actions to be submitted by such official to such officer;
  • on how to implement any such policy in a manner that promotes greater uniformity and transparency in the administration of such policy across DHS; and
  • on prohibited personnel practices, employee rights, and related procedures and processes.

Such officer shall review and approve any necessary development of or changes to tables of offenses and penalties for DHS components to comply with DHS policy.

Component heads shall comply with DHS-wide policy regarding discipline and adverse actions for DHS's workforce, and such officer shall implement a process to oversee such compliance.

Such officer: (1) may establish working groups to address employee misconduct within DHS, (2) shall conduct follow-up reviews of components regarding implementation of working group recommendations, and (3) may request the DHS Inspector General to investigate any concerns identified through the oversight process that components have not addressed.

A working group shall seek to identify any trends in misconduct, review component processes for addressing misconduct, and develop possible alternate strategies to address such misconduct.

What just happenedJun 22, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3](R-LA)Sponsor
1 cosponsor1 R
Read on Congress.gov
1cosponsors2committees11actions7subjects
  1. Jun 22, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  2. Jun 21, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jun 21, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5018)

  4. Jun 21, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5018)

  5. Jun 21, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2131.

  6. Jun 21, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5018-5020)

  7. Jun 21, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. May 3, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Homeland Security Committee
  9. Apr 25, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

    Homeland Security Committee
  10. Apr 25, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  11. Apr 25, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedJun 21, 201736

Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act or the DHS FIRM Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a DHS-wide policy related to discipline and adverse actions, which shall provide guidance:

  • to the senior human resources official overseeing discipline and adverse actions for headquarters personnel and non-component entities and relevant component heads regarding informing the public about how to report employee misconduct;
  • on how DHS employees should report employee misconduct;
  • on the type, quantity, and frequency of data regarding discipline and adverse actions to be submitted by such official to such officer;
  • on how to implement any such policy in a manner that promotes greater uniformity and transparency in the administration of such policy across DHS; and
  • on prohibited personnel practices, employee rights, and related procedures and processes.

Such officer shall review and approve any necessary development of or changes to tables of offenses and penalties for DHS components to comply with DHS policy.

Component heads shall comply with DHS-wide policy regarding discipline and adverse actions for DHS's workforce, and such officer shall implement a process to oversee such compliance.

Such officer: (1) may establish working groups to address employee misconduct within DHS, (2) shall conduct follow-up reviews of components regarding implementation of working group recommendations, and (3) may request the DHS Inspector General to investigate any concerns identified through the oversight process that components have not addressed.

A working group shall seek to identify any trends in misconduct, review component processes for addressing misconduct, and develop possible alternate strategies to address such misconduct.

Introduced in HouseApr 25, 2017

Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act or the DHS FIRM Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement a DHS-wide policy related to discipline and adverse actions, which shall provide guidance:

  • to the senior human resources official overseeing discipline and adverse actions for headquarters personnel and non-component entities and relevant component heads regarding informing the public about how to report employee misconduct;
  • on how DHS employees should report employee misconduct; and
  • on the type, quantity, and frequency of data regarding discipline and adverse actions to be submitted by such official to such officer.

Such officer shall review and approve any necessary development of or changes to tables of offenses and penalties for DHS components to comply with DHS policy.

Component heads shall comply with DHS-wide policy regarding discipline and adverse actions for DHS's workforce, and such officer shall implement a process to oversee such compliance.

Such officer: (1) may establish working groups to improve employee relations within DHS, (2) shall conduct follow-up reviews of components with respect to which misconduct has been identified, and (3) may request the DHS Inspector General to investigate any concerns identified through the oversight process that components have not addressed. The Inspector General may issue management alerts regarding misconduct.

Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act — Informed