2 USC 1402 - Preliminary review of claims

Collapse to view only § 1402a. Preliminary review of claims

§ 1401. Procedure for consideration of alleged violations
§ 1402. Initiation of procedures
§ 1402a. Preliminary review of claims
§ 1403. Mediation
§ 1404. Repealed.
§ 1405. Hearing
§ 1406. Appeal to Board
§ 1407. Judicial review of Board decisions and enforcement
§ 1408. Civil action
§ 1409. Judicial review of regulations
§ 1410. Other judicial review prohibited
§ 1411. Effect of failure to issue regulations
§ 1412. Expedited review of certain appeals
§ 1413. Privileges and immunities
§ 1414. Settlement
§ 1415. Payments
§ 1416. Confidentiality
§ 1417. Option to request remote work assignment or paid leave of absence during pendency of procedures

§ 1401. Procedure for consideration of alleged violations

(a) Filing and review of claims

Except as otherwise provided, the procedure for consideration of an alleged violation of part A of subchapter II consists of—

(1) the filing of a claim by the covered employee alleging the violation, as provided in section 1402 of this title;

(2) the preliminary review of the claim, to be conducted by a hearing officer as provided in section 1402a of this title;

(3) mediation as provided in section 1403 of this title, if requested and agreed to by the parties under that section; and

(4) a formal hearing as provided in section 1405 of this title, subject to Board review as provided in

(b) Right of employee to file civil action

(1) Civil action

(2) Effect of filing civil action

Notwithstanding paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (a), if the covered employee files such a civil action—

(A) the preliminary review of the claim by the hearing officer as provided in section 1402a of this title shall terminate upon the filing of the action by the covered employee; and

(B) the procedure for consideration of the alleged violation shall not include any further review of the claim by the hearing officer as provided in section 1402a of this title.

(3) Period for filing civil action

(4) Special rule for employees who fail to state a claim for which relief may be granted

(d) Election of remedies for Library of Congress

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Direct Act

(B) Direct provision

(2) Election after proceedings initially brought under this chapter

(3) Election after proceedings initially brought under other civil rights or labor law

A Library claimant who initially brings a claim, complaint, or charge under a direct provision for a proceeding before a Federal agency may, prior to requesting a hearing under the agency’s procedures, elect to—

(A) continue with the agency’s procedures and preserve the option (if any) to bring any civil action relating to the claim, complaint, or charge, that is available to the Library claimant; or

(B) file a claim with the Office under section 1402 of this title and continue with the corresponding procedures of this title available and applicable to a covered employee.

(4) Timing

(5) Application

(e) Rights of parties to retain private counsel

(f) Standards for assertions made by parties

Any party in any of the procedures provided under this subchapter, as well as any counsel or other person representing a party in any of such procedures, shall have an obligation to ensure that, to the best of the party’s knowledge, information, and belief, as formed after an inquiry which is reasonable under the circumstances, each of the following is correct:

(1) No pleading, written motion, or other paper is presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of resolution of the matter.

(2) The claims, defenses, and other legal contentions the party advocates are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law.

(3) The factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further review or discovery.

(4) The denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.

(g) Procedure

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 401, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 115–141, div. I, title I, § 153(b)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 786; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 101(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5298.)

§ 1402. Initiation of procedures

(a) Claim

(1) Filing of claim

(2) Contents of claim

(3) No effect on ability of covered employee to seek information from office or pursue relief

Nothing in paragraph (2), or subsection (b) or (c), may be construed to limit the ability of a covered employee—

(A) to contact the Office or any other appropriate office prior to filing a claim under this section to seek information regarding the employee’s rights under this chapter and the procedures available under this chapter;

(B) in the case of a covered employee of an employing office of the House of Representatives or Senate, to refer information regarding an alleged violation of part A of subchapter II to the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate (as the case may be); or

(b) Initial processing of claim

(1) Intake and recording; notification to employing office

(2) Special notification requirements for claims based on acts by members of Congress

(A) In general

(B) Violations described

A violation described in this subparagraph is—

(i) harassment that is unlawful under section 1311(a) or 1316(a) of this title; or

(ii) intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination that is unlawful under section 1317 of this title and is taken against a covered employee because of a claim alleging a violation described in clause (i).

(1) Establishment and operation of secure system

(2) Accessibility to all parties

(3) Assessment of effectiveness of procedures

(d) Deadline

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 402, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5301.)

§ 1402a. Preliminary review of claims

(a) Preliminary review by hearing officer

(1) Appointment

(2) Process for appointment

(b) Assessments required

In conducting a preliminary review of a claim under this section, the hearing officer shall assess each of the following:

(1) Whether the claimant is a covered employee authorized to obtain relief relating to the claim under this subchapter.

(2) Whether the office which is the subject of the claim is an employing office under this chapter.

(3) Whether the individual filing the claim has met the applicable deadlines for filing the claim under this subchapter.

(4) The identification of factual and legal issues involved with respect to the claim.

(5) The specific relief sought by the individual.

(6) Whether, on the basis of the assessments made under paragraphs (1) through (5), the individual filing the claim is a covered employee who has stated a claim for which, if the allegations contained in the claim are true, relief may be granted under this subchapter.

(7) The potential for the settlement of the claim without a formal hearing as provided under section 1405 of this title or a civil action as provided under section 1408 of this title.

(1) Report

(2) Extension of deadline

(d) Effect of determination of failure to state claim for which relief may be granted

If the hearing officer’s report on the preliminary review of a claim under subsection (c) includes the determination that the individual filing the claim is not a covered employee or has not stated a claim for which relief may be granted under this subchapter—

(1) the individual (including an individual who is a Library claimant, as defined in section 1401(d)(1) of this title) may not obtain a formal hearing with respect to the claim as provided under section 1405 of this title; and

(2) the hearing officer shall provide the individual and the Executive Director with a written notice that the individual may file a civil action with respect to the claim in accordance with section 1408 of this title.

(e) Transmission of report on preliminary review of certain claims to congressional ethics committees

In the case of a hearing officer’s report under subsection (c) on the preliminary review of a claim alleging a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(A) of this title, the hearing officer shall transmit the report to—

(1) the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of such an act by a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress); or

(2) the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of such an act by a Senator.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 403, as added Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 103(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5303.)

§ 1403. Mediation

(a) Availability of mediation

(1) Notification regarding mediation

(A) Covered employee

(B) Employing office

(2) Initiation

(A) In general

(B) Timing

(3) Failure to request or accept mediation to have no effect on treatment of claim

(b) Process

Mediation under this section—

(1) may include the Office, the covered employee, the employing office, and one or more individuals appointed by the Executive Director from the master list developed and maintained under subsection (e), and

(2) shall involve meetings with the parties during which, at the request of any of the parties, the parties shall be separated, for the purpose of resolving the dispute between the covered employee and the employing office.

(d) Independence of mediation process

(e) Master list of mediators

(1) Development and maintenance of master list

(2) Consideration of candidates

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 404, formerly § 403, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 32; Pub. L. 114–6, § 2(a), Mar. 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 81; renumbered § 404 and amended Pub. L. 115–397, title I, §§ 101(c)(2), 104, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5301, 5305.)

§ 1404. Repealed. Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 101(c)(1), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5301

§ 1405. Hearing

(a) Requirement for hearings to commence in Office

(1) Hearing required upon request

(2) Exceptions

Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to the claim if—

(A) the hearing officer’s report on the preliminary review of the claim under section 1402a(c) of this title includes the determination that the individual filing the claim is not a covered employee who has stated a claim for which relief may be granted under this title (as described in section 1402a(d) of this title); or

(B) the covered employee files a civil action as provided in section 1408 of this title with respect to the claim.

(b) Dismissal

(1) Appointment

(2) Lists

The Executive Director shall develop master lists, composed of—

(A) members of the bar of a State or the District of Columbia and retired judges of the United States courts who are experienced in adjudicating or arbitrating the kinds of personnel and other matters for which hearings may be held under this chapter, and

(B) individuals expert in technical matters relating to accessibility and usability by persons with disabilities or technical matters relating to occupational safety and health.

In developing lists, the Executive Director shall consider candidates recommended by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or the Administrative Conference of the United States.

(3) Prohibiting hearing officer conducting preliminary review from conducting hearing

(d) Hearing

Unless a claim is dismissed before a hearing, a hearing shall be—

(1) conducted in closed session on the record by the hearing officer;

(2) commenced no later than 90 days after the Executive Director receives the covered employee’s request for the hearing under subsection (a), except that, upon mutual agreement of the parties or for good cause, the Office shall extend the time for commencing a hearing for not more than an additional 30 days; and

(3) conducted, except as specifically provided in this chapter and to the greatest extent practicable, in accordance with the principles and procedures set forth in sections 554 through 557 of title 5.

(e) Discovery

(f) Subpoenas

(1) In general

(2) Objections

(3) Enforcement

(A) In general

(B) Service of process

(g) Decision

(h) Precedents

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 405, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 33; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 103(b)–(e), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5304, 5305.)

§ 1406. Appeal to Board

(a) In general

(b) Parties’ opportunity to submit argument

The Board shall set aside a decision of a hearing officer if the Board determines that the decision was—

(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not consistent with law;

(2) not made consistent with required procedures; or

(3) unsupported by substantial evidence.

(d) Record

(e) Decision

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 406, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 35.)

§ 1407. Judicial review of Board decisions and enforcement

(a) Jurisdiction

(1) Judicial review

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall have jurisdiction over any proceeding commenced by a petition of—

(A) a party aggrieved by a final decision of the Board under section 1406(e) of this title in cases arising under part A of subchapter II,

(B) a charging individual or a respondent before the Board who files a petition under section 1331(d)(4) of this title,

(D) the General Counsel or a respondent before the Board who files a petition under section 1351(c)(3) of this title.

The court of appeals shall have exclusive jurisdiction to set aside, suspend (in whole or in part), to determine the validity of, or otherwise review the decision of the Board.

(2) Enforcement

(b) Procedures

(1) Respondents

(A) In any proceeding commenced by a petition filed under subsection (a)(1)(A) or (B), or filed by a party other than the General Counsel under subsection (a)(1)(C) or (D), the Office shall be named respondent and any party before the Board may be named respondent by filing a notice of election with the court within 30 days after service of the petition.

(B) In any proceeding commenced by a petition filed by the General Counsel under subsection (a)(1)(C) or (D), the prevailing party in the final decision entered under section 1406(e) of this title shall be named respondent, and any other party before the Board may be named respondent by filing a notice of election with the court within 30 days after service of the petition.

(C) In any proceeding commenced by a petition filed under subsection (a)(2), the party under section 1405 or 1406 of this title that the General Counsel determines has failed to comply with a final decision under section 1405(g) or 1406(e) of this title shall be named respondent.

(2) Intervention

Chapter 158 of title 28 shall apply to judicial review under paragraph (1) of subsection (a), except that—

(1) with respect to section 2344 of title 28, service of a petition in any proceeding in which the Office is a respondent shall be on the General Counsel rather than on the Attorney General;

(2) the provisions of section 2348 of title 28, on the authority of the Attorney General, shall not apply;

(3) the petition for review shall be filed not later than 90 days after the entry in the Office of a final decision under section 1406(e) of this title; and

(4) the Office shall be an “agency” as that term is used in chapter 158 of title 28.

(d) Standard of review

To the extent necessary for decision in a proceeding commenced under subsection (a)(1) and when presented, the court shall decide all relevant questions of law and interpret constitutional and statutory provisions. The court shall set aside a final decision of the Board if it is determined that the decision was—

(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not consistent with law;

(2) not made consistent with required procedures; or

(3) unsupported by substantial evidence.

(e) Record

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 407, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 35.)

§ 1408. Civil action

(a) Jurisdiction

(b) Parties

(d) Appearances by House Employment Counsel

(1) In general

(2) House Employment Counsel defined

In this subsection, the term “Office of House Employment Counsel of the House of Representatives” means—

(A) the Office of House Employment Counsel established and operating under the authority of the Clerk of the House of Representatives as of November 12, 2001;

(B) any successor office to the Office of House Employment Counsel which is established after November 12, 2001; and

(C) any other person authorized and directed in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide legal assistance and representation to employing offices of the House of Representatives in connection with actions brought under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 408, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 37; Pub. L. 107–68, title I, § 119(a), Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 573; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 101(b), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5300.)

§ 1409. Judicial review of regulations

In any proceeding brought under section 1407 or 1408 of this title in which the application of a regulation issued under this chapter is at issue, the court may review the validity of the regulation in accordance with the provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 706(2) of title 5, except that with respect to regulations approved by a joint resolution under section 1384(c) of this title, only the provisions of section 706(2)(B) of title 5 shall apply. If the court determines that the regulation is invalid, the court shall apply, to the extent necessary and appropriate, the most relevant substantive executive agency regulation promulgated to implement the statutory provisions with respect to which the invalid regulation was issued. Except as provided in this section, the validity of regulations issued under this chapter is not subject to judicial review.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 409, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 37.)

§ 1410. Other judicial review prohibited

Except as expressly authorized by sections 1407, 1408, and 1409 of this title, the compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter and any action taken pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to judicial review.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 410, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 37.)

§ 1411. Effect of failure to issue regulations

In any proceeding under section 1405, 1406, 1407, or 1408 of this title, except a proceeding to enforce section 1351 of this title with respect to offices listed under section 1351(e)(2) of this title, if the Board has not issued a regulation on a matter for which this chapter requires a regulation to be issued, the hearing officer, Board, or court, as the case may be, shall apply, to the extent necessary and appropriate, the most relevant substantive executive agency regulation promulgated to implement the statutory provision at issue in the proceeding.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 411, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 37.)

§ 1412. Expedited review of certain appeals

(a) In general

(b) Jurisdiction

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 412, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 38.)

§ 1413. Privileges and immunities

The authorization to bring judicial proceedings under sections 1405(f)(3), 1407, and 1408 of this title shall not constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for any other purpose, or of the privileges of any Senator or Member of the House of Representatives under article I, section 6, clause 1, of the Constitution, or a waiver of any power of either the Senate or the House of Representatives under the Constitution, including under article I, section 5, clause 3, or under the rules of either House relating to records and information within its jurisdiction.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 413, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 38.)

§ 1414. Settlement

Any settlement entered into by the parties to a process described in section 1331, 1341, 1351, or 1401 of this title shall be in writing and not become effective unless it is approved by the Executive Director. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, to establish rules governing the process by which a settlement may be entered into by such House or by any employing office of such House.

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 414, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 38; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 103(f), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5305.)

§ 1415. Payments

(a) Awards and settlements

(b) Compliance

(d) Reimbursement by Members of Congress of amounts paid as settlements and awards

(1) Reimbursement required for certain violations

(A) In general

(B) Conditions

A violation described in this subparagraph is—

(i) harassment that is unlawful under section 1311(a) or 1316(a) of this title; or

(D) Multiple claims

If an award or settlement is made for multiple claims, some of which do not require reimbursement under this subsection, the individual described in subparagraph (A) shall only be required to reimburse for the amount (referred to in this chapter as the “reimbursable portion”) that is—

(i) described in subparagraph (A), subject to subparagraph (B); and

(ii) included in the portion of the award or settlement attributable to a claim requiring reimbursement.

(2) Withholding amounts from compensation

(A) Establishment of timetable and procedures by committees

(B) Deadline

In this paragraph, the term “applicable Committee” means—

(i) the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, in the case of an individual who, at the time of the withholding, is a Member of the House; or

(ii) the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, in the case of an individual who, at the time of the withholding, is a Senator.

(3) Use of amounts in Thrift Savings Fund as source of reimbursement

(A) In general

(B) Transfers

The transfer by such Executive Director is a transfer, from the account of the individual in the Thrift Savings Fund to the account described in subsection (a), of an amount equal to the amount of that reimbursable portion of the award or settlement, reduced by—

(i) any amount the individual has reimbursed, taking into account any amounts withheld under paragraph (2); and

(ii) if the individual remains employed in the same position, any amount that the individual is scheduled to reimburse, taking into account any amounts to be withheld under the individual’s timetable under paragraph (2).

(D) Coordination between payroll administrator and the Executive Director

(4) Administrative wage garnishment or other collection of wages from a subsequent position

(A) Individual subject to garnishment or other collection

Subparagraph (B) shall apply to an individual who is subject to a reimbursement requirement of this subsection if, at any time after the expiration of the 270-day period that begins on the date a payment is made from the account described in subsection (a) for an award or settlement described in paragraph (1), the individual—

(i) has not reimbursed the account for the entire reimbursable portion as required under paragraph (1), through withholdings or transfers under paragraphs (2) and (3);

(ii) is not serving in a position as a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator; and

(iii) is employed in a subsequent non-Federal position.

(B) Garnishment or other collection of wages

(5) Notification to Office of Personnel Management and Secretary of the Treasury

(A) Individual subject to annuity or social security withholding

Subparagraph (B) shall apply to an individual subject to a reimbursement requirement of this subsection if, at any time after the expiration of the 270-day period described in paragraph (4)(A), the individual—

(i) has not served in a position as a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator during the preceding 90 days; and

(ii) is not employed in a subsequent non-Federal position.

(B) Annuity or social security withholding

If, at any time after the 270-day period described in paragraph (4)(A), the individual described in subparagraph (A) has not reimbursed the account described in subsection (a) for the entire reimbursable portion of the award or settlement described in paragraph (1) (as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury), through w

(i) shall notify the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, who shall take such actions as the Director considers appropriate to withhold from any annuity payable to the individual under chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5 and transfer to the account described in subsection (a), such amounts as may be necessary to reimburse the account for the remainder of the reimbursable portion of an award or settlement described in paragraph (1); and

(ii) shall (if necessary), notwithstanding section 207 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 407), take such actions as the Secretary of the Treasury considers appropriate to withhold from any payment to the individual under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) and transfer to the account described in subsection (a), such amounts as may be necessary to reimburse the account for the remainder of the reimbursable portion of an award or settlement described in paragraph (1).

(6) Coordination between OPM and Treasury

(7) Certification

Once the Executive Director determines that an individual who is subject to a reimbursement requirement of this subsection has reimbursed the account described in subsection (a) for the entire reimbursable portion, the Executive Director shall prepare a certification that the individual has completed that reimbursement, and submit the certification to—

(A) the Committees on House Administration and Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of an individual who, at the time of committing the act involved, was a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress); and

(B) the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of an individual who, at the time of committing the act involved, was a Senator.

(8) Right to intervene

(9) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Non-Federal position

(B) Payroll administrator

The term “payroll administrator” means—

(i) in the case of an individual who is a Member of the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, or an employee of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer who is designated by the Chief Administrative Officer to carry out this subsection; or

(ii) in the case of an individual who is a Senator, the Secretary of the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate who is designated by the Secretary to carry out this subsection.

(e) Reimbursement by employing offices

(1) Notification of payments made from account

(2) Reimbursement by office

(3) Timetable and procedures for reimbursement

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 415, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 38; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 113–76, div. I, title I, § 1101(a), Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 425; Pub. L. 113–235, div. H, title I, § 1301(b), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2537; Pub. L. 115–141, div. I, title I, § 153(a)(2)(E), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 786; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, §§ 111(a), 115(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5306, 5314.)

§ 1416. Confidentiality

(a) Mediation

(b) Hearings and deliberations

(d) Automatic referral to Congressional Ethics Committee of dispositions of claims involving Members of Congress and senior staff

(1) Referral

Upon the final disposition under this subchapter (as described in paragraph (6)) of a claim alleging a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or by a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, the Executive Director shall refer the claim to—

(A) the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of a Member or senior staff of the House; or

(B) the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of a Senator or senior staff of the Senate.

(2) Access to records and information

(3) Review by Senate ethics committee of settlements of certain claims

After the receipt of a settlement agreement for a claim that includes an allegation of a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by a Senator, the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate shall—

(A) not later than 90 days after that receipt, review the settlement agreement;

(B) determine whether an investigation of the claim is warranted; and

(C) if the Select Committee determines, after the investigation, that the claim that resulted in the settlement involved an actual violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by the Senator, then the Select Committee shall notify the Executive Director to request the reimbursement described in section 1415(d) of this title and include the settlement in the report required by section 1381(l) of this title.

(4) Protection of personally identifiable information

(5) Committee authority to protect identity of a claimant

(A) Authority

If a Committee to which a claim is referred under paragraph (1) issues a report as described in paragraph (4) concerning a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, the Committee may make an appropriate redaction to the information or data included in the report if the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee reach agreement—

(i) that including the information or data considered for redaction may lead to the unintentional disclosure of the identity or position of a claimant; and

(ii) on the precise information or data to be redacted.

(B) Notation and statement

(6) Final disposition described

In this subsection, the “final disposition” of a claim means any of the following:

(A) An order or agreement to pay an award or settlement, including an agreement reached pursuant to mediation under section 1403 of this title.

(B) A final decision of a hearing officer under section 1405(g) of this title that is no longer subject to review by the Board under section 1406 of this title.

(C) A final decision of the Board under section 1406(e) of this title that is no longer subject to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit under section 1407 of this title.

(D) A final decision in a civil action under section 1408 of this title that is no longer subject to appeal.

(7) Senior staff defined

(e) Final decisions

(f) Claims

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 416, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 38; Pub. L. 114–6, § 2(c), Mar. 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 81; Pub. L. 115–397, title I, §§ 112, 114, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5311, 5313.)

§ 1417. Option to request remote work assignment or paid leave of absence during pendency of procedures

(a) Options for employees

(1) Remote work assignment

(2) Exception for work assignments required to be carried out onsite

If, in the determination of the covered employee’s employing office, a covered employee who makes a request under this subsection cannot carry out the employee’s responsibilities from a remote location or such relocation would not have the effect described in paragraph (1), the employing office may during the pendency of the procedures described in paragraph (1)—

(A) grant a paid leave of absence to the covered employee;

(B) permit a remote work assignment and grant a paid leave of absence to the covered employee; or

(C) make another workplace adjustment, or permit a remote work assignment, that would have the effect of reducing interactions between the covered employee and any person alleged to have committed the violation described in paragraph (1).

(3) Ensuring no retaliation

(4) No impact on vacation or personal leave

(b) Exception for arrangements subject to collective bargaining agreements

(Pub. L. 104–1, title IV, § 417, as added Pub. L. 115–397, title I, § 113(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5313.)