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S 2170 112th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative remedies District of Columbia Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Merit Systems Protection Board State and local government operations

Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012

Introduced: March 7, 2012 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 21 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 28, 2012
Became Public Law No: 112-230.
Dec 28, 2012
Signed by President.
Dec 20, 2012
Presented to President.
Dec 19, 2012
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 19, 2012
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7320)
Dec 19, 2012
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7320)
Dec 19, 2012
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2170.
Dec 19, 2012
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7320-7323)
Dec 19, 2012
Mr. Farenthold moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 3, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Dec 3, 2012
Received in the House.
Dec 3, 2012
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 30, 2012
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7307-7308; text as passed Senate: CR S7307-7308)
Nov 30, 2012
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7307-7308; text as passed Senate: CR S7307-7308)
Sep 13, 2012
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 508.
Sep 13, 2012
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 112-211.
Jun 29, 2012
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 13, 2012
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
Mar 7, 2012
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1461-1462)
Mar 7, 2012
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1461)
Mar 7, 2012
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 13, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Allows a state or local officer or employee to be a candidate for partisan elective office unless the salary of such officer or employee is paid completely, directly or indirectly, by loans or grants made by the United States or a federal agency.

(Sec. 3) Redefines "state or local agency" for purposes of the Hatch Act to include the executive branch of the District of Columbia, or an agency or department thereof.

Extends the exemption from Hatch Act requirements for state or local officers or employees to individuals employed by an educational or research institution, establishment, agency or system supported in whole or in part by the District of Columbia.

Extends the exemption from the prohibition against running for elective office to the head of an executive department of the District of Columbia who is not classified under an applicable merit or civil-service system.

Extends to agencies of the District of Columbia provisions requiring the the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) to withhold funds from agencies that reappoint employees removed for violating the Hatch Act within 18 months after removal.

Exempts individuals employed or holding office in the District of Columbia from provisions of the Hatch Act applicable to federal employees.

Makes federal employees living in the District of Columbia eligible to participate in local politics to the same extent as federal employees living in nearby areas of Maryland or Virginia.

(Sec. 4) Replaces existing penalty provisions for violations of the Hatch Act to make an offending employee subject to removal (currently, removal is mandatory), reduction in grade, debarment from federal employment for five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.

(Sec. 5) Makes the new penalties imposed by this Act applicable to violations occurring before, on, or after the effective date of this Act, unless, before the effective date of this Act, the Special Counsel has presented a complaint for disciplinary action with respect to an alleged violation or the employee alleged to have committed the violation has entered into a signed settlement agreement with the Special Counsel.

What's happening now December 28, 2012

Became Public Law No: 112-230.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 4186 Related bill Allowing Qualified Local Employees to Serve Act
  • HR 4152 Identical bill Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Lee, Mike
Utah · Mar 7, 2012
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2170: Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-2170/
MLA
"S. 2170: Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-2170/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2170, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-2170/.
Markdown link
[S. 2170: Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-2170/)
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