OPM issues interim regulations to give agencies more HR authority

OPM has issued new regulations giving agencies more human resources authority. OPM is seeking comments on the interim regulations.

As part of the effort to streamline government, The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued interim regulations implementing provisions of the Homeland Security Act. This act creates the authority to give Federal agencies more flexibility in their human resources programs. OPM’s interim regulation provides agencies with: increased flexibility in assessing applicants using alternative rating and selection procedures; the ability to select qualified candidates for positions, including temporary and term positions, in the competitive service using direct-hire procedures; the authority to pay or reimburse the costs of academic degree training from appropriated or other available funds under specified conditions; and increased flexibility in the use of academic degree training to address agency-specific human capital requirements and objectives.

The new OPM regulations were effective last Friday June 13, 2003. If you have comments on the regulations, you can send them to OPM and they must be received by that agency on or before August 12, 2003. Your written comments must be sent, delivered or faxed to Ellen E. Tunstall, Deputy Associate Director for Talent and Capacity Policy, Office of Personnel Management, Room 6551, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-9700; e-mail employ@opm.gov; fax: (202) 606-2329.

About the Author

Ralph Smith has several decades of experience working with federal human resources issues. He has written extensively on a full range of human resources topics in books and newsletters and is a co-founder of two companies and several newsletters on federal human resources. Follow Ralph on Twitter: @RalphSmith47