As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on July 31, 2024
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2025-2029
2025-2034
Direct Spending (Outlays)
*
*
*
Revenues
0
0
0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit
*
*
*
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)
13
81
not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?
No
Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?
Yes
Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2035?
No
Contains intergovernmental mandate?
No
Contains private-sector mandate?
No
* = between zero and $500,000.
Summary
S. 59 would require federal agencies to use skills-based assessments for hiring civil service positions but would allow an agency to develop occupational questionnaires for openings if it determines that an examination is impractical for certain positions. To support those changes, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would need to develop and implement a plan to transition federal hiring practices within three years of enactment.
S. 59 also would allow agencies and OPM to establish teams of specialists to improve assessments and share qualified applications throughout the federal government. Further, all federal agencies would be required to provide data related to the assessments they establish to OPM on a quarterly basis. Finally, OPM and the Government Accountability Office would be required to complete several reports to the Congress on the feasibility of implementing assessments, hiring practices, and governmentwide personnel records.