Description:
H.R. 4639 would authorize appropriations for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for fiscal years 2016 through 2020. The bill also would amend several of the laws governing the OSC. Finally, the bill would change how penalties could be applied to federal workers who violate the Hatch Act. (The Hatch Act prohibits most employees of the Executive branch from engaging in certain forms of political activity.)
CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $106 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts. Because enacting H.R. 4639 could affect the amount of revenues collected from civil fines imposed on federal employees who violate the Hatch Act, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO expects that any change in revenues collected would not be significant in any year. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4639 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 4639 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
