House Panel Clears Training Bill

A House panel on Wednesday passed legislation that would establish basic training standards for federal managers and supervisors.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Federal Workforce Subcommittee voted to pass the bill - the 2010 Federal Supervisor Training Act (H.R. 5522). The bill would require all federal supervisors to receive initial training within one year of promotion and once every three years thereafter. Training would cover three primary management topics: basic supervisory training, mentorship training and training focused on prohibited personnel practices, such as collective bargaining and anti-discrimination rights.

The legislation also would require the Office of Personnel Management to monitor agency implementation of the legislation and issue guidance to agencies on the competencies supervisors must meet to effectively manage the performance of their employees.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, introduced similar legislation, S. 674, to improve agency supervisor training programs. That bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on June 24.