[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4797 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4797
To provide for a demonstration project to enhance the ability of
Federal agencies to continue to operate during an extended emergency
situation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2004
Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Cummings, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Owens, and Mr. Kucinich)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a demonstration project to enhance the ability of
Federal agencies to continue to operate during an extended emergency
situation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Continuity of Operations
Demonstration Project Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to enhance the ability of Federal agencies to manage
their personnel and to otherwise continue to operate during an
extended emergency situation;
(2) to enhance the ability of Federal employees to carry
out their duties and responsibilities from home or other sites
removed from their usual and customary workplace;
(3) to enhance flexibility in Government operations
generally; and
(4) to determine what technologies, changes in work
processes, or other measures are needed to accomplish the
foregoing, while preserving data security.
SEC. 3. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
(a) In General.--In order to test the preparedness of the Federal
Government to continue to operate in the event of an extended emergency
situation, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council shall establish a
demonstration project under which, through agreements with 2 or more
agencies, a representative range of Government services and operations
(both essential and nonessential) shall be performed under
circumstances simulating a situation in which Federal employees are, as
a result of a sudden and unexpected contingency, required to work--
(1) from home or other sites apart from their usual and
customary duty station; and
(2) for a continuous period of not less than 30 days.
(b) Other Requirements.--In carrying out the demonstration project,
the Council shall ensure--
(1) that appropriate mechanisms exist so that agencies and
employees are able to engage in any necessary communications,
and so that appropriate oversight of employees can be
maintained, at all times;
(2) that employees have available to them or are able to
access any technologies, information, or other resources they
may require in order to carry out their duties and
responsibilities effectively and efficiently;
(3) that participation shall be limited to those employees
who, irrespective of this Act, would otherwise have been
eligible to telework; and
(4) that such project be conducted in coordination with
otherwise existing Federal teleworking policies, requirements,
and funding so that no additional resources are needed in order
to carry out this Act.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Council shall submit to the Committee on Government Reform of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs
of the Senate a written evaluation of the demonstration project,
including a description of the approaches taken and lessons learned by
participating agencies, and recommendations for such legislative or
administrative action as the Council considers appropriate.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Chief Human Capital Officers Council'' or
``Council'' refers to the Chief Human Capital Officers Council,
as established by section 1303 of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (Public Law 107-296; 5 U.S.C. 1401 note);
(2) the term ``Federal agency'' or ``agency'' means an
Executive agency, as defined by section 105 of title 5, United
States Code; and
(3) the term ``Federal employee'' or ``employee'' means an
individual employed in or under an agency.
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