Federal Skills Act of 2023

the term agency means an agency that appoints individuals to positions in the competitive service;

the term competitive service has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5, United States Code;

the term Director means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

the term education means the completion or attainment of a postsecondary degree or other credential at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002));

the term personnel assessment means a method of collecting information regarding an individual for the purposes of making a selection decision with respect to the individual;

the term qualification standards means the minimum requirements with respect to education, training, and experience that an applicant for employment would need to possess in order to make it likely that the applicant would perform satisfactorily in the position or occupational series that is the subject of the application for employment; and

the term selection decision includes a decision regarding an individual with respect to—

Education requirement— The head of an agency may prescribe a minimum requirement with respect to education for a position in the competitive service only if a minimum qualification with respect to education is legally required to perform the duties of a comparable position in the State or locality where those duties are to be performed.

Consideration of education— Unless the head of an agency is determining the satisfaction of a legally required minimum requirement with respect to education for an applicant for employment with the agency, the agency head may consider the education of the applicant in determining the satisfaction by the applicant of another minimum qualification only if the education of the applicant directly reflects the competencies necessary to satisfy that qualification and perform the duties of the position.

Position listing— A position description and job posting published by an agency for a position in the competitive service shall be based on the specific skills and competencies required to perform that position, as established in the position classifications and qualification standards of the Office of Personnel Management.

In general— The Director shall work with the head of each agency to ensure that, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, for a position in the competitive service, the head of an agency assesses an applicant for employment in a manner that does not rely solely on the education of the applicant to determine the extent to which the applicant possesses relevant knowledge, skills, competencies, and abilities for the position.

Other requirements— With respect to the assessment practices described in subsection (a)—

Evaluation— The head of each agency shall continually evaluate the effectiveness of different assessment strategies to promote and protect the quality and integrity of the appointment processes of the agency, which shall be reviewed by the Chief Human Capital Officer of the agency (or an equivalent official), who shall make any necessary changes or take any necessary remedial actions concurrent with the review.

In general— Nothing in this Act may be construed to impair or otherwise affect—

Rights or benefits— This Act is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.