1. (a) Definitions.— In this section—

   1. (1) the term “agency”—

      1. (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), has the meaning given that term in section 2302; and
      2. (B) does not include any entity that is an element of the intelligence community, as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4));

   2. (2) the term “new employee” means an individual—

      1. (A) appointed to a position as an employee of an agency on or after the date of enactment of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017; and
      2. (B) who has not previously served as an employee; and
   3. (3) the term “whistleblower protections” means the protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel practice described in paragraph (8), subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9), or paragraph (14) of section 2302(b).

2. (b) Responsibilities of Head of Agency.— The head of each agency shall be responsible for the prevention of prohibited personnel practices, for the compliance with and enforcement of applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and other aspects of personnel management, and for ensuring (in consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency) that employees of the agency are informed of the rights and remedies available to them under this chapter and chapter 12, including—

   1. (1) information regarding whistleblower protections available to new employees during the probationary period;
   2. (2) the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board with regard to whistleblower protections; and
   3. (3) how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive such disclosures.
3. (c) Timing.— The head of each agency shall ensure that the information required to be provided under subsection (b) is provided to each new employee of the agency not later than 6 months after the date the new employee begins performing service as an employee.
4. (d) Information Online.— The head of each agency shall make available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to employees of the agency on the public website of the agency, and on any online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency if one exists.
5. (e) Delegees.— Any employee to whom the head of an agency delegates authority for personnel management, or for any aspect thereof, shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be responsible for the activities described in subsection (b).

(Added Pub. L. 115–73, title I, § 107(b), Oct. 26, 2017, 131 Stat. 1239.)

References in Text

The date of enactment of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 115–73, which was approved Oct. 26, 2017.