[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5852 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5852

   To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that spouses and 
widows or widowers of certain veterans and members of the armed forces 
   receive preference with respect to employment in the competitive 
                    service, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2012

  Mr. Towns introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that spouses and 
widows or widowers of certain veterans and members of the armed forces 
   receive preference with respect to employment in the competitive 
                    service, 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. HIRING PREFERENCE IN THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE.

    (a) In General.--Section 3309 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``A preference eligible''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b)(1) The spouse or unmarried widow or widower of an individual 
listed under subparagraph (A) or (B) who receives a passing grade in an 
examination for entrance into the competitive service is entitled to an 
additional 5 points above his or her earned rating:
                    ``(A) A preference eligible under section 
                2108(3)(A)-(B).
                    ``(B) A member of the armed forces.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding section 7 of title 1, the term `spouse' 
includes a spouse of the same sex as determined under applicable State 
law.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section heading.--The heading of section 3309 of title 
        5, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, spouses, and 
        widows or widowers'' after ``eligibles''.
            (2) Table of contents.--The table of sections for chapter 
        33 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
        section 3309 and inserting the following:

``3309. Preference eligibles, spouses, and widows or widowers; 
                            examinations; additional points for.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
        shall apply with respect to any examination for entrance into 
        the competitive service taken on or after the date of enactment 
        of this section.
            (2) Examinations prior to date of enactment.--
                    (A) In general.--With respect to any individual who 
                received a passing grade on such an examination in 2012 
                but before the date of enactment of this section, the 
                relevant hiring agency shall send notification to any 
                such individual to determine whether such individual is 
                eligible for the additional points provided by 
                subsection (b) of section 3309 of title 5, United 
                States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this 
                section).
                    (B) Deadline.--Beginning on the date that an 
                individual receives notification under subparagraph 
                (A), such individual shall have 30 days to respond to 
                the relevant hiring agency in order to receive credit 
                for such points.
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