Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act of 2015
Directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in appointing individuals to the position of air traffic controller, to give preference to:
Allows the FAA to consider additional applicants only after completing consideration of such preferred applicants.
Provides that a preferred applicant shall not be subject to any biographical assessment as part of FAA hiring practices that apply to applicants for the position of air traffic controller. Directs the FAA to revise its hiring practices to eliminate the use of any biographical assessment that unduly disqualifies applicants. Provides for reconsideration of individuals who applied in response to the FG-01 vacancy announcement of February 10, 2014, who were disqualified on the basis of such an assessment.
Requires (currently, allows) the FAA to maintain the program by making new agreements and continuing existing agreements with institutions of higher education under which the institutions prepare students for the position of air traffic controller.
Directs the FAA to take into consideration any training initiatives for air traffic controllers that are locally developed at institutions of higher education participating in the program for use in establishing best practices nationwide.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1964 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1964
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise hiring practices for air traffic controller positions, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2015
Mr. Hultgren (for himself, Mr. Lipinski, Mrs. Hartzler, Mrs. Bustos,
Mr. Salmon, Ms. Esty, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, and Mr. Rothfus) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
revise hiring practices for air traffic controller positions, 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 ``Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act
of 2015''.
SEC. 2. HIRING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(f) Revision of Hiring Practices.--
``(1) Consideration of applicants.--
``(A) Ensuring selection of most qualified
applicants.--In appointing individuals to the position
of air traffic controller, the Administrator shall give
preferential consideration to the following applicants:
``(i) An individual who--
``(I) has successfully completed
air traffic controller training and
graduated from an institution
participating in the Collegiate
Training Initiative program maintained
under subsection (c)(1); and
``(II) has received from the
institution--
``(aa) an appropriate
recommendation; or
``(bb) an endorsement
certifying that the individual
would have met the requirements
in effect as of December 31,
2013, for an appropriate
recommendation.
``(ii) A qualified individual who is
eligible for a veterans recruitment appointment
pursuant to section 4214 of title 38.
``(iii) A qualified individual who is an
eligible veteran, as such term is defined in
section 4211 of title 38, maintaining aviation
experience obtained in the course of the
individual's military experience.
``(iv) A preference eligible veteran, as
defined in section 2108 of title 5.
``(v) A qualified individual maintaining
practical air traffic control experience
obtained at--
``(I) civilian installations of the
Department of Defense;
``(II) Federal Aviation
Administration air traffic control
facilities; or
``(III) contract towers of Federal
Aviation Administration.
``(B) Consideration of additional applicants.--The
Administrator may consider additional applicants for
the position of air traffic controller only after
completing consideration of the applicants described in
subparagraph (A).
``(2) Elimination of biographical assessments.--
``(A) Priority applicants.--An applicant described
in paragraph (1)(A) shall not be subject to any
biographical assessment (including a biographical
assessment validated under subparagraph (B)) as part of
the hiring practices of the Administration that apply
to applicants for the position of air traffic
controller with the Department of Transportation.
``(B) Revision of hiring practices.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall
revise the hiring practices of the
Administration referred to in subparagraph (A)
to eliminate the use of any biographical
assessment that unduly disqualifies applicants.
``(ii) Validation.--Before implementing any
biographical assessment as part of the hiring
practices of the Administration referred to in
subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall--
``(I) certify that the assessment
or test was validated under the
criteria set forth in clause (i) before
implementation; and
``(II) disclose to the public the
methods used for the validation.
``(iii) Participation requirements.--The
revision under this subparagraph shall not be
subject to paragraph (3).
``(C) Reconsideration of applicants disqualified on
the basis of biographical assessments.--
``(i) In general.--If an individual applied
for the position of air traffic controller with
the Department in response to the FG-01 Vacancy
Announcement issued on February 10, 2014, and
was disqualified from the position as the
result of a biographical assessment, the
Administrator shall provide the applicant an
opportunity to reapply as soon as practicable
for the position under the revised hiring
practices.
``(ii) Waiver of age restriction.--The
Administrator shall waive any maximum age
restriction for the position of air traffic
controller with the Department that would
otherwise disqualify an individual from the
position if the individual--
``(I) is reapplying for the
position pursuant to clause (i) on or
before December 31, 2017; and
``(II) met the maximum age
requirement on the date of the
individual's previous application for
the position during the interim hiring
process.
``(3) Participation of cti institutions in revision of
hiring practices.--Before making any revision to the hiring
practices that apply to applicants for the position of air
traffic controller with the Department, the Administrator shall
provide institutions of higher education participating in the
Collegiate Training Initiative program with notice of the
revision and an opportunity to comment.''.
SEC. 3. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE.
Section 44506(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended in
the first sentence by striking ``may maintain'' and inserting ``shall
maintain''.
SEC. 4. BEST PRACTICES FOR TRAINING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Best Practices for Training.--The Administrator, in
consultation with the Association of Collegiate Training Institutions,
the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and the University
Aviation Association, shall take into consideration any training
initiatives for air traffic controllers that are locally developed at
institutions of higher education participating in the Collegiate
Training Initiative program for use in establishing best practices
nationwide.''.
SEC. 5. VETERAN PREFERENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FAA PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM.
Section 40122(g)(2)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by inserting ``and sections 3330a-3330d'' before ``, relating to''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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