H.R. 4230 — the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act

This section establishes mandatory annual appropriations law training for federal employees in covered positions—defined as General Schedule grade 11 or above (or equivalent), political positions (as defined in section 4(a) of Public Law 114-136), and Senior Executive Service positions—by adding a new section 4106 to 5 U.S.C. Chapter 41 (previously repealed). Agency heads must require current covered-position employees to complete training within one year of enactment and annually thereafter, and new appointees within 60 days of appointment and annually thereafter; courses must use the Government Accountability Office offering, an agency-developed course, or another approved provider (with Office of Management and Budget and Comptroller General approval for non-GAO courses), covering topics including the Purpose Statute (31 U.S.C. §1301), Antideficiency Act provisions (31 U.S.C. §§1341, 1342, 1511-1519), bona fide needs rule (31 U.S.C. §1502), Impoundment Control Act, current fiscal year appropriations guidance, and penalties for violations. Agency heads must annually report training completions to the Office of Management and Budget, note completions in personnel files, and publish agency compliance statistics on public websites. Noncompliance triggers penalties after 45 days (suspension of supervisory budget/financial authority, ineligibility for performance bonuses or pay increases, and personnel file notation) and after 60 days (suspension of information technology access); agency heads are accountable for compliance. For implementation, within 90 days of enactment, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (in consultation with the Comptroller General) must issue guidance and a list of approved training providers; within 120 days, agency heads must submit compliance plans to the Office of Management and Budget.