Latta sponsors Hatch Act reform bill

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Bill Pascrell Jr. (R-New Jersey) introduced a bipartisan bill, the State and Local Law Enforcement Hatch Act Reform Act of 2013, which amends and clarifies current law as outlined in the Hatch Act. Specific provisions in the introduced legislation will allow sheriffs, who are on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week, to participate in political activities and establish a statute of limitations of six months to file a claim with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) against a state or local law enforcement officer for an alleged violation.

“Under current law, allowable political activities as it applies to the office of sheriff are ambiguous at best,” said Latta. “While the first priority of the office of sheriff is to serve the people, it is both a public and elected position. Updating the Hatch Act will bring much-needed clarity to the law and codify current OSC practices.”

“This legislation will clarify how the Hatch Act impacts Sheriffs and provide fairness to our local law enforcement,” said Pascrell. “I look forward to working with Representative Latta and our colleagues in a bipartisan manner to advance this proposal.”

The Hatch Act, first enacted in 1939, is the federal law that governs the political activity of public employees, and was created to ensure that federal resources were not directed for partisan political objectives.

Last year, the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012, was signed into law and allowed for state and local law enforcement officers to run for the office of sheriff without having to quit their current place of employment. The latter provision was included in Latta’s State and Local Law Enforcement Hatch Act Reform legislation from the 111th and 112th Congresses.