(a) The following functions are vested in the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and shall be performed by the Director, or subject to section 1104 of this title, by such employees of the Office as the Director designates:

(1) securing accuracy, uniformity, and justice in the functions of the Office;

(2) appointing individuals to be employed by the Office;

(3) directing and supervising employees of the Office, distributing business among employees and organizational units of the Office, and directing the internal management of the Office;

(4) directing the preparation of requests for appropriations for the Office and the use and expenditure of funds by the Office;

(5) executing, administering, and enforcing—

(A) the civil service rules and regulations of the President and the Office and the laws governing the civil service; and

(B) the other activities of the Office including retirement and classification activities;

except with respect to functions for which the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Special Counsel is primarily responsible;

(6) reviewing the operations under chapter 87 of this title;

(7) aiding the President, as the President may request, in preparing such civil service rules as the President prescribes, and otherwise advising the President on actions which may be taken to promote an efficient civil service and a systematic application of the merit system principles, including recommending policies relating to the selection, promotion, transfer, performance, pay, conditions of service, tenure, and separation of employees;

(8) conducting, or otherwise providing for the conduct of, studies and research under chapter 47 of this title into methods of assuring improvements in personnel management; and

(9) incurring official reception and representation expenses of the Office subject to any limitation prescribed in any law.

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(b)(1) The Director shall publish in the Federal Register general notice of any rule or regulation which is proposed by the Office and the application of which does not apply solely to the Office or its employees. Any such notice shall include the matter required under section 553(b)(1), (2), and (3) of this title.

(2) The Director shall take steps to ensure that—

(A) any proposed rule or regulation to which paragraph (1) of this subsection applies is posted in offices of Federal agencies maintaining copies of the Federal personnel regulations; and

(B) to the extent the Director determines appropriate and practical, exclusive representatives of employees affected by such proposed rule or regulation and interested members of the public are notified of such proposed rule or regulation.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not apply to any proposed rule or regulation which is temporary in nature and which is necessary to be implemented expeditiously as a result of an emergency.

(4) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection and section 1105 of this title shall not apply to the establishment of any schedules or rates of basic pay or allowances under subpart D of part III of this title. The preceding sentence does not apply to the establishment of the procedures, methodology, or criteria used to establish such schedules, rates, or allowances.

(c)(1) The Office of Personnel Management shall design a set of systems, including appropriate metrics, for assessing the management of human capital by Federal agencies.

(2) The systems referred to under paragraph (1) shall be defined in regulations of the Office of Personnel Management and include standards for—

(A)(i) aligning human capital strategies of agencies with the missions, goals, and organizational objectives of those agencies; and

(ii) integrating those strategies into the budget and strategic plans of those agencies;

(B) closing skill gaps in mission critical occupations;

(C) ensuring continuity of effective leadership through implementation of recruitment, development, and succession plans;

(D) sustaining a culture that cultivates and develops a high performing workforce;

(E) developing and implementing a knowledge management strategy supported by appropriate investment in training and technology; and

(F) holding managers and human resources officers accountable for efficient and effective human resources management in support of agency missions in accordance with merit system principles.