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cancies do you now have in the jobs on this schedule? What is your lapse rate? When new employees are hired, are they started at the lowest step within the grade? Given your turnover and the maintenance of a level employment ceiling, would you explain in a statement why you are asking for a 10.7 increase over the 1979 levels? I use that figure without considering the supplementals.

[The information follows:]

ANALYSIS OF POSITION INCREASES

Mr. HENSHAW. At the beginning of fiscal year 1978, we had a total of 348 permanent positions. During fiscal year 1978, the Committee on House Administration authorized 26 new employees for my office: three positions in my immediate office, seven positions in the Office of Finance, 13 positions in Property Supply, two positions in the House Recording Studio and one position of Assistant Chief Telephone Operator. However, six positions were abolished and the Official Reporters of Debates, Official Reporters to Committees and the Summary of Proceedings and Debates, for a total of 52 positions, were placed under my authority. Our total authorized budgeted positions number 420, a net increase of 72 positions. However, after the budget was submitted to OMB, the Committee on House Administration authorized an additional 12 positions for the House Recording Studio and one additional position in the Office of Records and Registration. The 12 positions will be used primarily for broadcast coverage of House proceedings. This brings the total authorized level to 433 positions. Mr. Chairman, I might add that we will need to come in with a program supplemental for about $264,000 for fiscal year 1979 to cover the costs of these 13 positions.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Let me go over these figures with you. You note that the authorized positions for the Office of Clerk is 420. You explain by pointing out that in fiscal year 1978 you had a total of 348 "permanent positions"-that you were then authorized an additional 26 employees. This would total 374. You then lost 6 positions, which left you with 368. You then added the Official Reporters of Debates, Official Reporters to Committees and the Summary of Proceedings and Debates. According to the Subcommittee Print on page 25, these three offices employ 43 people for a total of 411, or an increase of 9 less than you explain in your statement. Is the difference made up of non-permanent positions? You have indicated that of the 13 positions, nine are aboard, if I understand correctly. But would you give us a breakdown on this, to see where we differ?

Mr. HENSHAW. Mr. Chairman, I think there is an error here on the total number of the positions in the summary of proceedings and debates.

Mr. BENJAMIN. How much should that be? It indicates one.

Mr. HENSHAW. Yes, that should be 10, which would make that difference, I think.

Mr. BENJAMIN. So the subcommittee print is wrong on page 25, where it reflects one employee for fiscal year 1978, 1979 and 1980 estimate; it should be 10 in each instance?

Mr. HENSHAW. Yes, sir, I think it is an error in print there. We will check that and supply the findings for the record.

The Subcommittee Print is not in error. All positions under the Clerk are fully accounted for on page 25 of the print. Nine of the Summary of Proceedings and Debates are classified positions under the HS scale and are included with the 213 HS employees under the Clerk.

Mr. BENJAMIN. OK.

Let me ask you, it appears that the majority of the Clerk's positions are under the House employee schedule. How many va

cancies do you now have in the jobs on this schedule? What is your lapse rate? When new employees are hired, are they started at the lowest step within the grade? Given your turnover and the maintenance of a level employment ceiling, would you explain in a statement why you are asking for a 10.7 increase over the 1979 levels? I use that figure without considering the supplementals.

[The information follows:]

There is no lapse rate. All positions rein available until reclassified or abolished by the Committee on House Administration.

New employees generally are appointed at the lowest step within

the classified grade level.

Exceptions are to a higher step when the

employee has had prior service or possesses special skills. Such exceptions must be approved by the Committee on House Administration. On more occasions, new employees are appointed at rates lower than the step 1 of the classified grade level for an entrance or trial period. Such employees are reviewed periodically for advancement to the authorized level upon satisfactory job performance.

Although vacancies occur on a regular basis, few remain vacant greater than 30 days, and although there is a maximum rate of pay for each grade level, employees are eligible to progress on the appropriate salary schedules upon satisfactory completion of specified longevity periods. The increase over the 1979 amount is attributable too the annual cost of living, annualization of salary rates for new or transferred positions (as discussed elsewhere) and longevity and meritorious adjustments.

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DIGEST BY FUNCTION OF CLERK'S DEPARTMENTS

Then let me ask you to provide the committee a copy of the reports that you are about to discuss, these annual reports you obtain from each of the departments, and then if there are any questions, we will take them at this time; otherwise, we will allow you to proceed.

SALARY RANGE CEILING

Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Chairman, on page 25 of the justifications here under H.S. 14, you have a position in 1978 and 1979, for which I notice that the salary range is from forty-eight to sixty-five. Who is that? Is there a ceiling on that?

Mr. COLLEY. There is a ceiling. That is the range, but everybody is frozen at no higher than Executive Level IV, which is $50,000. It is shown, but there is a footnote in each instance to explain it at the bottom.

Mr. MICHEL. In other words, that figure is subject to the ceiling of an Executive Level IV, right?

Mr. COLLEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. MICHEL. Which currently is $50,000?

Mr. COLLEY. Yes.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Any other questions by the members?

Mr. Clerk, would you proceed, then?

Mr. HENSHAW. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

ANNUAL REPORTS

I require all of my departments to prepare annual reports, which the Chairman just mentioned, discussing their particular operations for the past year. These reports have just been received and are being reviewed by my immediate staff and myself, and we are very pleased with the work of our employees and hope you have found them helpful to you as you conduct your business.

Because of the length, I will not discuss them at this time, but I will supply whatever the Chairman would like in this connection, but, with your permission, I will list a few of the major activities for the past year. The reports will be available for review in their entirety. You have indicated you would like to see copies of them.

My deputy has gone over these in some fast perusal, and, if it is all right, I will ask him to give a highlight, if that would be all right.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Please.

CLERK'S ORGANIZATION CHART

Mr. COLLEY. I have passed out our table of organization, showing how the various offices function under the Clerk and there have been questions as we have gone along, Mr. Rudd had a question about carpeting; there was a question about various items. I can go through some of the reports and highlight the activity, or we can make them available, but I thought this might be a guide for the subcommittee, if you had questions on any of the offices that function under the Clerk.

35-533 - 79 12 (Pt. 2)

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