Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Act of 2017

This bill amends the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to reauthorize through FY2022 the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency that protects federal employees, former employees, and applicants for employment from prohibited personnel practices.

The OSC is authorized to, with exceptions, have timely access to material available to an agency that relates to an investigation, review, or inquiry.

Agencies must: (1) inform their employees of whistle-blower protections available to new employees during a probationary period and of the role of the OSC and the Merit Systems Protection Board, and (2) provide training for supervisors with respect to employee complaints alleging a violation of whistle-blower protections.

The accessing of the medical record of another employee as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance of, any prohibited personnel practice is itself a prohibited personnel practice.

Agencies shall refer to the OSC for examination and appropriate action any instance where a whistle-blower has committed suicide.

Whistle-blower protections must be incorporated into performance evaluations for supervisors.

The bill provides for disciplinary measures against supervisors who retaliate against whistle-blowers.

The OSC may terminate an investigation of an alleged prohibited personnel practice under certain circumstances.

The OSC shall establish a pilot program to survey individuals who have filed a complaint or disclosure with the OSC.