A bill to amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to make certain changes in the authority of the Office of Government Ethics, and for other purposes.
Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to authorize the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to issue regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest and ethics in the executive branch. (Currently, the Director may only recommend rules for promulgation by OPM or the President.)
Directs the President to: (1) include in each annual Government budget transmitted to Congress the expenditures and proposed appropriations necessary to support OGE for the next five fiscal years; and (2) include in each statement of changes in budget authority, expenditures, or receipts the effect of such changes on OGE funding.
Includes certain high level White House aides among those officials whose financial disclosure reports must be transmitted to the Director. Limits the outside earned income of such individuals for a calendar year to 15 percent of their salary for such year.
Requires a presidential nominee to update his or her financial report by the date of the first Senate confirmation hearing with respect to earned income received as of five days before such hearing. Permits an individual whose nomination the President or President-elect has publicly announced to file such financial report at any time after such announcement.
Requires an individual to notify the designated agency official, OGE, or a Senate confirmation committee upon completing actions the individual agrees to take to comply with this Act or other ethics or conflict of interest laws. Requires the individual to make such notification by the date specified for completion of action in the agreement or, if no date is specified, within three months after the agreement is made. Directs an individual who agrees to recuse himself or herself from particular categories of official action to: (1) reduce to writing those subjects to which the agreement applies and the process for determining whether such individual must recuse himself or herself in a specific instance; and (2) file such document in lieu of such notification.
Revises the conditions a trust must satisfy to be considered a qualified blind trust which is exempt from certain reporting requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Includes among the new conditions a requirement that the supervising ethics office determine that certification of the trust as a qualified blind trust is necessary and appropriate to assure compliance with applicable ethics laws and regulations.
Extends the authorization of appropriations for OGE for five years.
Other Measure S.461 (Amended) Passed House in Lieu.