Department of Justice Audit and Professional Responsibility Act of 1981

Summary

Department of Justice Audit and Professional Responsibility Act of 1981 - Title I: Department of Justice Office of Audit - Establishes an Office of Audit in the Department of Justice, to be headed by an Assistant Attorney General. Sets forth the duties of the Assistant Attorney General, including: (1) conducting audits of each unit of the Department; (2) implementing audit recommendations; (3) overseeing the procedures of Departmental units with audit responsibilities; (4) coordinating activities with the Office of Professional Responsibility to prevent abuse of Department operations; and (5) reviewing and making recommendations to the Attorney General on the impact of legislation and regulations on efficiency in the administration of Department programs and on the prevention of fraud and abuse in such programs. Requires any Department official who declines to implement a recommendation of the Assistant Attorney General with respect to an audit to notify the Assistant Attorney General of the reason for declining. Authorizes the Assistant Attorney General to appeal to the Attorney General to implement the recommendation. Directs the head of each Departmental unit with audit responsibilities to report monthly to the Assistant Attorney General on ongoing and completed audits. Requires the Assistant Attorney General to submit to Congress an annual report which includes: (1) a listing of each audit initiated or completed by the Office or a Departmental unit; (2) a description of problems or abuses in policies or procedures and corrective recommendations; and (3) a description of any recommendation made by the Assistant Attorney General to the Attorney General which the Attorney General did not follow. Grants Congress access to the results of audits completed by the Office or a Departmental unit. Directs the Attorney General to transfer to the Assistant Attorney General all functions performed prior to the enactment of this Act by the Director of the Internal Audit Staff of the Department. Requires the Assistant Attorney General to report to the Congressional judiciary committees within three years of enactment on the implementation of this Act. Title II: Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility - Establishes an Office of Professional Responsibility in the Department of Justice, to be headed by a Counsel appointed by the President. Sets forth the duties of the Counsel, including: (1) investigating conduct by Department employees that may violate a law, Department regulation or order, or standard of ethics; (2) establishing uniform standards for the conduct of investigations by internal inspection units; (3) establishing uniform standards for the administration of disciplinary sanctions for each Department unit; and (4) reporting to Congress annually on employee misconduct and within three years of enactment on the implementation of this title. Stipulates that the internal inspection units shall retain their primary responsibility to investigate employee misconduct. Requires the head of each unit to report monthly to the Counsel. Authorizes the Counsel to make disciplinary recommendations, including administrative sanctions or prosecution, with respect to Department employees. Terminates the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department on the date of enactment. Transfers its functions to the Counsel for the Office of Professional Responsibility established by this title. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title.

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Timeline

1. 3 February 1981

   Introduced

   Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 3 February 1981

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 6 February 1981

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Governmental Efficiency.

   Source: Committee

4. 13 February 1981

   Committee

   Committee on Governmental Affairs requested executive comment from GAO; White House Office; OMB; Justice Department; Office of Personnel Management.

   Source: Committee

5. 30 June 1981

   Committee

   Committee on Governmental Affairs received executive comment from GAO.

   Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 3 February 1981

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Baucus, Max [D-MT-1] · D · Sponsor
• · ssga00 · Standing

Related records

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