Official Conduct Amendments of 1979

Summary

Official Conduct Amendments of 1979 - Transfers to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration complaints of: (1) improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate and violations of law; (2) violations of the Senate Code of Official Conduct; and (3) violations of rules and regulations of the Senate relating to the conduct of individuals in the performance of duties as Members of the Senate or as officers or employees of the Senate. Directs the committee to investigate such complaints and to forward any nonfrivolous complaint to the Select Committee on Ethics, along which any accompanying evidence. Directs the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate only complaints of improper misconduct transferred to it by the Committee on Rules and Administration. Directs the Select Committee to investigate such allegations promptly and of a duration and scope necessary to determine if there is substantial, credible evidence which provides substantial cause to conclude that a violation has occurred. Directs the Select Committee to report to the Senate its recommendations for disciplinary action by report or resolution by a majority vote of the full committee. Amends rule XLII of the Standing Rules of the Senate to simplify financial disclosure requirements by requiring an individual to include in the report copies of all tax return statements prepared in compliance with the income tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and by limiting the detail and scope of the report. Requires such report to contain: (1) the identity and fair market value of each asset in excess of $1,000; held during the calendar year; (2) the identity and amount of each liability in excess of $1,000; (3) each gift or aggregate of gifts from one source which exceeds $100; (4) an itemized listing of all honoraria received; and (5) the identity of all positions held at any time during the calendar year. Repeals, effective January 1, 1980, rule XLIII (restrictions on gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Repeals, effective January 1, 1980, rule XLIV (restrictions on outside earned income) of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Amends rule XLV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit a Member, who upon leaving office becomes a lobbyist, from lobbying Members, officers, or employees of the Senate for a period of one year. Prohibits an employee on a Member's staff, who upon leaving that position becomes a lobbyist, from lobbying the Member for which such individual worked for a period of one year. Amends rule XLVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate to allow a Member to defray office expenses from contributions to: (1) the Member's principal campaign committee; (2) the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and (3) the National Republican Senatorial Committee; and the national committee of a political party and the State committee of a political party with which a Member is affiliated.

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Timeline

1. 15 March 1979

   Introduced

   Referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 15 March 1979

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 15 November 1979

   Reported

   Reported jointly and unfavorably to Senate from the Committee on Governmental Affairs, S. Rept. 96-417.

   Source: Committee

4. 15 November 1979

   Reported

   Reported jointly and unfavorably to Senate from the Committee on Governmental Affairs, S. Rept. 96-417.

   Source: Committee

5. 1 February 1980

   Floor

   Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.

   Source: Floor

6. 1 February 1980

   Passed

   Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended.

   Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 1 February 1980

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 15 March 1979

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] · R · Sponsor
• · ssra00 · Standing
• · ssga00 · Standing

Related records

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