[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 2USC1381]
TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 24--CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
SUBCHAPTER III--OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Sec. 1381. Establishment of Office of Compliance
(a) Establishment
There is established, as an independent office within the
legislative branch of the Federal Government, the Office of Compliance.
(b) Board of Directors
The Office shall have a Board of Directors. The Board shall consist
of 5 individuals appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority
Leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Appointments of
the first 5 members of the Board shall be completed not later than 90
days after January 23, 1995.
(c) Chair
The Chair shall be appointed from members of the Board jointly by
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the
Senate, and the Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
(d) Board of Directors qualifications
(1) Specific qualifications
Selection and appointment of members of the Board shall be
without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of
fitness to perform the duties of the Office. Members of the Board
shall have training or experience in the application of the rights,
protections, and remedies under one or more of the laws made
applicable under section 1302 of this title.
(2) Disqualifications for appointments
(A) Lobbying
No individual who engages in, or is otherwise employed in,
lobbying of the Congress and who is required under the Federal
Regulation of Lobbying Act \1\ to register with the Clerk of the
House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate shall be
eligible for appointment to, or service on, the Board.
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\1\ See References in Text note below.
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(B) Incompatible office
No member of the Board appointed under subsection (b) of
this section may hold or may have held the position of Member of
the House of Representatives or Senator, may hold the position
of officer or employee of the House of Representatives, Senate,
or instrumentality or other entity of the legislative branch, or
may have held such a position (other than the position of an
officer or employee of the General Accounting Office Personnel
Appeals Board, an officer or employee of the Office of Fair
Employment Practices of the House of Representatives, or officer
or employee of the Office of Senate Fair Employment Practices)
within 4 years of the date of appointment.
(3) Vacancies
A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the manner in which
the original appointment was made.
(e) Term of office
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), membership on the Board
shall be for 5 years. A member of the Board who is appointed to a
term of office of more than 3 years shall only be eligible for
appointment for a single term of office.
(2) First appointments
Of the members first appointed to the Board--
(A) 1 shall have a term of office of 3 years,
(B) 2 shall have a term of office of 4 years, and
(C) 2 shall have a term of office of 5 years, 1 of whom
shall be the Chair,
as designated at the time of appointment by the persons specified in
subsection (b) of this section.
(f) Removal
(1) Authority
Any member of the Board may be removed from office by a majority
decision of the appointing authorities described in subsection (b)
of this section, but only for--
(A) disability that substantially prevents the member from
carrying out the duties of the member,
(B) incompetence,
(C) neglect of duty,
(D) malfeasance, including a felony or conduct involving
moral turpitude, or
(E) holding an office or employment or engaging in an
activity that disqualifies the individual from service as a
member of the Board under subsection (d)(2) of this section.
(2) Statement of reasons for removal
In removing a member of the Board, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall
state in writing to the member of the Board being removed the
specific reasons for the removal.
(g) Compensation
(1) Per diem
Each member of the Board shall be compensated at a rate equal to
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5 for
each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged
in the performance of the duties of the Board. The rate of pay of a
member may be prorated based on the portion of the day during which
the member is engaged in the performance of Board duties.
(2) Travel expenses
Each member of the Board shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
for each day the member is engaged in the performance of duties away
from the home or regular place of business of the member.
(h) Duties
The Office shall--
(1) carry out a program of education for Members of Congress and
other employing authorities of the legislative branch of the Federal
Government respecting the laws made applicable to them and a program
to inform individuals of their rights under laws applicable to the
legislative branch of the Federal Government;
(2) in carrying out the program under paragraph (1), distribute
the telephone number and address of the Office, procedures for
action under subchapter IV of this chapter, and any other
information appropriate for distribution, distribute such
information to employing
