SEC. 204. RULES AND GUIDELINES.
(a) Issuance <<NOTE: President.>> of Rules and Guidelines.--The
President (or the designee of the President) shall issue--
(1) rules to carry out this title;
(2) rules to require that a comprehensive study be conducted
in the executive branch to determine the best practices relating
to the appropriate disciplinary actions against Federal
employees who commit the actions described under clauses (i) and
(ii) of section 203(a)(6)(A); and
(3) based on the results of such study, advisory guidelines
incorporating best practices that Federal agencies may follow to
take such actions against such employees.
(b) Agency Notification <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Regarding
Implementation of Guidelines.--Not later than 30 days after the issuance
of guidelines under subsection (a), each Federal agency shall submit to
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore
of the Senate, the Equal Employment Opportunity
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Commission, and the Attorney General a written statement specifying in
detail--
(1) whether such agency has adopted and will fully follow
such guidelines;
(2) if such agency has not adopted such guidelines; the
reasons for the failure to adopt such guidelines; and
(3) if such agency will not fully follow such guidelines,
the reasons for the decision not to fully follow such guidelines
and an explanation of the extent to which such agency will not
follow such guidelines.
SEC. 205. CLARIFICATION OF REMEDIES.
Consistent with Federal law, nothing in this title shall prevent any
Federal employee, former Federal employee, or applicant for Federal
employment from exercising any right otherwise available under the laws
of the United States.
SEC. 206. <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> STUDIES BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE ON
EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES AND ON ASCERTAINMENT
OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COSTS.
(a) Study on Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.--
(1) Study.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the General Accounting
Office shall conduct a study relating to the effects of
eliminating the requirement that Federal employees
aggrieved by violations of any of the laws specified
under section 201(c) exhaust administrative remedies
before filing complaints with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission.
(B) Contents.--The study shall include a detailed
summary of matters investigated, information collected,
and conclusions formulated that lead to determinations
of how the elimination of such requirement will--
(i) expedite handling of allegations of such
violations within Federal agencies and will
streamline the complaint-filing process;
(ii) affect the workload of the Commission;
(iii) affect established alternative dispute
resolution procedures in such agencies; and
(iv) affect any other matters determined by
the General Accounting Office to be appropriate
for consideration.
(2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the
study required by paragraph (1), the General Accounting Office
shall submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
President pro tempore of the Senate, the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, and the Attorney General a report
containing the information required to be included in such
study.
(b) Study on Ascertainment of Certain Costs of the Department of
Justice in Defending Discrimination and Whistleblower Cases.--
(1) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall
conduct a study of the methods that could be used for, and the
extent of any administrative burden that would be imposed on,
the Department of Justice to ascertain the personnel and
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administrative costs incurred in defending in each case arising
from a proceeding identified under section 201(a) (1) and (2).
(2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the
study required by paragraph (1), the General Accounting Office
shall submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the President pro tempore of the Senate a report containing the
information required to be included in the study.
(c) Studies on Statutory Effects on Agency Operations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall
conduct--
(A) a study on the effects of section 201 on the
operations of Federal agencies; and
(B) a study on the effects of section 13 of the
Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (41 U.S.C. 612) on the
operations of Federal agencies.
(2) Contents.--Each study under paragraph (1) shall include,
with respect to the applicable statutes of the study--
(A) a summary of the number of cases in which a
payment was made in accordance with section 2414, 2517,
2672, or 2677 of title 28, United States Code, and under
section 1304 of title 31, United States Code;
(B) a summary of the length of time Federal agencies
used to complete reimbursements of payments described
under subparagraph (A); and
(C) conclusions that assist in making determinations
on how the reimbursements of payments described under
subparagraph (A) will affect--
(i) the operations of Federal agencies;
(ii) funds appropriated on an annual basis;
(iii) employee relations and other human
capital matters;
(iv) settlements; and
(v) any other matter determined by the General
Accounting Office to be appropriate for
consideration.
(3) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of
each study under paragraph (1), the General Accounting Office
shall submit a report on each study, respectively, to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro
tempore of the Senate, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of
the Senate, the Committee on Government Reform of the House of
Representatives, and the Attorney General.
(d) Study on Administrative and Personnel Costs Incurred by the
Department of the Treasury.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall
conduct a study on the extent of any administrative and
personnel costs incurred by the Department of the Treasury to
account for payments made in accordance with section 2414, 2517,
2672, or 2677 of title 28, United States Code, and under section
1304 of title 31, United States Code, as a result of--
(A) this Act; and
(B) the Contracts Dispute Act of 1978 (41 U.S.C. 601
note; Public Law 95-563).
(2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of
the study under paragraph (1), the General Accounting Office
shall submit a report on the study to the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the
Senate, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the
Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives,
and the Attorney General.
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