Presidential Transition Act of 2000

Public Law 106-293
106th Congress

An Act

To provide for the training or orientation of individuals, during a Presidential transition, who the President intends to appoint to certain key positions, to provide for a study and report on improving the financial disclosure process for certain Presidential nominees, and for  other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1.   SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Transition Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2.  AMENDMENTS TO PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION ACT OF 1963.

    Section 3(a) of the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “including--'' and inserting “including the following:'';
            (2) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
             “(8)(A)(i) Not withstanding subsection (b), payment of expenses during the transition    for briefings, workshops, or other activities to acquaint key prospective Presidential appointees with the types of problems and challenges that most typically confront new political appointees when they make the transition from campaign and other prior activities to assuming the responsibility for governance after inauguration.
           “ (ii) Activities under this paragraph may include interchange between such appointees and individuals who--
                    “ (I) held similar leadership roles in prior administrations;
                    “ (II) are department or agency experts from the Office of Management and Budget or an Office of Inspector General of a department or agency; or
                    “ (III) are relevant staff from the General  Accounting Office.
            “(iii) Activities under this paragraph may include training or orientation in records management to comply with section 2203 of title 44, United States Code, including training on the separation of Presidential records and personal records to comply with subsection (b) of that section.
            “ (iv) Activities under this paragraph may include training or orientation in human resources management and performance- based management.
             “ (B) Activities under this paragraph shall be conducted  primarily for individuals the President-elect intends to nominate as department heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the President.
             “(9)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (b), development of a transition directory by the Administrator of General Services Administration, in consultation with the Archivist of the United States (head of the National Archives and Records  Administration) for activities conducted under paragraph
              (8).“(B) The transition directory shall be a compilation of Federal publications and materials with supplementary materials developed by the Administrator that provides information on the officers, organization, and statutory and administrative authorities, functions, duties, responsibilities, and mission of each department and agency.
            ``(10)(A) Notwithstanding subsection (b), consultation by the Administrator with any candidate for President or Vice President to develop a systems architecture plan for the computer and communications systems of the candidate to coordinate a transition to Federal systems, if the candidate is elected.
            ``(B) Consultations under this paragraph shall be conducted at the discretion of the Administrator.''.

SEC. 3.  REPORT ON IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PROCESS FOR
                  PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
   Office of Government Ethics shall conduct a study and submit a report on improvements to the financial disclosure process for Presidential nominees required to file reports under section 101(b) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) to the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives.

    (b) Content of Report.--
            (1) In general.--The report under this section shall include recommendations and legislative proposals on--
                    (A) streamlining, standardizing, and coordinating the financial disclosure process and the requirements of financial disclosure reports under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
                     (5 U.S.C. App.) for Presidential nominees;
                    (B) avoiding duplication of effort and reducing the burden of filing with respect to financial disclosure of information to the White House Office, the Office of Government Ethics, and the Senate; and
                    (C) any other relevant matter the Office of Government Ethics determines appropriate.
            (2) Limitation relating to conflicts of interest.--The recommendations and proposals under this subsection shall not (if implemented) have the effect of lessening substantive compliance with any conflict of interest requirement.

    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

    Approved October 12, 2000.

Legislative History – H.R. 4931 (S.2705)
Senate Reports:   No 106-348 accompanying S.2705 (Comm. On Governmental Affairs)
Congressional record, Vol 145 (2000):
    Sept. 13, considered and passed House.
    Sept 28 considered and passed House.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Vol 36 (2000):
     Oct. 12, Presidential Statement

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