GONE Act

To close out expired grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act GONE Act 2. Identifying and closing out expired grants (a) Expired grant report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall instruct the head of each agency, in coordination with the Secretary, to submit to Congress and the Secretary a report, not later than December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, that— (A) lists each covered grant held by such agency; (B) recommends which of the covered grants described in subparagraph (A) should be closed out; and (C) for each covered grant, explains why the covered grant has not been closed out. (2) Use of data systems An agency may use existing multiagency data systems to prepare the report required under paragraph (1). (3) Explanation of missing information If the head of an agency is unable to submit all of the information required to be included in the report under paragraph (1), the report shall include an explanation of why the information is not available, including any shortcomings with existing grant data systems. (b) Notice from agencies (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date on which the head of an agency submits the report required under subsection (a), the head of the agency shall provide notice to the Secretary specifying whether the head of the agency has closed out grant awards associated with all of the covered grants. (2) Notice to Congress Not later than 90 days after the date on which all of the notices required pursuant to paragraph (1) have been provided or March 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year described in subsection (a)(1), whichever is sooner, the Secretary shall compile the notices submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) and submit to Congress a report on such notices. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency The term agency (2) Closed out The term closed out (3) Covered grant The term covered grant (A) the grant award period of performance, including any extensions, has been expired for not less than 2 years; and (B) the grant has not been closed out in accordance with section 200.343 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto. (4) Secretary The term Secretary September 18, 2015 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to instruct the head of each federal agency (excluding Congress, U.S. courts, and the governments of U.S. territories or possessions and the District of Columbia), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS, not later than December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after enactment of this Act, a report that: (1) lists each covered grant held by such agency; (2) provides the total number of covered grants, including the number of grants by time period of expiration, with zero dollar balances, and with undisbursed balances; (3) describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout; and (4) for the 30 oldest covered grants, explains why each covered grant has not been closed out. Agencies may use existing multiagency data systems to prepare their reports. Agency heads who are unable to submit all required information must include an explanation in their reports of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with and plans to improve existing grant systems, including data systems. Agencies must provide notice to HHS within one year after the agency head submits the report required by this Act, specifying whether grant awards associated with all of the covered grants have been closed out. HHS must compile and report to Congress on such notices not later than 90 days after all of the required notices have been provided, or by March 31 of the calendar year following the first calendar year beginning after enactment of this Act, whichever is sooner. The Inspector General of each agency with more than $500 million in grant funding must conduct a risk assessment to determine if an audit or review of the agency's grant closeout process is warranted. The OMB must submit to Congress a report on recommendations for legislation to improve accountability and oversight in grants management, including the timely closeout of a covered grant. The bill defines "covered grant" to mean a grant in a federal agency cash payment management system held by the U.S. government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance, including any extensions, has been expired for at least two years; and (2) the grant has not been closed out.