Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3050
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2016-06-10
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government liability

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Latest action: action_date: 2016-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-06-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016</b></p> <p>This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement resolving a civil action on behalf of the United States that provides for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions for payments that remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or that constitute payment for services rendered in connection with the case.</p> <p>Government officials or agents who violate this prohibition may be removed from office or required to forfeit to the government any money they hold for such purposes to which they may otherwise be entitled.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3050 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2016 Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Hatch , Mr. Lee , Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Cornyn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016 . 2. Limitation on donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party (a) Limitation on required donations An official or agent of the Government may not enter into or enforce any settlement agreement on behalf of the United States, directing or providing for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States, other than a payment that provides restitution for or otherwise directly remedies actual harm (including to the environment) directly and proximately caused by the party making the payment, or constitutes payment for services rendered in connection with the case. (b) Penalty Any official or agent of the Government who violates subsection (a), shall be subject to the same penalties that would apply in the case of a violation of section 3302 of title 31, United States Code. (c) Effective date Subsections (a) and (b) apply only in the case of a settlement agreement concluded on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Definition The term settlement agreement means a settlement agreement resolving a civil action or potential civil action.