A bill to amend section 442 of title 18, United States Code, to exempt certain interests in mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans from conflict of interest limitations for the Government Publishing Office.

Bill: 116-s-2851
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2019-11-13
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Books and print media

Congressional agencies

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Federal officials

Government Publishing Office (GPO)

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

News media and reporting

Public contracts and procurement
Latest action: action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-11-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill revises conflict-of-interest limitations for personnel at the Government Publishing Office (GPO). </p> <p>Current law prohibits GPO personnel from having any printing-related interest. </p> <p>This bill creates an exemption for certain interests&#8212;interests in diversified mutual funds, diversified unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans&#8212;that have underlying holdings in printing-related interests. </p> <p>Additionally, the prohibition applies only to the GPO director&#8212;not to other GPO personnel.</p>

action_date: 2019-11-13
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This bill revises conflict-of-interest limitations applicable to personnel at the Government Publishing Office (GPO). </p> <p>Current law prohibits GPO personnel from having any printing-related interest. </p> <p>This bill creates an exemption for certain interests&#8212;interests in diversified mutual funds, diversified unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans&#8212;that have underlying holdings in printing-related interests. </p> <p>Additionally, the prohibition applies only to the GPO director&#8212;not to other GPO personnel.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2851 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 13, 2019 Mr. Blunt introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed A BILL To amend section 442 of title 18, United States Code, to exempt certain interests in mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans from conflict of interest limitations for the Government Publishing Office.

1. Government Publishing Office (a) In general Section 442 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 422. Government Publishing Office (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the terms diversified , employee benefit plan , holding , mutual fund , and unit investment trust have the meanings given those terms under section 2640.102 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and (2) the term printing-related interest means an interest, direct or indirect, in— (A) the publication of any newspaper or periodical; (B) any printing, binding, engraving, or lithographing of any kind; or (C) any contract for furnishing paper or other material connected with the public printing, binding, lithographing, or engraving. (b) Offense (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Director of the Government Publishing Office shall not, during his or her continuance in office, have any printing-related interest. (2) Exception for mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans It shall not be a violation of paragraph (1) for the Director of the Government Publishing Office to have an interest in a diversified mutual fund, diversified unit investment trust, employee benefit plan, investment fund under the Thrift Savings Plan under subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, or pension plan established or maintained by a State government or any political subdivision of a State government for its employees that has 1 or more holdings that are printing-related interests if the fund, trust, or plan does not exhibit a practice of concentrating in printing-related interests. (c) Penalty Whoever violates subsection (b)(1) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 23 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 442 and inserting the following: 442. Government Publishing Office. .

tv_txt: 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2851 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend section 442 of title 18, United States Code, to exempt certain interests in mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans from conflict of interest limitations for the Government Publishing Office.

1. Government Publishing Office (a) In general Section 442 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 422. Government Publishing Office (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the terms diversified , employee benefit plan , holding , mutual fund , and unit investment trust have the meanings given those terms under section 2640.102 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and (2) the term printing-related interest means an interest, direct or indirect, in— (A) the publication of any newspaper or periodical; (B) any printing, binding, engraving, or lithographing of any kind; or (C) any contract for furnishing paper or other material connected with the public printing, binding, lithographing, or engraving. (b) Offense (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Director of the Government Publishing Office shall not, during his or her continuance in office, have any printing-related interest. (2) Exception for mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans It shall not be a violation of paragraph (1) for the Director of the Government Publishing Office to have an interest in a diversified mutual fund, diversified unit investment trust, employee benefit plan, investment fund under the Thrift Savings Plan under subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, or pension plan established or maintained by a State government or any political subdivision of a State government for its employees that has 1 or more holdings that are printing-related interests if the fund, trust, or plan does not exhibit a practice of concentrating in printing-related interests. (c) Penalty Whoever violates subsection (b)(1) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 23 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 442 and inserting the following: 442. Government Publishing Office. .

Passed the Senate November 13, 2019. Secretary