DOCS Act

Bill: 118-hr-581
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2023-01-26
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Federal officials

Government information and archives

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Members of Congress

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Defending Our Classified Secrets Act or the DOCS Act</strong></p> <p>This bill addresses the possession of classified materials by former elected federal officials.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires an individual who formerly held an elected federal office to certify to the National Archives and Records Administration after leaving office that he or she does not possess any classified materials.</p> <p>The bill establishes a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for an individual who does not submit the required certification or who submits a certification that contains false information.</p> <p>The Office of the Director of National Intelligence must ensure that there is established a mandatory procedure under which any classified material removed from a sensitive compartmented information facility shall be documented and tracked.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 581 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 26, 2023 Mr. Torres of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Accountability , and House Administration , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require individuals who formerly held an elected Federal office to certify after leaving office that they do not have in their possession any classified materials, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Defending Our Classified Secrets Act or the DOCS Act . 2. Certification that former elected officials do not possess classified material (a) Requiring certification after leaving office Each individual who formerly held an elected Federal office shall, not later than 30 days after the individual no longer holds an elected Federal office, submit a certification to the National Archives and Records Administration that the individual does not possess any classified materials. (b) Public availability of certifications The Archivist of the United States shall compile the certifications submitted under subsection (a) and make the certifications available to the public. (c) Penalty An individual who does not submit a certification required under subsection (a), or who submits a certification that contains false information, shall be subject to a civil money penalty not to exceed $100,000. (d) Definition In this section, the term elected Federal office means the office of President, Vice President, Senator, or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. (e) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to an individual who holds an elected Federal office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Procedure to track classified material following removal from a sensitive compartmented information facility The Director of National Intelligence shall ensure there is established a mandatory procedure under which any classified material removed from a sensitive compartmented information facility shall be documented and tracked (including with respect to the physical location of such material) for a period beginning at the time of such removal and ending at such time as the Director may determine appropriate.