SUBCHAPTER IV—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Part A—Personnel Provisions
§3461. Officers and employees
(a) Appointment and compensation
The Secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, including attorneys, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Secretary and the Department. Except as otherwise provided by law, such officers and employees shall be appointed in accordance with the civil service laws and their compensation fixed in accordance with title 5.
(b) Applicability of General Schedule; termination of authority; exemption from limitations on executive positions
(1) At the request of the Secretary, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, under
(2) Repealed.
(3) Appointments to positions provided for under this subsection may be made without regard to the provisions of
(4) The authority under this subsection with respect to any position shall terminate when the person first appointed to fill such position ceases to hold such position.
(5) For purposes of section 414(a)(3)(A) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, an individual appointed under this subsection shall be deemed to occupy the same position as the individual occupied on the day preceding May 4, 1980.
(c) Repealed. Pub. L. 99–498, title XIV, §1401(d), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1597
(d) Senior Executive Service
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall establish positions within the Senior Executive Service for 15 limited-term appointees. The Secretary shall appoint individuals to such positions as provided by
(e) Indian preference laws
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the application of any Indian preference law in effect on the day before October 17, 1979, to any function or office transferred by this chapter and subject to any such law on the day before October 17, 1979. Any function or office transferred by this chapter and subject to any such law shall continue to be subject to any such law.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 414(a)(3)(A) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is section 414(a)(3)(A) of
Codification
In subsecs. (a) and (d), "May 4, 1980" substituted for "the effective date of this chapter" pursuant to section 601 of
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (b)(2).
1994—Subsec. (b)(2).
1986—Subsec. (c).
1985—Subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of
§3462. Experts and consultants
(a) In general
The Secretary may as provided in appropriation Acts obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of
(b) Special rule
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the funds appropriated for any education program that awards such funds on a competitive basis to pay the expenses and fees of non-Federal experts necessary to review applications and proposals for such funds.
(2) Applicability
The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to any education program under which funds are authorized to be appropriated to pay the fees and expenses of non-Federal experts to review applications and proposals for such funds.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates
References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of
§3463. Personnel reduction and annual limitations
(a) Work-years limitation; allocations; adjustments
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, there shall be included in each appropriation Act containing appropriations for the administration of the Department for any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1981 (other than an appropriation Act containing only supplemental appropriations for the Department), an annual limitation on the total number of work-years for the personnel of the Department.
(2) The Secretary shall prescribe the allocation of the work-years available under paragraph (1) among the organizational units and components of the Department.
(3) If the President transmits any reorganization plan under
(b) Full-time equivalent personnel reductions
Not later than the end of the first fiscal year beginning after May 4, 1980, the number of full-time equivalent personnel positions available for performing functions transferred to the Secretary or the Department by this chapter shall be reduced by 500.
(c) Personnel computations
(1) Computations required to be made for purposes of this section shall be made on the basis of all personnel employed by the Department, including experts and consultants employed under
(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, by rule, establish a method for computing work-years for personnel of the Department as described in paragraph (1).
(d) Report on effects of reorganization on employees
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, as soon as practicable, but not later than one year after May 4, 1980, prepare and transmit to the Congress a report on the effects on employees of the reorganization under this chapter, which shall include—
(1) an identification of any position within the Department or elsewhere in the executive branch, which it considers unnecessary due to consolidation of functions under this chapter;
(2) a statement of the number of employees entitled to pay savings by reason of the organization under this chapter;
(3) a statement of the number of employees who are voluntarily or involuntarily separated by reason of such reorganization;
(4) an estimate of the personnel costs associated with such reorganization;
(5) the effects of such reorganization on labor management relations; and
(6) such legislative and administrative recommendations for improvements in personnel management within the Department as the Director considers necessary.
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Editorial Notes
Codification
In subsecs. (a) and (d), "May 4, 1980" substituted for "the effective date of this chapter" pursuant to section 601 of
Amendments
1995—Subsec. (a)(2).
Part B—General Administrative Provisions
§3471. General authority
(a) Force and effect of actions by Secretary
In carrying out any function transferred by this chapter, the Secretary, or any officer or employee of the Department, may exercise any authority available by law (including appropriation Acts) with respect to such function to the official or agency from which such function is transferred, and the actions of the Secretary in exercising such authority shall have the same force and effect as when exercised by such official or agency.
(b) Reporting requirements
(1) The director of any office continued in the Department the director of which was required, prior to May 4, 1980, to report to the Commissioner of Education or the Assistant Secretary for Education of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, shall report to the Secretary.
(2) The Secretary is authorized to delegate reporting requirements vested in the Secretary by paragraph (1) to any officer or employee of the Department.
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Editorial Notes
Codification
In subsec. (b)(1), "May 4, 1980" substituted for "the effective date of this chapter" pursuant to section 601 of
§3472. Delegation of functions
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary may delegate any function to such officers and employees of the Department as the Secretary may designate, and may authorize such successive redelegations of such functions within the Department as may be necessary or appropriate. No delegation of functions by the Secretary under this section or under any other provision of this chapter shall relieve the Secretary of responsibility for the administration of such functions.
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§3473. Reorganization of Department
(a) Authorization; limitations
The Secretary is authorized, subject to the requirements of
(1) any office, bureau, unit, or other entity transferred to the Department and established by statute or any function vested by statute in such an entity or officer of such an entity, except as provided in subsection (b);
(2) the abolition of organizational entities established by this chapter; or
(3) the alteration of the delegation of functions to any specific organizational entity required by this chapter.
(b) Alteration, consolidation, or discontinuance of statutory and organizational entities
(1) The Secretary may, in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, consolidate, alter, or discontinue any of the following statutory entities, or reallocate any functions vested by statute in the following statutory entities:
(A) the Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students;
(B) the Teacher Corps;
(C) the Community College Unit;
(D) the National Center for Education Statistics;
(E) the National Institute of Education;
(F) the Office of Environmental Education;
(G) the Office of Consumers' Education;
(H) the Office of Indian Education;
(I) the Office of Career Education;
(J) the Office of Non-Public Education;
(K) the bureau for the education and training for the handicapped; and
(L) the administrative units for guidance and counseling programs, the veterans' cost of instruction program, and the program for the gifted and talented children.
(2) The Secretary may alter, consolidate, or discontinue any organizational entity continued within the Department and described in paragraph (1) of this subsection or reallocate any function vested by statute in such an entity, upon the expiration of a period of ninety days after the receipt by the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives of notice given by the Secretary containing a full and complete statement of the action proposed to be taken pursuant to this subsection and the facts and circumstances relied upon in support of such proposed action.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (b)(1)(A).
1996—Subsec. (b)(1)(H) to (M).
1980—Subsec. (b)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of Senate changed to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate by Senate Resolution No. 20, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 19, 1999.
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
National Institute of Education
The National Institute of Education was established by
Office of Migrant Education
§3474. Rules and regulations
The Secretary is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as the Secretary determines necessary or appropriate to administer and manage the functions of the Secretary or the Department.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—
1985—Subsec. (b).
§3475. Contracts
(a) Authorization of Secretary
Subject to the provisions of chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, the Secretary is authorized to make, enter into, and perform such contracts, grants, leases, cooperative agreements, or other similar transactions with Federal or other public agencies (including State and local governments) and private organizations and persons, and to make such payments, by way of advance or reimbursement, as the Secretary may determine necessary or appropriate to carry out functions of the Secretary or the Department.
(b) Limitations
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no authority to enter into contracts or to make payments under this subchapter shall be effective except to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance under appropriation Acts. This subsection shall not apply with respect to the authority granted under
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Editorial Notes
Codification
In subsec. (a), "chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41" substituted for "the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949" on authority of
§3476. Regional and field offices
The Secretary is authorized to establish, alter, discontinue, or maintain such regional or other field offices as the Secretary may find necessary or appropriate to perform functions of the Secretary or the Department.
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§3477. Acquisition and maintenance of property
(a) Authorized properties; establishment of necessary facilities
The Secretary is authorized—
(1) to acquire (by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise), construct, improve, repair, operate, and maintain—
(A) schools and related facilities (but only to the extent that operation of schools and related facilities by the Department is authorized by this chapter);
(B) laboratories;
(C) research and testing sites and facilities;
(D) quarters and related accommodations for employees and dependents of employees of the Department; and
(E) personal property (including patents), or any interest therein,
as may be necessary; and
(2) to provide by contract or otherwise for the establishment of eating facilities and other necessary facilities for the health and welfare of employees of the Department at its installations, and purchase and maintain equipment therefor.
(b) Day care center facilities
The authority available to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under
(c) Special purpose facilities
The authority granted by subsection (a) of this section shall be available only with respect to facilities of a special purpose nature that cannot readily be reassigned from similar Federal activities and are not otherwise available for assignment to the Department by the Administrator of General Services.
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§3478. Facilities at remote locations
(a) Authorized services, supplies and facilities
The Secretary is authorized to provide, construct, or maintain for employees and their dependents stationed at remote locations as necessary and when not otherwise available at such remote locations—
(1) emergency medical services and supplies;
(2) food and other subsistence supplies;
(3) dining facilities;
(4) audiovisual equipment, accessories, and supplies for recreation and training;
(5) reimbursement for food, clothing, medicine, and other supplies furnished by such employees in emergencies for the temporary relief of distressed persons;
(6) living and working quarters and facilities; and
(7) transportation for dependents of employees of the Department to the nearest appropriate educational facilities.
(b) Reimbursements
The furnishing of medical treatment under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and the furnishing of services and supplies under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a) shall be at prices reflecting reasonable value as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Appropriation credits and refunds
Proceeds from reimbursements under this section may be credited to the appropriation of funds that bear or will bear all or part of the cost of such work or services or used to refund excess sums when necessary.
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§3479. Use of facilities
(a) Federal, State, local and foreign government facilities
With their consent, the Secretary may, with or without reimbursement, use the research, equipment, services, and facilities of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, of any State or political subdivision thereof, or of any foreign government, in carrying out any function of the Secretary or the Department.
(b) Public and private permittees
The Secretary is authorized to permit public and private agencies, corporations, associations, organizations, or individuals to use any real property, or any facilities, structures, or other improvements thereon, under the custody and control of the Secretary for Department purposes. The Secretary shall permit the use of such property, facilities, structures, or improvements under such terms and rates and for such period as may be in the public interest, except that the periods of such uses may not exceed five years. The Secretary may require permittees under this section to recondition and maintain, at their own expense, the real property, facilities, structures, and improvements used by such permittees to a standard satisfactory to the Secretary. This subsection shall not apply to excess property as defined in
(c) Appropriation credits and refunds
Proceeds from reimbursements under this section may be credited to the appropriation of funds that bear or will bear all or part of the cost of such equipment or facilities provided or to refund excess sums when necessary.
(d) Interests in real property
Any interest in real property acquired pursuant to this chapter shall be acquired in the name of the United States Government.
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Editorial Notes
Codification
"
Amendments
1985—Subsec. (a).
§3480. Copyrights and patents
The Secretary is authorized to acquire any of the following described rights if the property acquired thereby is for use by or for, or useful to, the Department:
(1) copyrights, patents, and applications for patents, designs, processes, and manufacturing data;
(2) licenses under copyrights, patents, and applications for patents; and
(3) releases, before suit is brought, for past infringement of patents or copyrights.
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§3481. Gifts and bequests
The Secretary is authorized to accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts, bequests and devises of property, both real and personal, and to accept donations of services, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Department. Gifts, bequests, and devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for disbursement upon the order of the Secretary.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—
§3482. Technical advice
(a) Authorization
The Secretary is authorized, upon request, to provide advice, counsel, and technical assistance to applicants or potential applicants for grants and contracts and other interested persons with respect to any functions of the Secretary or the Department.
(b) Consolidation of applications for grants and contracts
The Secretary may permit the consolidation of applications for grants or contracts with respect to two or more functions of the Secretary or the Department, but such consolidation shall not alter the statutory criteria for approval of applications for funding with respect to such functions.
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§3483. Working capital fund
(a) Establishment; administrative services included
The Secretary, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is authorized to establish for the Department a working capital fund, to be available without fiscal year limitation, for expenses necessary for the maintenance and operation of such common administrative services as the Secretary shall find to be desirable in the interests of economy and efficiency, including such services as—
(1) a central supply service for stationery and other supplies and equipment for which adequate stocks may be maintained to meet in whole or in part the requirements of the Department and its components;
(2) central messenger, mail, telephone, and other communications services;
(3) office space, central services for document reproduction, and for graphics and visual aids; and
(4) a central library service.
(b) Capital; reimbursement of funds; credit; miscellaneous receipts; transfers
The capital of the fund shall consist of any appropriations made for the purpose of providing working capital and the fair and reasonable value of such stocks of supplies, equipment, and other assets and inventories on order as the Secretary may transfer to the fund, less the related liabilities and unpaid obligations. Such funds shall be reimbursed in advance from available funds of agencies and offices in the Department, or from other sources, for supplies and services at rates that will approximate the expense of operation, including the accrual of annual leave and the depreciation of equipment. The fund shall also be credited with receipts from sale or exchange of property and receipts in payment for loss or damage to property owned by the fund. There shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts any surplus of the fund (all assets, liabilities, and prior losses considered) above the amounts transferred or appropriated to establish and maintain such fund. There shall be transferred to the fund the stocks of supplies, equipment, other assets, liabilities, and unpaid obligations relating to the services which the Secretary determines, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will be performed.
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§3483a. Department of Education Nonrecurring Expenses Fund
There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the "Department of Education Nonrecurring Expenses Fund" (the Fund): Provided, That unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds appropriated for this or any succeeding fiscal year from the General Fund of the Treasury to the Department of Education by this or any other Act may be transferred (not later than the end of the fifth fiscal year after the last fiscal year for which such funds are available for the purposes for which appropriated) into the Fund: Provided further, That amounts deposited in the Fund shall be available until expended, and in addition to such other funds as may be available for such purposes, for information and business technology system modernization and facilities infrastructure improvements necessary for the operation of the Department, subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund may be obligated only after the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate are notified at least 30 days in advance of the specific information and business technology system modernization project or facility infrastructure improvement obligations planned for such amounts.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is div. H of
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2021, and not as part of the Department of Education Organization Act which comprises this chapter.
§3484. Funds transfer
The Secretary may, when authorized in an appropriation Act in any fiscal year, transfer funds from one appropriation to another within the Department, except that no appropriation for any fiscal year shall be either increased or decreased pursuant to this section by more than 5 percent and no such transfer shall result in increasing any such appropriation above the amount authorized to be appropriated therefor.
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§3485. Seal of Department
The Secretary shall cause a seal of office to be made for the Department of such design as the Secretary shall approve. Judicial notice shall be taken of such seal.
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§3486. Annual report
(a) Contents
The Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, make a single, comprehensive report to the President for transmission to the Congress on the activities of the Department during such fiscal year. The report shall include a statement of goals, priorities, and plans for the Department together with an assessment of the progress made toward—
(1) the attainment of such goals, priorities, and plans;
(2) the more effective and efficient management of the Department and the coordination of its functions; and
(3) the reduction of excessive or burdensome regulation and of unnecessary duplication and fragmentation in Federal education programs,
accompanied where necessary by recommendations for proposed legislation for the achievement of such objectives.
(b) Estimate on non-Federal personnel employed
The report required by subsection (a) shall also include an estimate of the extent of the non-Federal personnel employed pursuant to contracts entered into by the Department under
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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (a) of this section relating to transmission of report to Congress, see section 3003 of
§3487. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–382, title II, §271(a)(1), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3929
Section,
§3488. Authorization of appropriations
Subject to any limitation on appropriations applicable with respect to any function or office transferred to the Secretary or the Department, there are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1980 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to enable the Secretary to administer and manage the Department. Funds appropriated in accordance with this section shall remain available until expended.
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Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 427 of
§3489. General extension of authorizations
Subject to the limitations contained in subtitle A of this title, there are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1982, 1983, and 1984 such sums as may be necessary to carry out each of the following provisions of law:
(1) the Act of September 30, 1950 1 (Public Law 874, 81st Congress);
(2) the Act of September 23, 1950 1 (Public Law 815, 81st Congress);
(3) the General Education Provisions Act [
(4) the Indian Education Act;
(5) titles XI [
(6) the Adult Education Act; 1
(7) section 342 of the Education Amendments of 1976 [
(8) the Asbestos School Hazards Detection and Control Act [
(9) the Joint Resolution of October 19, 1972 (
(10) the Vocational Education Act of 1963; 1
(11) title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [
(12) the Navajo Community College Act and the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 [
(13) part C of title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,1 relating to Women's Educational Equity; and
(14) title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.1
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
Subtitle A of this title, referred to in text, is subtitle A (§§502 to 528) of title V, of
Act of September 30, 1950 (Public Law 874, 81st Congress), referred to in par. (1), is act Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1124,
Act of September 23, 1950 (Public Law 815, 81st Congress), referred to in par. (2), is act Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 995, as amended generally by Aug. 12, 1958,
The General Education Provisions Act, referred to in par. (3), is title IV of
The Indian Education Act, referred to in par. (4), is
The Education Amendments of 1978, referred to in par. (5), is
The Education Amendments of 1980, referred to in par. (5), is
The Adult Education Act, referred to in par. (6), was title III of
The Asbestos School Hazards Detection and Control Act, referred to in par. (8), is
The Joint Resolution of October 19, 1972 (
The Vocational Education Act of 1963, referred to in par. (10), was title I of
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in par. (11), is
The Navajo Community College Act, referred to in par. (12), is
The Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in par. (12), is
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in pars. (13) and (14), is
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Omnibus Education Reconciliation Act of 1981 and also as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, and not as part of the Department of Education Organization Act which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
2008—Par. (12).
1998—Par. (12).
1996—Pars. (12) to (15).
1983—Par. (15).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by
Short Title
Applicability to Other Laws; General Restrictions
"(a) Any provision of law which is not consistent with the provisions of this subtitle [see Tables for classification of sections 502 to 528 of
"(b) Notwithstanding any authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 1982, 1983, or 1984 contained in any provision of law which is specified in this subtitle (including any authorization of appropriations contained in
"(c) No funds are authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year 1982, 1983, or 1984 to pay for the expenses of any advisory council which provides advice to a program for which there are no authorizations of appropriations made under this subtitle or made by an amendment made by this subtitle."
1 See References in Text note below.
§3490. Potential financial interests or impaired objectivity of covered individuals or entities
(a) Maintenance of integrity and ethical values within Department of Education
Within 60 days after December 26, 2007, the Secretary of Education shall implement procedures—
(1) to assess whether a covered individual or entity has a potential financial interest in, or impaired objectivity towards, a product or service purchased with, or guaranteed or insured by, funds administered by the Department of Education or a contracted entity of the Department; and
(2) to disclose the existence of any such potential financial interest or impaired objectivity.
(b) Review by Inspector General
(1) Within 60 days after the implementation of the procedures described in subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department of Education shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the adequacy of such procedures.
(2) Within 1 year, the Inspector General shall conduct at least 1 review to ensure that such procedures are properly implemented and are effective to uncover and disclose the existence of potential financial interests or impaired objectivity described in subsection (a).
(3) The Inspector General shall report to such Committees any recommendations for modifications to such procedures that the Inspector General determines are necessary to uncover and disclose the existence of such potential financial interests or impaired objectivity.
(c) Definition
For purposes of this section, the term "covered individual or entity" means—
(1) an officer or professional employee of the Department of Education;
(2) a contractor or subcontractor of the Department, or an individual hired by the contracted entity;
(3) a member of a peer review panel of the Department; or
(4) a consultant or advisor to the Department.
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Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2008, and also as part of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, and not as part of the Department of Education Organization Act which comprises this chapter.