H.R. 317: Judgment Fund Transparency Act of 2013

HR 317 IH

To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for transparency of payments made from the Judgment Fund.

January 18, 2013

Mr. GARDNER (for himself, Mrs. LUMMIS, Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas, Mr. COLE, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. BENISHEK, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mr. STEWART, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. TIPTON, and Mr. BISHOP of Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for transparency of payments made from the Judgment Fund.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Judgment Fund Transparency Act of 2013’.

SEC. 2. JUDGMENT FUND TRANSPARENCY.

(a) Transparency Requirement- Section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘(d) Unless the disclosure of such information is otherwise prohibited by law or court order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make available to the public on a website, as soon as practicable but not later than 30 days after a payment under this section is tendered, the following information with regard to that payment:

‘(1) The name of the specific Federal agency or entity whose actions gave rise to the claim or judgment.

‘(2) The name of the plaintiff or claimant.

‘(3) The name of counsel for the plaintiff or claimant.

‘(4) The amount paid representing principal liability, and any amounts paid representing any ancillary liability, including attorney fees, costs, and interest.

‘(5) A brief description of the facts that gave rise to the claim.

‘(6) A copy of the original or amended complaint or written claim, and any written answer given by the Federal Government to that complaint or claim.

‘(7) A copy of the final action by a court regarding the claim (whether by decree, approval of settlement, or otherwise), or of the settlement agreement in any action not involving a court.

‘(8) The name of the agency that submitted the claim.’.

(b) Implementation- The Secretary of the Treasury shall implement the amendment made by this section beginning not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Loading...