HR 4522 — Stop Taxpayers Obligations to Perpetrators of Sexual Harassment Act

(a) Awards and settlements Except as provided in subsection (c), only funds which are appropriated to an account of the Office in the Treasury of the United States for the payment of awards and settlements may be used for the payment of awards and settlements under this chapter. There are appropriated for such account such sums as may be necessary to pay such awards and settlements. Funds in the account are not available for awards and settlements involving the Government Accountability Office or the Government Publishing Office. (b) Compliance Except as provided in subsection (c), there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for administrative, personnel, and similar expenses of employing offices which are needed to comply with this chapter. (c) OSHA, accommodation, and access requirements Funds to correct violations of section 1311(a)(3), 1331, or 1341 of this title may be paid only from funds appropriated to the employing office or entity responsible for correcting such violations. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for such funds. (d) Reimbursement by Members of Congress of amounts paid as settlements and awards (1) Reimbursement required for certain violations (A) In general Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (D), if a payment is made from the account described in subsection (a) for an award or settlement in connection with a claim alleging a violation described in subparagraph (C) committed personally by an individual who, at the time of committing the violation, was a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, the individual shall reimburse the account for the amount of the award or settlement for the claim involved. (B) Conditions In the case of an award made pursuant to a decision of a hearing officer under section 1405 of this title, or a court in a civil action, subparagraph (A) shall apply only if the hearing officer or court makes a separate finding that a violation described in subparagraph (C) occurred which was committed personally by an individual who, at the time of committing the violation, was a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, and such individual shall reimburse the account for the amount of compensatory damages included in the award as would be available if awarded under section 1981a(b)(3) of title 42 irrespective of the size of the employing office. In the case of a settlement for a claim described in section 1416(d)(3) of this title, subparagraph (A) shall apply only if the conditions specified in section 1416(d)(3) of this title for requesting reimbursement are met. (C) Violations described A violation described in this subparagraph is— (i) harassment that is unlawful under section 1311(a) or 1316(a) of this title; or (ii) intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination that is unlawful under section 1317 of this title and is taken against a covered employee because of a claim alleging a violation described in clause (i). (D) Multiple claims If an award or settlement is made for multiple claims, some of which do not require reimbursement under this subsection, the individual described in subparagraph (A) shall only be required to reimburse for the amount (referred to in this chapter as the “reimbursable portion”) that is— (i) described in subparagraph (A), subject to subparagraph (B); and (ii) included in the portion of the award or settlement attributable to a claim requiring reimbursement. (2) Withholding amounts from compensation (A) Establishment of timetable and procedures by committees For purposes of carrying out subparagraph (B), the applicable Committee shall establish a timetable and procedures for the withholding of amounts from the compensation of an individual who is a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator. (B) Deadline The payroll administrator shall withhold from ...