S-579 : Still Just a Bill

Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2015

Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to: (1) provide for the placing of an Inspector General in a paid or unpaid, nonduty status; (2) grant Inspectors General additional subpoena authority to compel the attendance and testimony of certain witnesses, including federal government contractors and former federal employees, necessary in the performance of functions assigned by such Act; (3) require the Chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to report on its activities to specified congressional committees; (4) assign the Council additional responsibilities for reviewing and mediating disputes involving the jurisdiction of more than one federal agency or entity; and (5) set forth procedures for considering allegations of wrongdoing against the Special Counsel or Deputy Special Counsel (officials appointed to investigate prohibited personnel practices and government waste and abuse).

Requires: (1) the Government Accountability Office to study and report on prolonged vacancies in the Offices of the Inspector General, (2) the Council to conduct and report on an analysis of critical issues that involve the jurisdiction of more than one Office of Inspector General; and (3) the Office of Inspector General of each federal agency and department to submit to specified congressional committees a report on nvestigations of misconduct by federal employees paid at level 15 of the General Schedule or above who were not prosecuted.