text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Office of Government Ethics 
  Authorization Act of 1996''.
  
  SEC. 2. GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY.
  
      Section 403 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 
  5) is amended--
          (1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``Upon the request''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following:
      ``(b)(1) The Director is authorized to accept and utilize on behalf 
  of the United States, any gift, donation, bequest, or devise of money, 
  use of facilities, personal property, or services for the purpose of 
  aiding or facilitating the work of the Office of Government Ethics.
      ``(2) No gift may be accepted--
          ``(A) that attaches conditions inconsistent with applicable 
      laws or regulations; or
          ``(B) that is conditioned upon or will require the expenditure 
      of appropriated funds that are not available to the Office of 
      Government Ethics.
      ``(3) The Director shall establish written rules setting forth the 
  criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of 
  contributions of money, services, use of facilities, or personal 
  property under this subsection would reflect unfavorably upon the 
  ability of the Office of Government Ethics, or any employee of such 
  Office, to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in a fair 
  and objective manner, or would compromise the integrity or the 
  appearance of the integrity of its programs or any official involved in 
  those programs.''.
  
  SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      The text of section 405 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
  U.S.C. App. 5) is amended to read as follows: ``There are authorized to 
  be appropriated to carry out this title such sums as may be necessary 
  for each of fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
  
  SEC. 4. REPEAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
  
      (a) Repeal of Display Requirement.--The Act entitled ``An Act to 
  provide for the display of the Code of Ethics for Government Service,'' 
  approved July 3, 1980 (5 U.S.C. 7301 note), is repealed.
      (b) Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) FDIA.--Section 12(f)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
      Act (12 U.S.C. 1822(f)(3)) is amended by striking ``, with the 
      concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics,''.
          (2) Ethics in government act of 1978.--(A) The heading for 
      section 401 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 is amended to 
      read as follows:
  
  
                 ``ESTABLISHMENT; APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR''.
  
          (B) Section 408 of such Act is amended by striking ``March 31'' 
      and inserting ``April 30''.
  
  SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON POSTEMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS.
  
      Section 207(j) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
  adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(7) Political parties and campaign committees.--(A) Except as 
      provided in subparagraph (B), the restrictions contained in 
      subsections (c), (d), and (e) shall not apply to a communication or 
      appearance made solely on behalf of a candidate in his or her 
      capacity as a candidate, an authorized committee, a national 
      committee, a national Federal campaign committee, a State 
      committee, or a political party.
          ``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to--
              ``(i) any communication to, or appearance before, the 
          Federal Election Commission by a former officer or employee of 
          the Federal Election Commission; or
              ``(ii) a communication or appearance made by a person who 
          is subject to the restrictions contained in subsections (c), 
          (d), or (e) if, at the time of the communication or appearance, 
          the person is employed by a person or entity other than--
                  ``(I) a candidate, an authorized committee, a national 
              committee, a national Federal campaign committee, a State 
              committee, or a political party; or
                  ``(II) a person or entity who represents, aids, or 
              advises only persons or entities described in subclause 
              (I).
          ``(C) For purposes of this paragraph--
              ``(i) the term `candidate' means any person who seeks 
          nomination for election, or election, to Federal or State 
          office or who has authorized others to explore on his or her 
          behalf the possibility of seeking nomination for election, or 
          election, to Federal or State office;
              ``(ii) the term `authorized committee' means any political 
          committee designated in writing by a candidate as authorized to 
          receive contributions or make expenditures to promote the 
          nomination for election, or the election, of such candidate, or 
          to explore the possibility of seeking nomination for election, 
          or the election, of such candidate, except that a political 
          committee that receives contributions or makes expenditures to 
          promote more than 1 candidate may not be designated as an 
          authorized committee for purposes of subparagraph (A);
              ``(iii) the term `national committee' means the 
          organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political 
          party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such 
          political party at the national level;
              ``(iv) the term `national Federal campaign committee' means 
          an organization that, by virtue of the bylaws of a political 
          party, is established primarily for the purpose of providing 
          assistance, at the national level, to candidates nominated by 
          that party for election to the office of Senator or 
          Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
          Congress;
              ``(v) the term `State committee' means the organization 
          which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is 
          responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political 
          party at the State level;
              ``(vi) the term `political party' means an association, 
          committee, or organization that nominates a candidate for 
          election to any Federal or State elected office whose name 
          appears on the election ballot as the candidate of such 
          association, committee, or organization; and
              ``(vii) the term `State' means a State of the United 
          States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
          Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.''.
  
  SEC. 6. PAY LEVEL.
  
      Section 207(c)(2)(A)(ii) of title 18, United States Code, is 
  amended by striking ``level V of the Executive Schedule,'' and 
  inserting ``level 5 of the Senior Executive Service,''.
  
                                 Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  
                              Vice President of the United States and    
                                                 President of the Senate.
target: Office of Government Ethics Authorization Act of 1996 - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to:  (1) authorize the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Director to accept gifts for OGE use; and (2) extend the authorization of appropriations for the OGE. 
  Amends Federal law to repeal the requirement that Federal buildings display the Code of Ethics for Government Service. 
  Modifies postemployment restrictions on certain senior (including very senior) personnel. 
  Modifies the level of pay applicable with respect to certain senior personnel of the executive branch and independent agencies.
feat_title: Office of Government Ethics Authorization Act of 1996