Authority to recoup bonuses or awards paid to employees

(a) Adverse findings and employees under investigation Chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: IV Limitations on bonus authority 4531. Certain forms of misconduct (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Adverse finding (A) In general The term adverse finding means a determination by the head of the agency employing an employee that the conduct of the employee— (i) violated a policy of the agency for which the employee may be removed or suspended for a period of not less than 14 days; or (ii) violated a law for which the employee may be imprisoned for more than 1 year. (B) Basis A determination described in subparagraph (A) may be based on an investigation by, a determination of, or information provided by the Inspector General or another senior ethics official of an agency or the Comptroller General of the United States, as part of carrying out an activity, authority, or function of the Inspector General, senior ethics official, or Comptroller General, respectively, under a provision of law other than this section. (2) Agency The term agency has the meaning given the term in section 551. (3) Bonus The term bonus means any performance award or cash award under— (A) section 4505a; (B) section 5384; or (C) section 5754. (4) Employee The term employee means an employee of an agency. (b) Prohibition The head of an agency may not award a bonus to an employee of the agency until the date that is 5 years after the end of the fiscal year during which the head of an agency makes an adverse finding relating to the employee. (c) After bonus awarded (1) In general For a bonus awarded to an employee after the date of enactment of this section, if the head of the agency employing the employee makes an adverse finding relating to the employee during the fiscal year in which the bonus is awarded, the head of the agency, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, shall issue an order directing the employee to repay the amount of the bonus. (2) Repayment plan An agency shall allow an employee who is required to repay a bonus under paragraph (1) to repay that bonus using a repayment plan. (3) Hearings A hearing under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with regulations relating to hearings promulgated by the head of the agency under chapter 75. (d) Condition of receipt As a condition of receiving a bonus awarded after the date of enactment of this section, an employee shall sign a certification stating that the employee shall repay the bonus in accordance with a final order issued under subsection (c). (e) Appeal An employee determined to be ineligible for a bonus under subsection (b) or against whom an order is issued under subsection (c) may submit an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701.. (b) Rulemaking The head of each agency, as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, may promulgate rules to carry out section 4531 of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (c) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “SUBCHAPTER IV—Limitations on bonus authority “4531. Certain forms of misconduct.