Prompt payment of awards

Section 23(b) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 26(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Timely processing of claims (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Award claim The term award claim means a claim submitted by a whistleblower for an award under this section. (ii) Director The term Director means the Director of the Division of Enforcement of the Commission (or a designee). (B) Preliminary determination (i) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the Commission shall make a preliminary determination with respect to an award claim not later than the later of— (I) the date that is 1 year after the deadline established by the Commission, by rule, for the whistleblower to file the award claim; and (II) the date that is 1 year after the final resolution of all litigation, including any appeals, concerning the covered judicial or administrative action or related action. (ii) Multiple related actions If an award claim involves 1 or more related actions, the requirement under clause (i) shall apply with respect to the latest deadline with respect to the involved actions. (C) Exceptions (i) Initial extension If the Director determines that an award claim is sufficiently complex or involves more than 1 whistleblower, or if other good cause exists such that the Commission cannot reasonably satisfy the requirements under subparagraph (B), as determined by the Director, the Director, after providing notice to the Chairman of the Commission, may extend the deadline with respect to the satisfaction of those requirements by not more than 180 days. (ii) Additional extension If, after providing an extension under clause (i), the Director determines that good cause exists such that the Commission cannot reasonably satisfy the requirement under subparagraph (B), the Director may extend the deadline described in clause (i) for 1 additional successive 180-day period only after providing notice to, and receiving approval from, the Commission. (iii) Notice to whistleblower required If the Director exercises authority under clause (i) or (ii), the Director shall submit to the whistleblower who filed the award claim that is subject to that exercise a written notification of the exercise. (D) Final order The Commission shall issue a final order with respect to an award claim not later than 1 year after the preliminary determination under subparagraph (B). (E) Applicability This paragraph shall apply only to an award claim that the Director determines is timely submitted under a deadline established by the Commission after the date of enactment of this paragraph..