S. 2530 — A bill to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) to establish police powers for certain Inspector General agents engaged in official duties and provide an oversight mechanism for the exercise of those powers.

Summary

Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to permit each Inspector General, any Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, and any special agent supervised by such an Assistant Inspector General to be authorized by the Attorney General to: (1) carry a firearm while engaged in official duties or as expressly authorized by the Attorney General; (2) make an arrest without a warrant while engaged in such duties (or as such expressly authorized) for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of such Inspector, Assistant Inspector, or agent, or for any felony; and (3) seek and execute warrants for an arrest, search, or seizure.

Empowers the Attorney General to authorize the exercise of such powers only upon an initial determination that: (1) the affected Office of Inspector General is significantly hampered in the performance of such responsibilities as a result of the lack of such powers; (2) available assistance from other law enforcement agencies is insufficient to meet the need for exercising such powers; and (3) adequate internal safeguards and management procedures exist to ensure proper exercise of those powers.

Exempts specified Offices of Inspector General from such an initial determination of eligibility. Directs such Offices to collectively enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish an external review process for ensuring that such safeguards and procedures continue to exist within each Office and any Office that receives such an authorization.

Legislative Actions

2002-05-16

Introduced in Senate

2002-05-16

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

2002-05-22

Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

2002-06-25

Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. With written report No. 107-176.

2002-06-25

Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. With written report No. 107-176.

2002-06-25

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 443.

2002-10-17

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10749-10751; text as passed Senate: CR S10750-10751)

2002-10-17

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2002-10-17

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

2002-10-21

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

2002-10-21

Received in the House.

2002-10-21

Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

A bill to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) to establish police powers for certain Inspector General agents engaged in official duties and provide an oversight mechanism for the exercise of those powers.

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