U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 3490. Potential financial interests or impaired objectivity of covered individuals or entities

(a) Maintenance of integrity and ethical values within Department of Education

Within 60 days after December 26, 2007, the Secretary of Education shall implement procedures—

(1) to assess whether a covered individual or entity has a potential financial interest in, or impaired objectivity towards, a product or service purchased with, or guaranteed or insured by, funds administered by the Department of Education or a contracted entity of the Department; and

(2) to disclose the existence of any such potential financial interest or impaired objectivity.

(b) Review by Inspector General

(1) Within 60 days after the implementation of the procedures described in subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department of Education shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the adequacy of such procedures.

(2) Within 1 year, the Inspector General shall conduct at least 1 review to ensure that such procedures are properly implemented and are effective to uncover and disclose the existence of potential financial interests or impaired objectivity described in subsection (a).

(3) The Inspector General shall report to such Committees any recommendations for modifications to such procedures that the Inspector General determines are necessary to uncover and disclose the existence of such potential financial interests or impaired objectivity.

For purposes of this section, the term “covered individual or entity” means—

(1) an officer or professional employee of the Department of Education;

(2) a contractor or subcontractor of the Department, or an individual hired by the contracted entity;

(3) a member of a peer review panel of the Department; or

(4) a consultant or advisor to the Department.

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