§ 8M. Information on websites of Offices of Inspectors General

(a) Direct Links to Inspectors General Offices.—

(1) In general.— Each agency shall establish and maintain on the homepage of the website of that agency, a direct link to the website of the Office of the Inspector General of that agency.

(2) Accessibility.— The direct link under paragraph (1) shall be obvious and facilitate accessibility to the website of the Office of the Inspector General.

(b) Requirements for Inspectors General Websites.—

(1) Posting of reports and audits.— The Inspector General of each agency shall—

(A) not later than 3 days after any report or audit (or portion of any report or audit) is made publicly available, post that report or audit (or portion of that report or audit) on the website of the Office of Inspector General; and

(B) ensure that any posted report or audit (or portion of that report or audit) described under subparagraph (A)—

(i) is easily accessible from a direct link on the homepage of the website of the Office of the Inspector General;

(ii) includes a summary of the findings of the Inspector General; and

(iii) is in a format that—

(I) is searchable and downloadable; and

(II) facilitates printing by individuals of the public accessing the website.

(2) Reporting of fraud, waste, and abuse.—

(A) In general.— The Inspector General of each agency shall establish and maintain a direct link on the homepage of the website of the Office of the Inspector General for individuals to report fraud, waste, and abuse. Individuals reporting fraud, waste, or abuse using the direct link established under this paragraph shall not be required to provide personally identifying information relating to that individual.

(B) Anonymity.— The Inspector General of each agency shall not disclose the identity of any individual making a report under this paragraph without the consent of the individual unless the Inspector General determines that such a disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation.

(Pub. L. 95–452, § 8M, formerly § 8L, as added Pub. L. 110–409, § 13(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4315; renumbered § 8M, Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VIII, § 848(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1851.)

Miscellaneous

Implementation

Pub. L. 110–409, § 13(c), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4316, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 14, 2008], the head of each agency and the Inspector General of each agency shall implement the amendment made by this section [enacting this section and amending provisions set out as a note under section 6 of Pub. L. 95–452, set out in this Appendix].”

Links to Websites of Offices of Inspectors General

Pub. L. 111–8, div. D, title VII, § 744, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 693, provided that:

“(a) Each executive department and agency shall establish and maintain on the homepage of its website, an obvious, direct link to the website of its respective Inspector General.

“(b) Each Office of Inspector General shall: (1) post on its website any public report or audit or portion of any report or audit issued within one day of its release; (2) provide a service on its website to allow an individual to request automatic receipt of information relating to any public report or audit or portion of that report or audit and which permits electronic transmittal of the information, or notice of the availability of the information without further request; and (3) establish and maintain a direct link on its website for individuals to anonymously report waste, fraud and abuse.”

Similar provisions requiring certain departments, agencies, and commissions to establish and maintain on the homepages of their websites links to the offices of their inspectors general and/or mechanisms for anonymous reporting of waste, fraud, and abuse were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 113–6, div. B, title V, § 524, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 275.

Pub. L. 112–55, div. B, title V, § 526, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 636.

Pub. L. 111–117, div. B, title V, § 526, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3154.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. B, title V, § 526, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 599.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. B, title V, § 534, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 1932.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. D, title VII, § 746, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2034, as amended by Pub. L. 110–409, § 13(b), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4316.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 555, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2082.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. G, title V, § 522, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2211.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. I, title II, § 226, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2272.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. J, title I, § 115, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2288.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. K, title I, § 195, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2408.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. K, title II, § 234, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2439.

Pub. L. 110–116, div. A, title VIII, § 8121, Nov. 13, 2007, 121 Stat. 1341.