Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

This bill would transfer the authority to appoint the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the President to a bipartisan congressional commission. It would also establish the Copyright Office as an independent entity by removing the Library of Congress's supervisory authority and requiring the Register of Copyrights to be appointed by the President with Senate confirmation. Additionally, the measure would create an Office of Inspector General within the Copyright Office and require the Government Publishing Office to implement a new human capital management system.

This bill directly affects the leadership and administrative structures of the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and the U.S. Copyright Office. It impacts the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the GPO, and the Register of Copyrights by altering their appointment and removal processes, while also affecting subordinate employees and administrative judges within the Copyright Office. Additionally, the GPO is required to implement a new human capital management system for its workforce.

• Appointment and removal of the Librarian of Congress and GPO Director. Transfers the appointment authority for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office from the President to a bipartisan congressional commission. Removal of these officials would require a majority vote from the majority and minority leaders of both the House and Senate.
• Restructuring of the Copyright Office. Removes the Library of Congress's supervisory authority over the Copyright Office and transfers those powers to the Register of Copyrights. The Register would be appointed by the President for a 10-year term based on recommendations from specific congressional committee leaders.
• Establishment of an Office of Inspector General for the Copyright Office. Creates an independent Office of Inspector General within the Copyright Office to conduct audits and investigations. The Register of Copyrights is tasked with appointing an Inspector General to lead the office without regard to political affiliation.
• Personnel and administrative authority changes. Grants the Register of Copyrights the authority to appoint subordinate employees and the administrative judges of the Copyright Royalty Board. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Publishing Office to establish and maintain a human capital management system.

This bill modifies existing appointment and removal procedures for the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the Government Publishing Office, and the Register of Copyrights. It also transfers supervisory authority over the Copyright Office from the Library of Congress to the Register of Copyrights and alters the appointment process for administrative judges on the Copyright Royalty Board.

The bill seeks to restructure the governance of legislative branch agencies by shifting appointment and removal authorities for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office to a bipartisan congressional commission. It also aims to increase the independence of the Copyright Office by transferring supervisory authority from the Library of Congress to the Register of Copyrights and establishing an internal Office of Inspector General.