Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/597

 PUBLIC LAW 107-174—MAY 15, 2002 116 STAT. 571 Commission, and the Attorney General a written statement specifying in detgiil— (1) whether such agency has adopted and will fully follow such guidelines; (2) if such agency has not adopted such guidelines; the reasons for the failure to adopt such guidelines; and (3) if such agency will not fully follow such guidelines, the reasons for the decision not to fully follow such guidelines and an explanation of the extent to which such agency will not follow such guidelines. SEC. 205. CLARIFICATION OF REMEDIES. Consistent with Federal law, nothing in this title shall prevent any Federal employee, former Federal employee, or applicant for FedergJ employment from exercising any right otherwise available under the laws of the United States. SEC. 206. STUDIES BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE ON EXHAUSTION Deadlines. OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES AND ON ASCERTAIN- MENT OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COSTS. (a) STUDY ON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES.— (1) STUDY.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall conduct a study relating to the effects of eliminating the requirement that Federal employees aggrieved by violations of any of the laws specified under section 201(c) exhaust administrative remedies before filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (B) CONTENTS. —The study shall include a detailed summary of matters investigated, information collected, and conclusions formulated that lead to determinations of how the elimination of such requirement will— (i) expedite handling of allegations of such violations within Federal agencies and will streamline the complaint-filing process; (ii) affect the workload of the Commission; (iii) affect established alternative dispute resolution procedures in such agencies; and (iv) affect any other matters determined by the General Accounting Office to be appropriate for consideration. (2) REPORT.— Not later than 90 days after completion of the study required by paragraph (1), the General Accounting Office shall submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Attorney General a report containing the information required to be included in such study. (b) STUDY ON ASCERTAINMENT OF CERTAIN COSTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN DEFENDING DISCRIMINATION AND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES.— (1) STUDY.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the General Accounting Office shall conduct a study of the methods that could be used for, and the extent of any administrative burden that would be imposed on, the Department of Justice to ascertain the personnel and

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