S 708 · 97th Congress · Commerce

Business Accounting and Foreign Trade Simplification Act

Introduced 1981-03-12· Sponsored by Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI]· Senate

Bill Progress

1
Introduced
Committee
Senate Vote
4
House
5
Enacted
Latest: Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.(1981-12-01)

Plain Language Summary

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Business Accounting and Foreign Trade Simplification Act - Changes the name of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to maintain an internal accounting system that provides reasonable assurance that specified accountability and accuracy goals are met. Establishes the degree of previous knowledge necessary to find liability for violations of the accounting standards. Requires only good faith efforts at ensuring compliance by issuers who hold 50 percent or less of the equity of domestic or foreign firms. Transfers from the Security and Exchange Commission to the Department of Justice jurisdiction to enforce the antibribery prohibitions of the FCPA with respect to issuers. Changes the jurisdictional basis of the current corrupt practices prohibition to prohibit bribery "with respect to activities in interstate or foreign commerce" (currently, the basis is use of the mails or interstate commerce "in furtherance" of bribery). Prohibits payments or promises made "directly or indirectly" by a domestic concern to a foreign official in order to obtain business. Proh…

Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only

Cosponsors (17)

2 Democrats15 Republicans