§6636 Senate Computer Center

Summary

Creates a revolving fund in the U.S. Treasury inside the Senate’s contingent fund called the Senate Computer Center Revolving Fund. The fund must pay salaries and related agency costs for staff hired to run the computer center and must pay refunds under computer-time contracts. Within 90 days after each fiscal year ends, the Secretary of the Senate must take out any money above $100,000 and return it to the Treasury, except the cash kept to refund prepaid contract customers. The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper may make contracts with legislative branch agencies to sell unused time on the Senate computer, but each contract needs approval by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and cannot go past the fiscal year. Contracts must be paid in full up front and must allow refunds for unused time. If current staff cannot meet contract needs, the Sergeant at Arms may hire extra workers and pay their salaries and related costs from the fund; those extra workers can do regular center work when not needed for contracts. Payments from the fund need vouchers signed by the Sergeant at Arms, except no voucher is needed for salaries paid at an annual rate.