15 U.S.C. § 78d–4 — Additional duties of Inspector General

(a) Suggestion submissions by Commission employees. (1) Hotline established: the SEC's Inspector General must set up and run a phone hotline or other electronic way for employees to send in (A) suggestions to improve the SEC's work efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, or use of resources, and (B) reports of waste, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement inside the SEC. (2) Confidentiality: the Inspector General must keep confidential (A) the identity of anyone who submits information this way, unless that person asks in writing to be named, and (B) at that person's request, any specific information they gave. (b) Consideration of reports. The Inspector General must review every suggestion or report received through the hotline and recommend appropriate action. (c) Recognition. The Inspector General may formally recognize an employee whose suggestion (through the hotline or otherwise) would or does (1) improve the SEC's efficiency, effectiveness, or productivity, or (2) reduce waste, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement. (d) Report. The Inspector General must send Congress an annual report describing: (1) the nature, number, and possible benefits of suggestions received; (2) the nature, number, and seriousness of reports of wrongdoing received; (3) any recommendations made or actions taken in response to substantiated reports; and (4) any action the SEC took in response to suggestions or reports. (e) Funding. The Inspector General's activities under this section are paid for by the Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Protection Fund set up under section 78u–6.