Sec. 105. Science and Technology Board of Advisors
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/bill/115/hr/1981/ih/section-105A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
There is established in the Department of Homeland Security the Research K–12 Science and Technology Education Board of Advisors (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Board ). The Board shall be composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, all of whom shall have K–12 education expertise in programs. The Secretary shall appoint members based on the following qualifications: Members of the Board shall have experience in K–12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs.
Members of the Board shall have experience in training K–12 educators on providing science and technology instruction. Members of the Board shall have experience in the promotion of science and technology education among under represented populations, as defined by section 230A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 101. All members of the Board shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
Members of the Board shall not receive any compensation for their service. While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board, members of the Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code. No member of the Board while serving in this capacity or for 1 year following departure from the Board may work as a consultant or contract worker for the Department of Homeland Security in a position related to the work of the Board or member agency that participates as a member of the Board.
The responsibilities of the Board are to research and make recommendations to the Secretary on— the status of K–12 science and technology education domestically and internationally; how to increase the quality and diversity of science and technology curriculum; promoting K–12 science and technology competitions; establishing a virtual network to support teacher and student science and technology education and development; ascertaining, evaluating, and reporting on best practices for project-based science and technology learning (as such term is defined in section 103(c)); and identifying K–12 science and technology education efforts that are successful in engaging youth, with proven competence in engaging females, minorities, individuals residing in rural areas, individuals residing in majority minority districts, home schooled students.
The Chair of the Board shall be designated by the Secretary from among the members of the Board. The Board shall meet and begin the operations of the Board by not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. After its initial meeting, the Board shall set the time and place of its next meeting. The Board can upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members meet. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Proxy voting shall be allowed on behalf of a member of the Board.
The Board may establish rules for the conduct of the Board’s business, if such rules are not inconsistent with this section or other applicable law. The Board or, on the authority of the Board, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this title hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths. The Secretary shall make decisions regarding Federal agency staff to be detailed to support the work of the Board.
The Board may enter into contracts with the approval of the Secretary to such extent and in such amounts as necessary for the Board to discharge its duties under this section. After providing notice to the Secretary who may provide staff from the Department to meet the staffing needs of the Board. After 10 working days following notice to the Secretary the Board is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this title.
Each department, bureau, agency, board, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Board, upon request made by the chairman, the chairman of any subcommittee created by a majority of the Board, or any member designated by a majority of the Board. Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Board and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Board on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the Board's functions. In addition to the assistance prescribed in subparagraph (A), departments and agencies of the United States may provide to the Board such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law. The Board may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the United States.
The Chair, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Board, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Board to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
The executive director and any personnel of the Board who are employees shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title. Clause
(i)shall not be construed to apply to members of the Board. Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Board without reimbursement from the Board, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption. At the request of the Board, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the Board with Administrative support necessary for the Board to carry out its duties under this title. The Board shall submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security quarterly reports on the activities of the Board. Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Secretary a final report containing such findings conclusions, and recommendations as have been agreed to by a majority of Board members. Nothing in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Board. The Board shall— hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate; and release public versions of the reports required under subsection (h). Any public hearings of the Board shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the Board as required by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order. The Board, and all the authorities of this title, shall terminate two years after the date of the Board’s first meeting, which shall take place 90 days following its appointment. The Board and all the authorities under this section shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under subsection (h)(2). The Board may use the 60-day period referred to in paragraph
(1)for the purpose of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to committees of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the final report. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. Amounts made available pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until the termination of the Board.