Sec. 70203. Establishment of Commission
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/bill/117/hr/3684/eas/section-70203·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly establish a commission to study and make recommendations to improve Federal policies relating to— the prevention, mitigation, suppression, and management of wildland fires in the United States; and the rehabilitation of land in the United States devastated by wildland fires. The Commission shall be composed of— each of the Secretaries (or designees), who shall jointly serve as the co-chairpersons of the Commission; 9 representatives of Federal departments or agencies, to be appointed by the Secretaries, including— not fewer than 1 representative from each of— the Bureau of Land Management; the National Park Service; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Forest Service; a representative of or liaison to the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; a representative to the National Interagency Coordination Center, which is part of the National Wildfire Coordination Group; a representative from 1 of the coordinating agencies of the Recovery Support Function Leadership Group; and if the Secretaries determine it to be appropriate, a representative of any other Federal department or agency, such as the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Department of Defense; and 18 non-Federal stakeholders with expertise in wildland fire preparedness, mitigation, suppression, or management, who collectively have a combination of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints and are representative of rural, urban, and suburban areas, to be appointed by the Secretaries, including— not fewer than 1 State hazard mitigation officer of a high-risk State (or a designee); with preference given to representatives from high-risk States and high-risk Indian tribal governments, not fewer than 1 representative from each of— a State department of natural resources, forestry, or agriculture or a similar State agency; a State department of energy or a similar State agency; a county government, with preference given to counties at least a portion of which is in the wildland-urban interface; and a municipal government, with preference given to municipalities at least a portion of which is in the wildland-urban interface; with preference given to representatives from high-risk States and high-risk Indian tribal governments, not fewer than 1 representative from each of— the public utility industry; the property development industry;
Indian tribal governments; wildland firefighters; and an organization— described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; and with expertise in forest management and environmental conservation; not greater than 2 other appropriate non-Federal stakeholders, which may include the private sector; and any other appropriate non-Federal stakeholders, which may include the private sector, with preference given to non-Federal stakeholders from high-risk States and high-risk Indian tribal governments.
Each member of the Commission appointed under clauses
(i)and
(ii)of paragraph (1)(C) shall represent a different State. The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. A member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission— shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the first meeting of the Commission. The Commission shall meet not less frequently than once every 30 days. The Commission may hold meetings, and a member of the Commission may participate in a meeting, remotely through teleconference, video conference, or similar means. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.