An Act To amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, and for other purposes.

Feb. 21, 2019

[H.R. 439]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

National FFA Organization’s Federal Charter Amendments Act.

SECTION 1.

36 USC 101 note.

SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “National FFA Organization’s Federal Charter Amendments Act”.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION. Section 70901 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; and (2) in subsection (b), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION. Section 70902 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; (3) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (6), and (7); (4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (11); (5) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; (6) by inserting before paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following:“(1) to be an integral component of instruction in agricultural education, including instruction relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources; “(2) to advance comprehensive agricultural education in the United States, including in public schools, by supporting contextual classroom and laboratory instruction and work-based experiential learning; “(3) to prepare students for successful entry into productive careers in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources, including by connecting students to relevant postsecondary educational pathways and focusing on the complete delivery of classroom and laboratory instruction, work-based experiential learning, and leadership development; “(4) to be a resource and support organization that does not select, control, or supervise State association, local chapter, or individual member activities;133 STAT. 479 “(5) to develop educational materials, programs, services, and events as a service to State and local agricultural education agencies; “(6) to seek and promote inclusion and diversity in its membership, leadership, and staff to reflect the belief of the FFA in the value of all human beings;” ; (7) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (2)—(A) by striking “composed of students and former students of vocational agriculture in public schools qualifying for Federal reimbursement under the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. 11–15, 16–28”; and (B) by inserting “as such chapters and associations carry out agricultural education programs that are approved by States, territories, or possessions” after “United States”; (8) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)—(A) by striking “to develop” and inserting “to build”; (B) by striking “train for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism, and thereby” and inserting “and”; and (C) by striking “aggressive rural and” and inserting “assertive”; (9) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following:“(9) to increase awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture, food, and natural resources, and the way agriculture contributes to our well-being; “(10) to promote the intelligent choice and establishment of a career in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural resources;” ; (10) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by paragraph (4)—(A) by striking “to procure for and distribute to State” and inserting “to make available to State”; (B) by inserting “, programs, services,” before “and equipment”; and (C) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (11) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by striking “State boards for vocational” and inserting “State boards and officials for career and technical”; and (12) in paragraph (13), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. Section 70903(a) of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; and (2) by striking “as provided in the bylaws” and inserting “as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA”.

SEC. 5. GOVERNING BODY. Section 70904 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a)—(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA” each place the term appears; (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:“(2) The board—“(A) shall consist of—133 STAT. 480“(i) the Secretary of Education, or the Secretary of Education’s designee who has experience in agricultural education, the FFA, or career and technical education; and “(ii) other individuals—“(I) representing the fields of education, agriculture, food, and natural resources; or “(II) with experience working closely with the FFA; and “(B) shall not include any individual who is a current employee of the National FFA Organization. “(3) The number of directors, terms of office of the directors, and the method of selecting the directors, are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA.” ; and (C) in paragraph (4)—(i) in the first sentence, by striking “bylaws” and inserting “constitution or bylaws of the FFA”; and (ii) in the third sentence, by striking “chairman” and inserting “chair”; (2) by striking subsection (b); and (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:“(b) Officers.—The officers of the FFA, the terms of officers, and the election of officers, are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA, except that such officers shall include—“(1) a national advisor; “(2) an executive secretary; and “(3) a treasurer. “(c) Governing Committee.—“(1) The board may designate a governing committee. The terms and method of selecting the governing committee members are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA, except that all members of the governing committee shall be members of the board of directors and at all times the governing committee shall be comprised of not less than 3 individuals. “(2) When the board is not in session, the governing committee has the powers of the board subject to the board’s direction and may authorize the seal of the FFA to be affixed to all papers that require it. “(3) The board shall designate to such committee—“(A) the chair of the board; “(B) the executive secretary of the board; and “(C) the treasurer of the board.” .

SEC. 6. NATIONAL STUDENT OFFICERS. Section 70905 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:“(a) Composition.—There shall be not less than 6 national student officers of the FFA, including a student president, 4 student vice presidents (each representing regions as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the corporation), and a student secretary.” ; (2) by striking subsection (b); (3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and (4) in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by striking “, except that” and all that follows through “(20 U.S.C. 11–15, 16–28)”.133 STAT. 481

SEC. 7. POWERS. Section 70906 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking “corporate”; (3) in paragraph (4), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (4) in paragraph (6), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (5) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:“(8) use FFA funds to give prizes, awards, loans, and grants to deserving members, local FFA chapters, and State FFA associations to carry out the purposes of the FFA;” ; (6) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:“(9) produce publications, websites, and other media;” ; (7) in paragraph (10)—(A) by striking “procure for and distribute to State” and inserting “make available to State”; and (B) by striking “Future Farmers of America” and inserting “FFA”; and (8) in paragraph (12), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 8. NAME, SEALS, EMBLEMS, AND BADGES. Section 70907 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA” each place the term appears; (2) by striking “name” and inserting “names”; (3) by striking “ ‘Future Farmers of America’ ” and inserting “ ‘Future Farmers of America’ and ‘National FFA Organization,’ ”; and (4) by inserting “education” before “membership”.

SEC. 9. RESTRICTIONS. Section 70908 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; (2) in subsection (b), by striking “corporation or a director, officer, or member as such” and inserting “FFA or a director, officer, or member acting on behalf of the FFA”; (3) in subsection (c), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA” each place the term appears; and (4) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 10. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES. Section 70909 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 70909. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES.“(a) In General.—On request of the board of directors, the FFA may collaborate with Federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture on matters of mutual interest and benefit. “(b) Agency Assistance.—Those Federal agencies may make personnel, services, and facilities available to administer or assist in the administration of the activities of the FFA.133 STAT. 482 “(c) Agency Compensation.—Personnel of the Federal agencies may not receive compensation from the FFA for their services, except that travel and other legitimate expenses as defined by the Federal agencies and approved by the board may be paid. “(d) Cooperation With State Boards.—The Federal agencies also may cooperate with State boards and other organizations for career and technical education to assist in the promotion of activities of the FFA.”

SEC. 11. HEADQUARTERS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Section 70910 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking “of the corporation shall be in the District of Columbia. However, the activities of the corporation are not confined to the District of Columbia but” and inserting “of the FFA shall be as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. The activities of the FFA”.

SEC. 12. RECORDS AND INSPECTION. Section 70911 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a)—(A) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; and (B) in paragraph (3), by striking “entitled to vote”; and (2) in subsection (b), by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 13. SERVICE OF PROCESS. Section 70912 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) in subsection (a)—(A) by striking “District of Columbia” and inserting “In General”; (B) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA” each place the term appears; (C) by striking “in the District of Columbia” before “to receive ”; and (D) by striking “Designation of the agent shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia”; and (2) in subsection (b)—(A) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA” each place the term appears; and (B) by inserting “of the FFA” after “association or chapter”.

SEC. 14. LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS OR AGENTS. Section 70913 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”.

SEC. 15. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS IN DISSOLUTION OR FINAL LIQUIDATION. Section 70914 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—(1) by striking “corporation” and inserting “FFA”; and133 STAT. 483 (2) by striking “vocational agriculture” and inserting “agricultural education”.

Approved February 21, 2019.