[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2626 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2626

 To establish a system of National Historic Ball Parks, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 1993

Mr. Bonior (for himself, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Upton, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Barcia 
 of Michigan, Mr. Beilenson, Mr. Filner, Mr. Lehman, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. 
 Neal of Massachusetts, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Torkildsen) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a system of National Historic Ball Parks, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Historic Ball Park Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Park.--The term ``park'' means a stadium designated as 
        a National Historic Ball Park by section 3.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Advisory Commission'' means the 
        National Historic Ball Park Acquisition Advisory Commission 
        established and reestablished under section 7.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF HISTORIC BALL PARKS.

    In order to preserve the character of the following areas and to 
provide for the interpretation of the significant contribution of these 
areas to American culture, each of the following stadiums is hereby 
designated as a National Historic Ball Park:
            (1) Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan.
            (2) Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts.
            (3) Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois.
            (4) Yankee Stadium, New York, New York.

SEC. 4. COOPERATION AGREEMENTS FOR PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL HISTORIC 
              BALL PARKS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into cooperative 
agreements with the owners of any of the parks specified in section 3 
for the protection and preservation of the park. Each cooperative 
agreement shall provide--
            (1) that the owners will hold and preserve the historic 
        property of the park and will not undertake or permit the 
        alteration or removal of historic features or the erection of 
        markers, structures, or buildings without the prior concurrence 
        of the Secretary; and
            (2) that the public will have reasonable access to those 
        portions of the property to which access is necessary in the 
        judgment of the Secretary for the proper appreciation and 
        interpretation of its historical and architectural value.
    (b) Technical Advice.--The Secretary may provide technical advice 
to the owners of a park in carrying out this Act.
    (c) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary may accept and expend donations of funds, property, or 
services from individuals, foundations, corporations, or public 
entities for the purpose of providing services and facilities which he 
deems consistent with the purposes of this Act.
    (d) Interpretive Centers.--Pursuant to such cooperative agreements 
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may, 
directly or by contract, construct interpretive facilities on real 
property not in Federal ownership and may maintain and operate programs 
in connection therewith as the Secretary deems appropriate in carrying 
out this Act.

SEC. 5. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

    (a) Notification of Intention To Transfer Park.--If an owner of a 
park intends to transfer or otherwise dispose of the park, the owner 
shall notify the Secretary in writing of such intention.
    (b) Exercise of First Refusal.--Within the six-month period after 
receipt of notice under subsection (a), the Secretary shall respond in 
writing as to his interest in exercising a right of first refusal to 
acquire the park under section 6. If, within such period, the Secretary 
declines to respond in writing or expresses no interest in exercising 
such right, the owner may proceed to transfer such interests. If the 
Secretary responds in writing within such period and expresses an 
interest and intention to exercise a right of first refusal, the 
Secretary shall initiate an action to exercise such right within six 
months after the date of the Secretary's response. If the Secretary 
fails to initiate action to exercise such right within such six months, 
the owner may proceed to otherwise transfer such interests.

SEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF NATIONAL HISTORIC BALL PARKS BY THE UNITED 
              STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, after receiving recommendations of 
the Advisory Commission pursuant to section 7, may, subject to the 
availability of funds, acquire land, interests in land, and 
improvements thereon within the boundaries of a park by donation or 
purchase with donated or appropriated funds. Land may not be acquired 
under this section without the consent of the owner thereof. Each park 
acquired by the United States under this Act shall be added to and 
administered as a unit of the National Park System.
    (b) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer each park 
acquired by the United States under this Act in accordance with this 
Act and with the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System, including the Act entitled ``An Act to establish 
a National Park Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 
1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2, 3, and 4) and the Act of August 21, 
1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).
    (c) Cooperative Agreements With State.--In administering each park 
acquired by the United States under this Act, the Secretary is 
authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the State in which 
the park is located, or any political subdivision thereof, for the 
rendering, on a reimbursable basis, of rescue, firefighting, and law 
enforcement services and cooperative assistance by nearby law 
enforcement and fire preventive agencies and for other appropriate 
purposes.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL HISTORIC BALL PARK ACQUISITION ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) Initial establishment.--There is established a National 
        Historic Ball Park Acquisition Advisory Commission for the 
        purpose specified in subsection (b)(1).
            (2) Subsequent reestablishments.--After the termination of 
        the Advisory Commission established pursuant to paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary, upon determining in the discretion of the 
        Secretary that a situation described in paragraph (3) exists, 
        shall notify the Speaker and minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the 
        Senate and publish notice of such determination in the Federal 
        Register. Upon publication of such notice, the National 
        Historic Ball Park Acquisition Advisory Commission is 
        reestablished for the purpose specified in subsection (b)(2).
            (3) Situations requiring the establishment of advisory 
        commission.--Situations which require the reestablishment of an 
        Advisory Commission under this section include the following:
                    (A) Notification by the owner or owners of the park 
                of the desire to sell the park.
                    (B) The park is subject to, or threatened with, 
                uses which are having, or would have, an adverse impact 
                on the park.
    (b) Purpose and Duties.--Not later than six months after members 
are appointed to the Advisory Commission under subsection (c), the 
Advisory Commission--
            (1) established under subsection (a)(1) shall conduct a 
        study and submit a report to the Secretary and to the Congress 
        with recommendations concerning methods of financing the 
        acquisition of a park by the United States under section 6; and
            (2) reestablished under section (a)(2) shall, for the 
        purpose of advising the Secretary on the purchase of a park 
        under this Act, conduct a study concerning the acquisition of 
        the park pursuant to this Act and advise the Secretary on 
        whether to acquire the park and matters relating thereto, 
        including--
                    (A) how the park can best be used for public 
                purposes in a manner compatible with the National Park 
                System, taking into account the location of the park 
                and the needs of the community concerned; and
                    (B) methods of financing such acquisition.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Number and appointment.--The Advisory Commission shall 
        be composed of seven members appointed as follows:
                    (A) Two Members of the House of Representatives, 
                one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, and the 
                other shall be appointed by the minority leader, of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (B) Two Members of the Senate, one of whom shall be 
                appointed by the majority leader, and the other shall 
                be appointed by the minority leader, of the Senate.
                    (C) One member appointed by the President.
                    (D) One member appointed by the Secretary of the 
                Interior.
                    (E) One member appointed by the Chairperson of the 
                Ball Parks Committee of the Society for American 
                Baseball Research, who shall be a representative of the 
                professional sport with the major use of the park.
            (2) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
        the Advisory Commission, including a member appointed to the 
        Advisory Commission as a Member of Congress who ceases to be a 
        Member of Congress.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring in the Advisory Commission shall be appointed only 
        for the remaining life of the Advisory Commission. A vacancy in 
        the Advisory Commission shall be filled within 30 days after 
        the creation of the vacancy in the manner in which the original 
        appointment was made.
            (4) Pay and travel expenses.--(A) Members of the Advisory 
        Commission shall serve without pay as such.
            (B) Each member shall receive travel expenses, including 
        per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
        5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
            (5) Quorum.-- Five members of the Advisory Commission shall 
        constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
            (6) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Advisory 
        Commission shall be elected by the members.
            (7) Meetings.--The Advisory Commission shall meet at the 
        call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members and shall 
        meet on a regular basis. Notice of meetings and agenda shall be 
        published in local newspapers which have a distribution which 
        generally covers the area affected by the park. Advisory 
        Commission meetings shall be held at locations and in such a 
        manner as to ensure adequate public involvement.
    (d) Director and Staff.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Advisory Commission shall, without 
        regard to section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
        appoint and fix the pay of a Director and such additional staff 
        as it considers appropriate. The Director and staff of the 
        Advisory Commission may be appointed without regard to the 
        provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
        appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid 
        without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
        III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and 
        General Schedule pay rates.
            (2) Experts and consultants.--The Advisory Commission may 
        procure temporary and intermittent services under section 
        3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the 
        Advisory Commission, the head of any Federal department or 
        agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the 
        personnel of that department or agency to the Advisory 
        Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
        Act.
    (e) Powers.--
            (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Advisory Commission may, 
        for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit 
        and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive 
        evidence as the Advisory Commission considers appropriate.
            (2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of 
        the Advisory Commission may, if authorized by the Advisory 
        Commission, take any action which the Advisory Commission is 
        authorized to take by this section.
            (3) Obtaining official data.--The Advisory Commission may 
        secure directly from any department or agency of the United 
        States information necessary to enable it to carry out this 
        Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Advisory 
        Commission, the head of that department or agency shall furnish 
        that information to the Advisory Commission.
            (4) Mails.--The Advisory Commission may use the United 
        States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
        as other departments and agencies of the United States.
            (5) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of 
        the Advisory Commission, the Administrator of General Services 
        shall provide to the Advisory Commission, on a reimbursable 
        basis, the administrative support services necessary for the 
        Advisory Commission to carry out its responsibilities under 
        this Act.
    (e) Charter.--The provisions of section 14(b) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix; 86 Stat. 776), are hereby 
waived with respect to this Advisory Commission.
    (f) Termination.--The Advisory Commission established under 
subsection (a)(1) shall terminate upon the submission of its report 
under subsection (c)(1), and each Advisory Commission reestablished 
under subsection (a)(2) shall terminate six months after the date on 
which all members of the Advisory Commission are first appointed under 
subsection (c).

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.

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