[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3192 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3192

To establish an advisory board to monitor the collection and allocation 
 of relief funds by charitable organizations in response to a disaster.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 31, 2001

  Mr. Gilman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish an advisory board to monitor the collection and allocation 
 of relief funds by charitable organizations in response to a disaster.

    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 ``Disaster Relief Charities 
Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. DISASTER RELIEF FUND DEFINED.

    In this Act the term ``disaster relief fund'' means a fund 
established by a charitable organization for relief of a specific 
disaster with contributions totaling at least $25,000.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a board to be known as the ``Charity 
Accountability Board'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Board'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    The Board shall--
            (1) request information from and make recommendations to 
        qualifying charitable organizations regarding--
                    (A) the amount of disaster relief funds collected 
                and dispersed by such organizations;
                    (B) the administrative costs incurred by such 
                organizations in administering disaster relief funds; 
                and
                    (C) the criteria used by such organizations in 
                dispersing disaster relief funds;
            (2) provide information about disaster relief funds to 
        disaster victims and those wishing to contribute to such funds; 
        and
            (3) report to the President and the Congress on the status 
        of such funds.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Appointment and Terms.--The Board shall be composed of 5 
members appointed as follows:
            (1) The Director of the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency, or the Director's delegate.
            (2) Two members appointed by the President, who shall each 
        serve for a term of 4 years.
            (3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House, who 
        shall serve for a term of 2 years.
            (4) One member appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate, who shall serve for a term of 2 years.
    (b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Basic Pay and Travel Expenses.--Members shall serve without pay 
but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of a majority of 
its members.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

    (a) Director.--The Board may appoint a Director and such additional 
personnel as it considers appropriate.
    (b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--Any Director and 
staff appointed under subsection (a) shall be appointed subject to the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 
the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the 
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 7. REPORTING.

    The Board shall transmit to the President and the Congress monthly 
reports concerning the information collected and disseminated and 
recommendations made by the Board, and any other information the Board 
considers appropriate.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App. relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not 
apply to the Board.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.
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