[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1623 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1623

   To recognize the organization known as the National Academies of 
                               Practice.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2005

Mr. Strickland introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To recognize the organization known as the National Academies of 
                               Practice.

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

SECTION 1. GRANT OF FEDERAL CHARTER TO NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF PRACTICE.

    (a) Grant of Charter.--Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 1503 the following 
chapter:

             ``CHAPTER 1504--NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF PRACTICE

``150401. Definition.
``150402. Organization.
``150403. Purposes.
``150404. Membership.
``150405. Governing body.
``150406. Powers.
``150407. Restrictions.
``150408. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-exempt status.
``150409. Records and inspection.
``150410. Service of process.
``150411. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
``150412. Annual report.
``Sec. 150401. Definition
    ``For purposes of this chapter, `State' includes the District of 
Columbia and the territories and possessions of the United States.
``Sec. 150402. Organization
    ``(a) Federal Charter.--The National Academies of Practice (in this 
chapter, the `corporation'), a nonprofit corporation incorporated in 
the District of Columbia, is a federally chartered corporation
    ``(b) Expiration.--If the corporation does not comply with any 
provision of this chapter, the charter granted by this chapter expires.
``Sec. 150403. Purposes
    ``The purposes of the corporation are as provided in the articles 
of incorporation and include the following:
            ``(1) Honoring persons who have made significant 
        contributions to the practice of applied dentistry, medicine, 
        nursing, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, podiatry, psychology, 
        social work, veterinary medicine, and other health care 
        professions.
            ``(2) Improving the effectiveness of such professions by 
        disseminating information about new techniques and procedures, 
        promoting interdisciplinary practices, and stimulating 
        multidisciplinary exchange of scientific and professional 
        information.
            ``(3) Upon request, advising the President, the members of 
        the President's Cabinet, the Congress, Federal agencies, and 
        other relevant groups about practitioner issues in health care 
        and health care policy, from a multidisciplinary perspective.
``Sec. 150404. Membership
    ``Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and 
privileges of members are as provided in the bylaws of the corporation.
``Sec. 150405. Governing body
    ``(a) Board of Directors.--The board of directors is the governing 
body of the corporation. The board may exercise, or provide for the 
exercise of, the powers of the corporation. The composition and the 
responsibilities of the board are as provided in the articles of 
incorporation and bylaws.
    ``(b) Officers.--The officers of the corporation, the manner of 
electing the officers, and the powers of the officers are as provided 
in the articles of incorporation and bylaws.
``Sec. 150406. Powers
    ``The corporation has only those powers provided in its bylaws and 
articles of incorporation filed in the State in which it is 
incorporated, subject to the laws of such State.
``Sec. 150407. Restrictions
    ``(a) Stock and Dividends.--The corporation may not issue stock or 
declare or pay a dividend.
    ``(b) Political Activities.--The corporation, any officer, or any 
director of the corporation, acting as such officer or director, may 
not contribute to, support, or otherwise participate in any political 
activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
    ``(c) Distribution of Income and Assets.--The income or assets of 
the corporation may not inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, 
a director, officer, or member during the life of the charter granted 
by this chapter. This subsection does not prevent the payment of 
reasonable compensation to an officer or member in an amount approved 
by the board of directors.
    ``(d) Loans.--The corporation may not make a loan to any officer, 
director, or employee of the corporation.
    ``(e) Claims of Federal Approval or Authorization.--Except by 
agreement, the corporation may not claim congressional approval or the 
authority of the United States Government for any of its activities.
    ``(f) Federal Advisory Activities.--While providing advice to 
Federal agencies, the corporation may be subject to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix; 86 stat. 700).
``Sec. 150408. Duty to maintain corporate and tax-exempt status
    ``The corporation shall maintain its status as an organization 
exempt from taxation as provided in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
or any corresponding similar provision.
``Sec. 150409. Records and inspection
    ``(a) Books and Records of Account.--The corporation shall keep 
correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep 
minutes of any proceeding of the corporation involving any of its 
members, the board of directors, or any committee having authority 
under the board of directors.
    ``(b) Names and Addresses of Members.--The corporation shall keep 
at its principal office a record of the names and addresses of all 
members having the right to vote in any proceeding of the corporation.
    ``(c) Right to Inspect Books and Records.--All books and records of 
the corporation may be inspected by any member having the right to 
vote, or by any agent or attorney of such member, for any proper 
purpose, at any reasonable time.
    ``(d) Application of State Law.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to contravene any applicable State law.
``Sec. 150410. Service of process
    ``With respect to service of process, the corporation shall comply 
with the laws of the State in which it is incorporated and those States 
in which it carries on its activities in furtherance of its corporate 
purposes.
``Sec. 150411. Liability for acts of officers and agents
    ``The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers and 
agents when acting within the scope of their authority.
``Sec. 150412. Annual report
    ``The corporation shall report annually to the Congress concerning 
the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal year. The 
report shall not be printed as a public document.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for subtitle II of 
title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to chapter 1504 and inserting the following new item:

                ``1504. National Academies of Practice, 
         Incorporated................................150401''.

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