I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4776 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2010 Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.

1.

Prohibiting Charging of Fees for Admission to Permanent Collections of Smithsonian Museums or Facilities

(a)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution may not charge a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Gallery of Art. (b)

Exception for necessary and unavoidable fees

The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution may charge a fee for admission to an exhibit described in subsection (a) if— (1)the Secretary determines that charging a fee for admission to the exhibit is necessary and unavoidable; (2)the Secretary submits a statement explaining the determination to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; and (3)the charging of the fee does not take effect until after the expiration of the 45-day period which begins on the date the Secretary submits the statement under paragraph (1). (c)

Exception for Certain Current Exhibit

This section does not apply to the exhibit entitled Butterflies and Plants: Partners in Evolution at the National Museum of Natural History.

2.

Plan for Elimination of Fee for Current Exhibit

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution shall submit to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate a plan for eliminating the admission fee for the exhibit entitled Butterflies and Plants: Partners in Evolution at the National Museum of Natural History, and shall include in the plan such steps as the Secretary considers appropriate to cover the expenses incurred in carrying out the exhibit.