1.Battery recharging stations for privately
owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net
cost to the Federal Government
(a)In this Act, the term covered
employee means—
(1)an employee whose pay is disbursed by the
Secretary of the Senate; or
(2)any other individual who is authorized to
park in any parking area under the jurisdiction of the Senate on Capitol
Grounds.
(b)
(1)Subject to paragraph (3), funds
appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the heading
Capitol Power Plant
under the
heading Architect of the Capitol
in any
fiscal year are available to construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable
basis battery recharging stations in parking areas under the jurisdiction of
the Senate on Capitol Grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used by
Senators or covered employees.
(2)In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Architect of the Capitol may use 1 or more vendors on a commission
basis.
(3)The Architect of the Capitol may construct
or direct the construction of battery recharging stations described under
paragraph (1) after—
(A)submission of written notice detailing the
numbers and locations of the battery recharging stations to the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate; and
(B)approval by that Committee.
(c)
(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect of
the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity provided to Senators
and covered employees sufficient to cover the costs to the Architect of the
Capitol to carry out this section, including costs to any vendors or other
costs associated with maintaining the battery recharging stations.
(2)Approval of fees or chargesThe Architect of the Capitol may establish
and adjust fees or charges under paragraph (1) after—
(A)submission of written notice detailing the
amount of the fee or charge to be established or adjusted to the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate; and
(B)approval by that Committee.
(d)Deposit and availability of fees, charges,
and commissionsAny fees,
charges, or commissions collected by the Architect of the Capitol under this
section shall be—
(1)deposited in the Treasury to the credit of
the appropriations account described under subsection (b); and
(2)available for obligation without further
appropriation during—
(A)the fiscal year collected; and
(B)the fiscal year following the fiscal year
collected.
(e)
(1)Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year,
the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report on the financial
administration and cost recovery of activities under this section with respect
to that fiscal year to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the
Senate.
(2)
(A)Not
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years
thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the Committee
on Rules and Administration of the Senate determining whether Senators and
covered employees using battery charging stations as authorized by this Act are
receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers.
(B)Modification of
rates and feesIf a determination is made under subparagraph (A)
that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the Capital shall submit a
plan to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate on how to
update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If the committee
does not act on the plan within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol shall
take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for
the cost of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for
amortization, to be charged to those using the charging stations.
(f)This Act shall apply
with respect to fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Passed the Senate
May 24, 2012.
Secretary