[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5590 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5590

 To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter 
           for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2016

  Mr. Chabot (for himself and Mr. Pierluisi) introduced the following 
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter 
           for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.

    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 ``Foundation of the Federal Bar 
Association Charter Amendments Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION.

    Section 70501 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by 
striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(b).

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    Section 70503 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(a) Eligibility.--Except as provided in this chapter, eligibility 
for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of 
members are as provided in the bylaws.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Nondiscrimination.--The terms of membership may not 
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, 
age, sexual orientation, or national origin.''.

SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY.

    Section 70504 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 70504. 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 board of directors and 
the responsibilities of the board are as provided in the bylaws.
    ``(b) Officers.--The officers and the election of the officers are 
as provided for in the bylaws.
    ``(c) Nondiscrimination.--The requirements for serving as a 
director or officer may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 
religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national 
origin.''.

SEC. 5. RESTRICTIONS.

    Section 70507 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 70507. Restrictions
    ``(a) Stock and Dividends.--The corporation may not issue stock or 
declare or pay a dividend.
    ``(b) Political Activities.--The corporation or a director or 
officer in his or her corporate capacity may not contribute to, 
support, or participate in any political activity or in any manner 
attempt to influence legislation.
    ``(c) Distribution of Income or 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, in 
amounts approved by the board of directors, of--
            ``(1) reasonable compensation; or
            ``(2) reimbursement for expenses incurred in undertaking 
        the corporation's business, to officers, directors, or members.
This subsection does not prevent the award of a grant to a Federal Bar 
Association chapter of which an officer, director, member may be a 
member. This subsection also does not prevent the payment of reasonable 
compensation to the corporation's employees for services undertaken on 
behalf of the corporation.
    ``(d) Loans.--The corporation may not make a loan to a director, 
officer, member, or employee.
    ``(e) Immunity From Liability.--Members and private individuals are 
not liable for the obligations of the corporation.
    ``(f) Claim of Governmental Approval or Authority.--The corporation 
may not claim congressional approval or the authority of the United 
States Government for any of its activities; it may, however, 
acknowledge this charter.''.

SEC. 6. PRINCIPAL OFFICE.

    Section 70508 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``the District of Columbia,'' and inserting ``a United States 
location decided by the board of directors and specified in the 
bylaws,''.

SEC. 7. SERVICE OF PROCESS.

    Section 70510 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 70510. Service of process
    ``The corporation shall comply with the law on service of process 
of the State or District in which it is incorporated.''.

SEC. 8. DEPOSIT OF ASSETS ON DISSOLUTION OR FINAL LIQUIDATION.

    Section 70512 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 70512. Deposit of assets on dissolution or final liquidation
    ``On dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any 
assets of the corporation remaining after the discharge of all 
liabilities shall be distributed as provided by the board of directors, 
but in compliance with the charter and bylaws.''.
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