[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 439 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.439
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen
An Act
To amend the charter of the Future Farmers of America, and for other
purposes.
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 ``National FFA Organization's Federal
Charter Amendments Act''.
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION.
Section 70901 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION.
Section 70902 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (7)
and (8), respectively;
(3) by striking paragraphs (3), (4), (6), and (7);
(4) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (11);
(5) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (12)
and (13), respectively;
(6) by inserting before paragraph (7), as redesignated by
paragraph (2), the following:
``(1) to be an integral component of instruction in
agricultural education, including instruction relating to
agriculture, food, and natural resources;
``(2) to advance comprehensive agricultural education in the
United States, including in public schools, by supporting
contextual classroom and laboratory instruction and work-based
experiential learning;
``(3) to prepare students for successful entry into productive
careers in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural
resources, including by connecting students to relevant
postsecondary educational pathways and focusing on the complete
delivery of classroom and laboratory instruction, work-based
experiential learning, and leadership development;
``(4) to be a resource and support organization that does not
select, control, or supervise State association, local chapter, or
individual member activities;
``(5) to develop educational materials, programs, services, and
events as a service to State and local agricultural education
agencies;
``(6) to seek and promote inclusion and diversity in its
membership, leadership, and staff to reflect the belief of the FFA
in the value of all human beings;'';
(7) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``composed of students and former students
of vocational agriculture in public schools qualifying for
Federal reimbursement under the Smith-Hughes Vocational
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 11-15, 16-28''; and
(B) by inserting ``as such chapters and associations carry
out agricultural education programs that are approved by
States, territories, or possessions'' after ``United States'';
(8) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``to develop'' and inserting ``to build'';
(B) by striking ``train for useful citizenship, and foster
patriotism, and thereby'' and inserting ``and''; and
(C) by striking ``aggressive rural and'' and inserting
``assertive'';
(9) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated by
paragraph (2), the following:
``(9) to increase awareness of the global and technological
importance of agriculture, food, and natural resources, and the way
agriculture contributes to our well-being;
``(10) to promote the intelligent choice and establishment of a
career in fields relating to agriculture, food, and natural
resources;'';
(10) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``to procure for and distribute to State''
and inserting ``to make available to State'';
(B) by inserting ``, programs, services,'' before ``and
equipment''; and
(C) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'';
(11) in paragraph (12), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by
striking ``State boards for vocational'' and inserting ``State
boards and officials for career and technical''; and
(12) in paragraph (13), as redesignated by paragraph (5), by
striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
Section 70903(a) of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''; and
(2) by striking ``as provided in the bylaws'' and inserting
``as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA''.
SEC. 5. GOVERNING BODY.
Section 70904 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA'' each place the term appears;
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the
following:
``(2) The board--
``(A) shall consist of--
``(i) the Secretary of Education, or the Secretary of
Education's designee who has experience in agricultural
education, the FFA, or career and technical education; and
``(ii) other individuals--
``(I) representing the fields of education,
agriculture, food, and natural resources; or
``(II) with experience working closely with the
FFA; and
``(B) shall not include any individual who is a current
employee of the National FFA Organization.
``(3) The number of directors, terms of office of the
directors, and the method of selecting the directors, are as
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA.''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ``bylaws'' and
inserting ``constitution or bylaws of the FFA''; and
(ii) in the third sentence, by striking ``chairman''
and inserting ``chair'';
(2) by striking subsection (b); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Officers.--The officers of the FFA, the terms of officers,
and the election of officers, are as provided in the constitution or
bylaws of the FFA, except that such officers shall include--
``(1) a national advisor;
``(2) an executive secretary; and
``(3) a treasurer.
``(c) Governing Committee.--
``(1) The board may designate a governing committee. The terms
and method of selecting the governing committee members are as
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA, except that all
members of the governing committee shall be members of the board of
directors and at all times the governing committee shall be
comprised of not less than 3 individuals.
``(2) When the board is not in session, the governing committee
has the powers of the board subject to the board's direction and
may authorize the seal of the FFA to be affixed to all papers that
require it.
``(3) The board shall designate to such committee--
``(A) the chair of the board;
``(B) the executive secretary of the board; and
``(C) the treasurer of the board.''.
SEC. 6. NATIONAL STUDENT OFFICERS.
Section 70905 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Composition.--There shall be not less than 6 national student
officers of the FFA, including a student president, 4 student vice
presidents (each representing regions as provided in the constitution
or bylaws of the corporation), and a student secretary.'';
(2) by striking subsection (b);
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b)
and (c), respectively; and
(4) in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by striking ``,
except that'' and all that follows through ``(20 U.S.C. 11-15, 16-
28)''.
SEC. 7. POWERS.
Section 70906 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``corporate'';
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``corporation'' and inserting
``FFA'';
(4) in paragraph (6), by striking ``corporation'' and inserting
``FFA'';
(5) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:
``(8) use FFA funds to give prizes, awards, loans, and grants
to deserving members, local FFA chapters, and State FFA
associations to carry out the purposes of the FFA;'';
(6) by amending paragraph (9) to read as follows:
``(9) produce publications, websites, and other media;'';
(7) in paragraph (10)--
(A) by striking ``procure for and distribute to State'' and
inserting ``make available to State''; and
(B) by striking ``Future Farmers of America'' and inserting
``FFA''; and
(8) in paragraph (12), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 8. NAME, SEALS, EMBLEMS, AND BADGES.
Section 70907 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'' each
place the term appears;
(2) by striking ``name'' and inserting ``names'';
(3) by striking ```Future Farmers of America''' and inserting
```Future Farmers of America' and `National FFA Organization,''';
and
(4) by inserting ``education'' before ``membership''.
SEC. 9. RESTRICTIONS.
Section 70908 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``corporation or a director,
officer, or member as such'' and inserting ``FFA or a director,
officer, or member acting on behalf of the FFA'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA'' each place the term appears; and
(4) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by striking
``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 10. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Section 70909 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read
as follows:
``SEC. 70909. RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--On request of the board of directors, the FFA
may collaborate with Federal agencies, including the Department of
Education and the Department of Agriculture on matters of mutual
interest and benefit.
``(b) Agency Assistance.--Those Federal agencies may make
personnel, services, and facilities available to administer or assist
in the administration of the activities of the FFA.
``(c) Agency Compensation.--Personnel of the Federal agencies may
not receive compensation from the FFA for their services, except that
travel and other legitimate expenses as defined by the Federal agencies
and approved by the board may be paid.
``(d) Cooperation With State Boards.--The Federal agencies also may
cooperate with State boards and other organizations for career and
technical education to assist in the promotion of activities of the
FFA.''.
SEC. 11. HEADQUARTERS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE.
Section 70910 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``of the corporation shall be in the District of Columbia.
However, the activities of the corporation are not confined to the
District of Columbia but'' and inserting ``of the FFA shall be as
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the FFA. The activities of
the FFA''.
SEC. 12. RECORDS AND INSPECTION.
Section 70911 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``entitled to vote''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``corporation'' and
inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 13. SERVICE OF PROCESS.
Section 70912 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``District of Columbia'' and inserting ``In
General'';
(B) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'' each
place the term appears;
(C) by striking ``in the District of Columbia'' before ``to
receive''; and
(D) by striking ``Designation of the agent shall be filed
in the office of the clerk of the United States District Court
for the District of Columbia''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA'' each
place the term appears; and
(B) by inserting ``of the FFA'' after ``association or
chapter''.
SEC. 14. LIABILITY FOR ACTS OF OFFICERS OR AGENTS.
Section 70913 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''.
SEC. 15. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS IN DISSOLUTION OR FINAL LIQUIDATION.
Section 70914 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``FFA''; and
(2) by striking ``vocational agriculture'' and inserting
``agricultural education''.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.