117 S791 IS: Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2021 U.S. Senate 2021-03-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 791IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 17 (legislative day, March 16), 2021Mr. Booker introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate practices and strategies to reduce bird fatalities resulting from collisions with certain public buildings, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2021.

2.

Use of bird-safe features, practices, and strategies in public buildings

(a)

In general

Chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3319.

Use of bird-safe features, practices, and strategies in public buildings

(a)

Construction, alteration, and acquisition of public buildings

The Administrator of General Services (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall incorporate, to the extent practicable, features, practices, and strategies to reduce bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings for each public building—(1)constructed;(2)acquired; or(3)of which more than 50 percent of the facade is substantially altered, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Buildings.(b)

Design guide

The Administrator shall develop a design guide to carry out subsection (a) that includes the following:(1)Features for reducing bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings throughout all construction phases, taking into account the number of bird fatalities that occur at different types of public buildings.(2)Methods and strategies for reducing bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings during the operation and maintenance of those buildings, including installing interior, exterior, and site lighting.(3)Best practices for reducing bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings, including—(A)a description of the reasons for adopting the practices; and(B)an explanation for the omission of a best practice identified under subsection (c).(c)

Identifying best practices

To carry out subsection (b)(3), the Administrator may identify best practices for reducing bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings, including best practices recommended by—(1)Federal agencies with expertise in bird conservation;(2)nongovernmental organizations with expertise in bird conservation; and(3)representatives of green building certification systems.(d)

Dissemination of design guide

The Administrator shall disseminate the design guide developed under subsection (b) to all Federal agencies, subagencies, and departments with independent leasing authority from the Administrator.(e)

Update to design guide

The Administrator shall, on a regular basis, update the design guide developed under subsection (b) with respect to the priorities of the Administrator for reducing bird fatalities resulting from collisions with public buildings.(f)

Exempt buildings

This section shall not apply to—(1)any building or site listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places;(2)the White House and the grounds of the White House;(3)the Supreme Court building and the grounds of the Supreme Court; or(4)the United States Capitol and any building on the grounds of the Capitol.(g)

Certification

Not later than October 1 of each fiscal year, the Administrator, acting through the Commissioner of Public Buildings, shall certify to Congress that the Administrator uses the design guide developed under subsection (b) for each public building described in subsection (a).(h)

Report

Not later than October 1 of each fiscal year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (1)the certification under subsection (g); and(2)to the extent practicable, the number of bird fatalities that occurred as a result of a collision with the public buildings occupied by each Federal agency.

.(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:3319. Use of bird-safe features, practices, and strategies in public buildings..