[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1924-1926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-767]


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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

36 CFR Parts 1151, 1153, and 1155


Bylaws

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) has adopted amendments to its General Statement of 
Policy, Statement of Organization and Procedures and Authorities and 
Delegations. The amendments were adopted to update and improve the 
Board's operations and to streamline the Board's regulations. The 
amendments are being published so that all affected persons will be 
fully informed about procedures governing the Access Board.

DATES: Effective date: January 13, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Stewart, Access Board, 1331 
F Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004-1111. Telephone number 
(202) 272-5434 ext 52 (voice); (202) 272-5449 (TTY). Electronic mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 502 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 792, as amended, the Access Board 
originally adopted 36 CFR Part 1151 General Statement of Policy on 
September 12, 1978, the Statement of Organization and Procedures 
codified at 36 CFR Part 1155 on September 16, 1975; and 36 CFR Part 
1153 Authorities and Delegations on July 12, 1983. Together, the three 
parts provide guidance on the overall policies of the Board; the duties 
and responsibilities of the Board, its officers and committees; 
procedures for election of Board officers and for Board and committee 
meetings; and supervisory obligations. The most recent amendments 
adopted by the Board at its May 1997 meeting combine the three 
documents into a single part entitled Bylaws which is codified at 36 
CFR 1151. Parts 1153 and 1155 have been removed. Language which was 
superseded, outdated or unnecessary has been removed. The number of 
Board meetings has been changed from six Board meetings to five Board 
meetings and one scheduled Board event. It is the intention of the 
Board that this event be held out of the Washington D.C. area in order 
to encourage input and comment from the general public. Membership in 
the subject matter committees has been expanded and membership in the 
Executive Committee was changed to provide for the additional 
membership of new subject matter committee chairs and at-large members. 
Other miscellaneous, procedural amendments include the setting of the 
agenda for Board meetings, participation in Board and committee 
meetings by conference telephone and the establishment of committee 
charters. The amendments were adopted by the Board to update and 
improve the Board's organization and operating procedures. The deletion 
of language and the combining of the Board's bylaws into one part have 
greatly streamlined the Board's existing regulations.

List of Subjects

36 CFR Part 1151

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organizations and 
functions (Government agencies).

36 CFR Part 1153

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organizations and 
functions (Government agencies).

36 CFR Part 1155

    Organizations and functions (Government agencies).

    Authorized by vote of the Access Board on May 14, 1997.
Patrick D. Cannon,
Chairperson, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance 
Board.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on January 8, 1998.

    Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 792, as amended, and for the reasons set 
forth in the preamble, chapter XI of title 36 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations is amended as follows:
    1. Part 1151 is revised to read as follows:

PART 1151--BYLAWS

Sec.
1151.1  Establishment.
1151.2  Authority.
1151.3  Officers.
1151.4  Delegations.
1151.5  Board meetings.
1151.6  Committees.
1151.7  Amendments to the bylaws.

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 792.


Sec. 1151.1  Establishment.

    The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board was 
established pursuant to section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 
as amended. The agency is also known and often referred to as the 
``Access Board'' or simply the ``Board.''


Sec. 1151.2  Authority.

    The Board shall have the authority and responsibilities as set 
forth in section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792); 
section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12204); and section 225(e) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 
U.S.C. 255(e)).


Sec. 1151.3  Officers.

    (a) Board. The Board is the governing body of the agency.
    (b) Chair, Vice-Chair. The head of the agency is the Chair of the 
Board and, in his or her absence or disqualification, the Vice-Chair of 
the Board. As head of the agency, the Chair represents the Board 
whenever an applicable Federal statute or regulation imposes a duty or 
grants a right or authority to the head of the agency and has the 
authority to act in all matters relating to the operation of the Board. 
The Chair may delegate any such duties and responsibilities by written 
delegation of authority. The Chair supervises the Executive Director 
and evaluates his or her performance and approves performance 
evaluations of employees who report directly to the Executive Director. 
The authority to supervise, evaluate and approve performance 
evaluations of the

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Executive Director and those employees who report directly to the 
Executive Director may only be delegated to the Vice-Chair of the 
Board.
    (c) Election, term. The Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Board shall 
be elected by a majority of the membership of the Board (as fixed by 
statute) and serve for terms of one year. Elections shall be held as 
soon as possible upon completion of the one year term of the Chair and 
Vice-Chair. If no new Chair or Vice-Chair has been elected at the end 
of the one-year term, the incumbents shall continue to serve in that 
capacity until a successor Chair or Vice-Chair has been elected. When 
the Chair is a public member, the Vice-Chair shall be a Federal member; 
and when the Chair is a Federal member, the Vice-Chair shall be a 
public member. Upon the expiration of the term as Chair of a Federal 
member, the subsequent Chair shall be a public member; and vice versa.
    (d) Executive Director. The Executive Director is nominated by the 
Chair and confirmed by the Board. The Executive Director provides 
administrative leadership, and supervision and management of staff 
activities in carrying out the policies and decisions of the Board 
under the direction and supervision of the Chair. The Executive 
Director has the authority to execute contracts, agreements and other 
documents necessary for the operation of the Board; hire, fire and 
promote staff (including temporary or intermittent experts and 
consultants); procure space, equipment and supplies; and obtain 
interagency and commercial support services. The Executive Director 
directs compliance and enforcement activities in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in 36 CFR part 1150, including issuing citations 
and determinations not to proceed, conducting negotiations for 
compliance, entering into agreements for voluntary compliance and 
performing all other actions authorized by law pertaining to compliance 
and enforcement not otherwise reserved to the Board.
    (e) General Counsel. The General Counsel is nominated by the Chair 
and confirmed by the Board. The General Counsel is responsible to the 
Board under the supervision of the Executive Director.


Sec. 1151.4  Delegations.

    (a) Executive Committee. The Board may delegate to the Executive 
Committee authority to implement its decisions by a majority vote of 
the members present at a meeting and any proxies. To the extent 
permitted by law, the Board may delegate to the Executive Committee any 
other of its authorities by two-thirds vote of the members present at a 
meeting and any proxies. A separate delegation is necessary for each 
action the Board desires the Executive Committee to implement.
    (b) Other. To the extent permitted by law, the Board may delegate 
other duties to its officers or committees by a vote of two-thirds of 
the members present at a meeting and any proxies.
    (c) Redelegation. Unless expressly prohibited in the original 
delegation, an officer or committee may redelegate authority.


Sec. 1151.5  Board meetings.

    (a) Number. The Chair shall schedule five regular meetings of the 
Board each year. In addition, the Board shall schedule one Board 
sponsored public event.
    (b) Timing. Regular meetings of the Board and at least one Board 
sponsored event shall ordinarily be held on the Wednesday following the 
second Tuesday of every other month. The Chair may reschedule a regular 
meeting of the Board to another date, no more than one month earlier or 
later than the regularly scheduled date.
    (c) Agenda. The Chair establishes the agenda for the meetings. 
Members or committees shall forward submissions for agenda items to the 
Chair. Except for items concerning the adoption, amendment or recision 
of the bylaws in this part, an item may be placed before the Board for 
consideration without the approval of the Chair upon a two-thirds vote 
of the members present at a Board meeting and any proxies to suspend 
the rules of order. Items concerning the adoption, amendment or 
recision of the bylaws in this part may be placed on a future Board 
agenda without the approval of the Chair upon a vote of two-thirds of 
the membership of the Board (as fixed by statute).
    (d) Notice. The Chair shall provide a written notice of scheduled 
Board meetings, including the agenda and supporting materials for the 
meeting, to each Board member at least ten (10) work days prior to the 
meeting. The ten (10) days notice requirement may be waived upon a two-
thirds vote by the members present at the Board meeting and any proxies 
to suspend the rules of order.
    (e) Cancellation. The Chair may cancel a regular meeting of the 
Board by giving written notice of the cancellation at least ten (10) 
work days prior to the meeting where practical.
    (f) Special meetings. The Chair may call special meetings of the 
Board to deal with important matters arising between regular meetings 
which require action by the Board prior to the next regular meeting. 
Voting and discussion shall be limited to the subject matter which 
necessitated the call of the special meeting. All Board members shall 
receive reasonable advance notice of the time, place, and purpose of 
the special meeting.
    (g) Record. The Executive Director shall maintain a permanent 
record of the minutes of the meeting and attendance. The Board shall 
approve the final minutes after all corrections and additions have been 
incorporated.
    (h) Rules for Board meetings. Meetings of the Board shall be held 
in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, except as otherwise 
prescribed in the bylaws in this part.
    (i) Quorum. (1) A quorum shall be the majority of the membership of 
the Board (as fixed by statute). At least half of the members required 
for a quorum shall be public members.
    (2) Proxies shall not be counted for purposes of establishing a 
quorum.
    (3) If a quorum is not present, a meeting shall be held only for 
the purpose of discussion and no vote may be taken.
    (j) Voting. (1) Only Board members may vote.
    (2) Except as otherwise prescribed in the bylaws in this part, a 
majority vote of the members present and any proxies is necessary for 
action by the Board.
    (3) The presiding officer shall have the same right to vote as any 
other member.
    (4) Any member may give his or her directed or undirected proxy to 
any other Board member, present at the meeting. Proxies shall be given 
in writing and submitted to the Chair prior to or at the meeting. A 
directed proxy shall be voided as to a specific issue if the question 
on which the vote is eventually taken differs from the question to 
which the proxy is directed.
    (5) The Board may act on items of business between meetings by 
notational voting. At the request of the Chair, the Executive Director 
shall send a written ballot to each Board member describing each item 
submitted for notational voting. If any Board member requests 
discussion on an item, the ballots shall not be counted and the Chair 
shall place the item on the next Board meeting agenda for discussion 
and voting.
    (k) Telecommunications. A member of the Board shall be considered 
present at a meeting when he or she participates in person or by 
conference telephone or similar communication equipment which enables 
all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each 
other.

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Sec. 1151.6  Committees.

    (a) Executive Committee--(1) Establishment. The Board shall have an 
Executive Committee to serve as a leadership and coordinating 
committee. The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board in 
between regularly scheduled Board meetings as necessary and as 
authorized by delegation of the Board. In addition, the Executive 
Committee has the following duties and responsibilities:
    (i) To review and consider recommendations and proposals from the 
various subject matter committees;
    (ii) To review and make recommendations to the Board to amend or 
approve the Board's bylaws; and
    (iii) To request and review all committee charters.
    (2) Chair. The Vice-Chair of the Board shall serve as Chair of the 
Executive Committee.
    (3) Membership. The Executive Committee shall be composed of a 
minimum of six members, three Federal and three public members, which 
shall include the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Board, the chairs of 
each of the subject matter committees, and two at large members. The 
two at large members shall balance the number of Federal and public 
members and shall be elected by the Board after the election of the 
Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board and the chairs of the subject matter 
committees. In the event that the Board should establish three or more 
subject matter committees, additional at-large members shall be elected 
as necessary to balance the Federal and public membership of the 
committee.
    (4) Quorum. A quorum in the Executive Committee shall be a majority 
of the membership, present at the meeting. In the absence of their 
Federal member, the liaison may count toward a quorum. If a quorum is 
not present, a meeting can be held only for the purpose of discussion 
and no vote may be taken.
    (5) Voting. (i) The presiding officer shall have the same right to 
vote as any other member.
    (ii) On matters subject to Board review, liaisons are permitted to 
vote in the absence of their Federal member. A majority vote of the 
members (or liaisons) present at the meeting and any directed or 
undirected proxies is necessary for action by the committee.
    (iii) On matters of final action, not subject to Board review, a 
majority vote of the membership of the committee, present at the 
meeting or by directed proxy, is necessary for action by the committee. 
In the absence of their Federal member, liaisons are permitted to cast 
a directed proxy only.
    (b) Subject matter committees--(1) Establishment. The Board may 
establish or dissolve subject matter committees by a two-thirds vote of 
the members present and any proxies.
    (2) Chair. The Chair of a subject matter committee shall be elected 
by the Board after the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the 
Board and shall serve as a member of the Board's Executive Committee.
    (3) Membership. Each subject matter committee shall be comprised of 
a minimum of seven, and a maximum of nine, members. Except for the 
Chair of the committee who is elected by the Board, the members of the 
committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board. Members shall 
serve a term of one year corresponding to that of the Chair of the 
Board, and continue their duties until their successors have been 
appointed.
    (4) Quorum. A quorum shall be a majority of the actual membership 
of the committee. A liaison may represent the Federal member for 
purposes of a quorum. If a quorum is not present, a meeting shall be 
held only for the purpose of discussion and no vote may be taken.
    (5) Voting. Directed or undirected proxies are permitted. In the 
absence of their Federal member, liaisons are permitted to vote on all 
matters which are subject to review by the full Board. The presiding 
officer shall have the same right to vote as any other member. A 
majority vote of the members (or liaisons) present at the meeting and 
any directed or undirected proxies is necessary for action by the 
committee.
    (c) Special committees. The Chair, the Board, the Executive 
Committee or a subject matter committee may appoint a special committee 
to carry out a specific task. A special committee shall dissolve upon 
completion of its task or when dissolved by its creator. A special 
committee shall be governed by the same rules and procedures applicable 
to subject matter committees unless other rules or procedures are 
approved by the creator of the committee.
    (d) Telecommunications. A member of a committee shall be considered 
present at a meeting when he or she participates in person or by 
conference telephone or similar communication equipment which enables 
all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each 
other.
    (e) Charter. With the exception of a Committee of the Whole, each 
committee shall establish a charter and may establish any additional 
procedures provided that they do not conflict with the provisions of 
the bylaws in this part.
    (f) Procedure. Committee meetings shall be held in accordance with 
Robert's Rules of Order, except as otherwise prescribed in the bylaws 
in this part or committee charters.
    (g) Records. Committees shall maintain written records of the 
meetings.


Sec. 1151.7  Amendments to the bylaws.

    In order to amend the bylaws in this part, a vote of two-thirds of 
the membership of the Board (as fixed by statute) at the time the vote 
is taken shall be required. The Board shall not suspend the rules in 
taking any action concerning adoption, amendment or recision of the 
bylaws in this part except that by vote of two-thirds of the membership 
of the Board (as fixed by statute), an item concerning the adoption, 
amendment or recision of the bylaws in this part may be placed on an 
agenda for Board consideration at a future meeting.

PARTS 1153 AND 1155--[REMOVED]

    2. Parts 1153 and 1155 are removed.

[FR Doc. 98-767 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8150-01-P