[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 220 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64198-64200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22324]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Establishment of Federal Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of section 744 of Public Law 109-364 (the 
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007), 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as 
amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of

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1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the Department 
of Defense gives notice that it intends to establish the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, as a subcommittee of the Defense 
Health Board.
    Pursuant to section 744(b)(5) and (c) of Public Law 109-364, the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall develop the 
required curricula, and the Secretary of Defense shall disseminate the 
curricula to:
    (a) To health care professionals who or otherwise work with members 
and former members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury;
    (b) To family members affected by the traumatic brain injury of 
such members and former members; and
    (c) To other care or support personnel who may provide service to 
members or former members affected by traumatic brain injury.
    No later than one year after the development of the curricula 
required by section 744(b) of Public Law 109-364, the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report on the following: (a) The actions 
undertaken under section 744(b) of Public Law 109-364; and (b) 
recommendations for the improvement or updating of training curriculum 
developed and provided under section 744 of Public Law 109-364.
    This non-discretionary advisory committee, which will operate as a 
subcommittee of the Defense Health Board, shall provide the Department 
of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs independent advice 
and recommendations on the development of training curricula to be used 
by family members of members and former members of the Armed Forces on 
techniques, strategies, and skills for care and assistance for such 
members and former members with traumatic brain injury.
    Even though the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall 
operate as a subcommittee of the Defense Health Board and not as a 
chartered federal advisory committee, the Panel shall comply with: (a) 
The full provisions of section 744 of Public Law 109-364; and (b) the 
spirit and intent of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and 41 CFR 102-3.5 through 102-
3.185.
    Whenever the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel meets 
for the purpose of deliberating on the substantive matters upon which 
it is providing advice or recommendations, it must meet under the open-
meeting rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government 
in the Sunshine Acts. In addition, the Traumatic Brain Injury Family 
Caregiver Panel's recommendations, prior to being submitted to the 
government's decision maker, shall be deliberated under the same open-
meeting rules by the Defense Health Board.
    The Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, as a 
subcommittee of the Defense Health Board, shall be authorized to 
establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission, 
and these subcommittees or working groups shall operate under the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, and other appropriate Federal 
regulations.
    Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of 
the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel, and shall report all 
their recommendations and advice Traumatic Brain Injury Family 
Caregiver Panel for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees or 
workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel nor can they report 
directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or 
employees who are not members of the Defense Health Board.
    Pursuant to section 744(a)(2) of Public Law 109-364, the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall consist of 15 members 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary of Defense in appointing 
members for the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel shall 
consider members from among the following:
    (a) Physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and other 
individuals with traumatic brain injury, including persons who 
specialize in caring for and assisting individuals with traumatic brain 
injury incurred in combat;
    (b) Representatives of family caregivers or family caregiver 
associations;
    (c) Health and medical personnel of the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Veterans Affairs with expertise in traumatic brain 
injury and personnel and readiness representatives of the Department of 
Defense with expertise in traumatic brain injury;
    (d) Psychologists or other individuals with expertise in the mental 
health treatment and care of individuals with traumatic brain injury;
    (e) Experts in the development of training curricula;
    (f) Family members of members of the Armed Forces with traumatic 
brain injury; and
    (g) Such other individuals the Secretary of Defense considers 
appropriate.
    Panel and subcommittee members appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense, who are not full-time Federal officers or employees, shall 
serve as Special Government Employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 
3109. Panel and subcommittee members shall be appointed on an annual 
basis by the Secretary of Defense, and with the exception of travel and 
per diem for official travel, they shall serve without compensation. 
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs shall select the 
Panel's chairperson from the total Panel membership.
    In accordance with DoD policy and procedures, the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs is authorized to act upon the 
advice emanating from the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver 
Panel.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver 
Panel shall meet at the call of the Defense Health Board's Designated 
Federal Officer, in consultation with the chairperson of the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel. The Designated Federal Officer, 
pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD 
employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD 
policies and procedures. The Designated Federal Officer or duly 
appointed Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend all 
Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel meetings and meetings of 
any subcommittees for the Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver 
Panel.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel membership about the Panel's 
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time 
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Family Caregiver Panel.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Defense Health Board, and this individual will ensure 
that the written statements are provided to the membership for their 
consideration. Contact information for the Defense Health Board's 
Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA 
Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.

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    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Traumatic Brain Injury Family 
Caregiver Panel. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may 
provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements 
that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in 
question.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, DoD Committee Management 
Office, 703-601-2554, extension 128.

    Dated: November 8, 2007.
L. M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E7-22324 Filed 11-14-07; 8:45 am]
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