[112th Congress Public Law 170]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]



[[Page 126 STAT. 1303]]

Public Law 112-170
112th Congress

                                 An Act


 
     To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery 
recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under 
 the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives at no net cost to the 
       Federal Government. <<NOTE: Aug. 16, 2012 -  [H.R. 1402]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 2 USC 2171.>>  BATTERY RECHARGING STATIONS FOR 
                              PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES IN PARKING 
                              AREAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE 
                              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT NO NET 
                              COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

    (a) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``covered employee'' means--
            (1) an employee whose pay is disbursed by the Chief 
        Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives; or
            (2) any other individual who is authorized to park in any 
        parking area under the jurisdiction of the House of 
        Representatives on Capitol Grounds.

    (b) Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), funds 
        appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the heading 
        ``Capitol Power Plant'' under the heading ``ARCHITECT OF THE 
        CAPITOL'' in any fiscal year are available to construct, 
        operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis battery recharging 
        stations in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the House of 
        Representatives on Capitol Grounds for use by privately owned 
        vehicles used by Members of the House of Representatives 
        (including the Delegates or Resident Commissioner to the 
        Congress) or covered employees.
            (2) Vendors authorized.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Architect of the Capitol may use 1 or more vendors on a 
        commission basis.
            (3) Approval of construction.--The Architect of the Capitol 
        may construct or direct the construction of battery recharging 
        stations described under paragraph (1) after--
                    (A) submission of written notice detailing the 
                numbers and locations of the battery recharging stations 
                to the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) approval by that Committee.

    (c) Fees and Charges.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect of 
        the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity 
        provided to Members and covered employees sufficient to cover 
        the costs to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this

[[Page 126 STAT. 1304]]

        section, including costs to any vendors or other costs 
        associated with maintaining the battery recharging stations.
            (2) Approval of fees or charges.--The Architect of the 
        Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under paragraph 
        (1) after--
                    (A) submission of written notice detailing the 
                amount of the fee or charge to be established or 
                adjusted to the Committee on House Administration of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (B) approval by that Committee.

    (d) Deposit and Availability of Fees, Charges, and Commissions.--Any 
fees, charges, or commissions collected by the Architect of the Capitol 
under this section shall be--
            (1) deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the 
        appropriations account described under subsection (b); and
            (2) available for obligation without further appropriation 
        during--
                    (A) the fiscal year collected; and
                    (B) the fiscal year following the fiscal year 
                collected.

    (e) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the end of 
        each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a 
        report on the financial administration and cost recovery of 
        activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year 
        to the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (2) Avoiding subsidy.--
                    (A) Determination.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years 
                thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a 
                report to the Committee on House Administration of the 
                House of Representatives determining whether Members 
                (including any Delegate or Resident Commissioner to 
                Congress) and covered employees using battery charging 
                stations as authorized by this Act are receiving a 
                subsidy from the taxpayers.
                    (B) <<NOTE: Plan.>>  Modification of rates and 
                fees.--If a determination is made under subparagraph (A) 
                that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the 
                Capitol shall submit a plan to the Committee on House 
                Administration of the House of Representatives on how to 
                update the program to ensure no subsidy is being 
                received. If the committee does not act on the plan 
                within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol shall take 
                appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure 
                reimbursement for the cost of the program consistent 
                with an appropriate schedule for amortization, to be 
                charged to those using the charging stations.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1305]]

    (f) Effective Date.--This Act shall apply with respect to fiscal 
year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.

    Approved August 16, 2012.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1402:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-625 (Comm. on House Administration).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012):
            Aug. 2, considered and passed House and Senate.

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