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Smithsonian Modernization Act of 2013

H.R. 2620 · 113th Congress · Jul 8, 2013 · Lineage

A BILL

To revise the composition of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution so that all members are individuals appointed by the President from a list of nominees submitted by the leadership of the Congress, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Short Title

This Act may be cited as the “Smithsonian Modernization Act of 2013”.

Sec. 2 Appointment of Members of Smithsonian Board of Regents

(a)
Number of Members; Appointment of All Members From List of Nominees—
(1)
In general— Section 5580(a) of the Revised Statutes of the United States (20 U.S.C. 42(a)) is amended by striking “to be composed of” and all that follows and inserting the following: “to be composed of 21 members appointed by the President from among the list of nominees submitted under subsection (b), of whom 2 shall be residents of the District of Columbia.”.
(2)
List of Nominees— Section 5580 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (20 U.S.C. 42(a)) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(B)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

“(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate shall each submit to the President a list of 12 nominees for appointment as members of the Board of Regents.”

(3)
Revision of quorum— Section 5582 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (20 U.S.C. 44) is amended by striking “eight shall constitute a quorum” and inserting “17 shall constitute a quorum”.
(4)
No effect on current citizen Regents— Nothing in the amendments made by this subsection may be construed to affect the authority of any individual who serves as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution as of the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to a joint resolution of the Congress to continue to serve as a Regent after that date.
(b)
Uniform Term of Service— Section 5581 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (20 U.S.C. 43) is amended to read as follows:

“5581.

“(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), each Regent of the Smithsonian Institution shall be appointed for a term of 6 years, and may be reappointed for additional terms.

“(b) Of the Regents who are appointed after the date of the enactment of the Smithsonian Modernization Act of 2013 who were not serving as Regents prior to that date—

“(1) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years (as designated in the joint resolution under which they are appointed) and may be reappointed for additional terms of 6 years; and

“(2) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 4 years (as designated in the joint resolution under which they are appointed) and may be reappointed for additional terms of 6 years.

“(c) Any Regent appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the Regent’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A Regent may serve after the expiration of that Regent’s term until a successor has taken office.”