H.R. 4680 — what changed

“101121. Second Century Endowment for the National Park Service

“(a) Second century endowment—To further the mission of the Service, the National Park Foundation shall establish a special account to be known as the “Second Century Endowment for the National Park Service”.

“(1) Funds for the endowment

“(A) The Endowment shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are provided to the National Park Foundation for such purpose.

“(B) The National Park Foundation shall deposit any funds received for the Endowment in a federally insured interest-bearing account or may invest funds in appropriate security obligations, as directed by the Board of Directors.

“(C)

changed “(i) The Secretary may, shall, either directly or through a concessions contract, lease, or similar instrument, impose a fee in a System unit in addition to the daily cost of lodging in facilities in that System unit. Amounts collected under this clause shall be deposited into the Endowment.

“(ii) The Secretary shall ensure that a fee imposed under this subparagraph in a System unit does not raise the aggregate amount of fees imposed by local, State, and Federal governments to more than 5 percent of the base daily cost of lodging in facilities in that System unit.

“(iii) No fees may be charged under this subparagraph within a unit of the National Park System for—

“(I) employees of the National Park System, including seasonal employees or employees of concessioners, who live in housing provided in a national park due to their employment and house guests of such employees;

“(II) persons engaged in residential educational and interpretive programs who are lodged in national park facilities while participating in these programs; and

“(III) lodging on private property within a unit of the National Park System.

“(D) Any accrued interest or dividends earned on funds received for the Endowment shall be added to the principal and form a part of the Endowment.

“(2) Use of funds

“(A) The National Park Foundation shall use funds deposited in the Endowment for projects and activities approved by the Secretary that further the mission and purposes of the Service.

“(B) In administering the Endowment each fiscal year, the National Park Foundation shall be guided by the District of Columbia Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act of 2007 (D.C. Code § 44–1631 et seq.), including section 44–1633 on expenditures.

“(C) No funds received for the Endowment shall be used by the National Park Foundation for administrative expenses of the Foundation, including for salaries, travel and transportation expenses, and other overhead expenses.

“(b) Summary—Beginning 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the National Park Foundation shall include with its annual report a summary of the status of the Endowment. The summary shall include—

“(1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the Endowment during the fiscal year;

“(2) the amount of the balance remaining in the Endowment at the end of the fiscal year; and

“(3) a description of the sums and purposes of the expenditures made from the Endowment for the fiscal year.”

added “1008 Education and Interpretation

added “100801. Purposes

added “The purposes of this chapter are—

added “(1) to more effectively achieve the mission of the Service by providing clear authority and direction for interpretation and education programs that are carried out by the Service under separate authorities;

added “(2) to ensure that the public encounters a variety of interpretive and educational opportunities and services during their visits to our System units;

added “(3) to recognize that the Service provides lifelong learning opportunities and contributes to interdisciplinary learning in traditional and non-traditional educational settings; and

added “(4) to provide opportunities for all people to find relevance in the System and to strengthen public understanding of our natural and cultural heritage.

added “100802. Definitions

added “As used in this chapter:

added “(1) Interpretation—The term interpretation—

added “(A) means providing opportunities for people to form intellectual and emotional connections to gain awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the resources of the System; and

added “(B) may refer to the professional career field of Service employees, volunteers, and partners who interpret the resources of the System.

added “(2) Education—The term education means enhancing public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the resources of the System through learner-centered, place-based materials, programs, and activities that achieve specific learning objectives as identified in a curriculum.

added “(3) Related areas—The term related areas means—

added “(A) national wild and scenic rivers and national trails;

added “(B) national heritage areas; and

added “(C) affiliated areas administered in connection with the System.

added “100803. Interpretation and education authority

added “The Secretary shall ensure that management of System units and related areas is enhanced by the availability and use of a broad program of the highest quality interpretation and education.

added “100804. Interpretation and education evaluation and quality improvement

added “The Secretary may undertake a program of regular evaluation of interpretation and education programs to ensure that they—

added “(1) adjust to how people learn and engage with the natural world and shared heritage as embodied in the System;

added “(2) reflect different cultural backgrounds, ages, education, gender, abilities, ethnicity, and needs;

added “(3) demonstrate innovative approaches to management and appropriately incorporate emerging learning and communications technology; and

added “(4) reflect current scientific and academic research, content, methods, and audience analysis.

added “100805. Improved use of partners and volunteers in interpretation and education

added “The Secretary may—

added “(1) coordinate with park partners and volunteers in the delivery of quality programs and services to supplement those provided by the Service as part of a park’s Long Range Interpretive Plan;

added “(2) support interpretive partners by providing opportunities to participate in interpretive training; and

added “(3) collaborate with other Federal and non-Federal public or private agencies, organizations, or institutions for the purposes of developing, promoting, and making available educational opportunities related to resources of the System and programs.”

removed Title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 1007 the following:

removed “1008 Education and Interpretation

removed “100801. Purposes

removed “The purposes of this chapter are—

removed “(1) to more effectively achieve the mission of the Service by providing clear authority and direction for interpretation and education programs that are carried out by the Service under separate authorities;

removed “(2) to ensure that the public encounters a variety of interpretive and educational opportunities and services during their visits to our System units;

removed “(3) to recognize that the Service provides lifelong learning opportunities and contributes to interdisciplinary learning in traditional and non-traditional educational settings; and

removed “(4) to provide opportunities for all people to find relevance in the System and to strengthen public understanding of our natural and cultural heritage.

removed “100802. Definitions

removed “As used in this chapter:

removed “(1) Interpretation—The term interpretation—

removed “(A) means providing opportunities for people to form intellectual and emotional connections to gain awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the resources of the System; and

removed “(B) may refer to the professional career field of Service employees, volunteers, and partners who interpret the resources of the System.

removed “(2) Education—The term education means enhancing public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the resources of the System through learner-centered, place-based materials, programs, and activities that achieve specific learning objectives as identified in a curriculum.

removed “(3) Related areas—The term related areas means—

removed “(A) national wild and scenic rivers and national trails;

removed “(B) national heritage areas; and

removed “(C) affiliated areas administered in connection with the System.

removed “100803. Interpretation and education authority

removed “The Secretary shall ensure that management of System units and related areas is enhanced by the availability and use of a broad program of the highest quality interpretation and education.

removed “100804. Interpretation and education evaluation and quality improvement

removed “The Secretary may undertake a program of regular evaluation of interpretation and education programs to ensure that they—

removed “(1) adjust to how people learn and engage with the natural world and shared heritage as embodied in the System;

removed “(2) reflect different cultural backgrounds, ages, education, gender, abilities, ethnicity, and needs;

removed “(3) demonstrate innovative approaches to management and appropriately incorporate emerging learning and communications technology; and

removed “(4) reflect current scientific and academic research, content, methods, and audience analysis.

removed “100805. Improved use of partners and volunteers in interpretation and education

removed “The Secretary may—

removed “(1) coordinate with park partners and volunteers in the delivery of quality programs and services to supplement those provided by the Service as part of a park’s Long Range Interpretive Plan;

removed “(2) support interpretive partners by providing opportunities to participate in interpretive training; and

removed “(3) collaborate with other Federal and non-Federal public or private agencies, organizations, or institutions for the purposes of developing, promoting, and making available educational opportunities related to resources of the System and programs.”

changed Section 102301(d) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking “not more than $7,000,000” and inserting “not more than 10,000,000”.$10,000,000”.

Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—

changed “(a) Membership—The National Park Foundation shall consist of a Board having as members no fewer than 6 private citizens of the United States appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary and the Director shall be non-voting members of the Board, ex officio.”

“(c) Chairman—The Chairman shall be elected by the Board from its members for a two-year term.”

“(2) Coordination with service—Activities of the National Park Foundation under paragraph (1) shall be undertaken after consultation with the Director to ensure that those activities are consistent with the programs and policies of the Service.”

changed “(8) the The General Chairman of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers;”Officers.”

changed “(e)“(e) Chairman

changed “(1) After January 1, 2016, 20, 2017, the Chairman shall—

“(A) be appointed by the President;

changed “(B) serve full time; andat the will of the President;

changed “(C) be compensated at the rate provided for Level III of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5314).serve full time; and

changed “(2) The Chairmen before the first appointment of a Chairman in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall receive $100 per diem when engaged in the performance of the duties of “(D) be compensated at the Council, and shall receive reimbursement rate provided for necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties Level V of the Council.”Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5316).

added “(2) The Chairman shall serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed once, for a total of not more than 8 years of service as Chairman, except that a Chairman whose appointment has expired under this paragraph shall serve until his or her successor has been appointed. The term of a Chairman shall start (regardless of actual appointment date) on January 20 after each general Presidential election. The first Chairman appointed after the date of enactment of this paragraph shall have a first term commencing on January 20, 2017, and ending on January 19, 2021.

added “(3) The Chairmen before the first appointment of a Chairman in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall receive $100 per diem when engaged in the performance of the duties of the Council, and shall receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the Council.”