An amendment that would provide for a citizens Advisory Committee. The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall convene citizen panels, with membership composed of nonscientific and nontechnical experts, in different geographic regions of the nation, to consider societal and ethical concerns arising from the development and application of nanotechnology.

In section 5(b), after paragraph (7), insert the following: In carrying out the assessment required under paragraph (7), the Advisory Committee shall consider the findings and recommendations from citizen panels described in section 6(b).

In section 6, insert “(a) In General.--” before “The President shall”.

In section 6, insert the following new subsection at the end:

(b) Citizen Panels.--(1) The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall convene citizen panels, with membership composed of nonscientific and nontechnical experts, in different geographic regions of the Nation, to consider societal and ethical concerns arising from the development and application of nanotechnology. The Coordination Office shall develop guidelines and procedures governing the functioning of the citizen panels under this subsection in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation.

(2) The first citizen panel shall meet within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and subsequent panels shall meet on a schedule established by the Coordination Office, but not less frequently than at 18-month intervals.

(3) Citizen panels shall prepare reports containing the panels' findings and recommendations, and the Coordination Office shall ensure the wide dissemination of the reports.

(4) Of the amounts authorized under section 7(a), such sums as may be necessary shall be made available to carry out this subsection.