S. 1368 – Reading Mode

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1368

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 11, 2007

Mr. Stevens (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to modify the authority of the Commission.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Denali Commission Act Amendments Act of 2007.

Authorities and duties of the Denali Commission

(a)

Establishment of Commission

Section 303(b) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Limitation

No member of the Commission appointed under paragraph (1), other than the Federal Cochairperson, shall be considered to be a Federal employee for any purpose.

(b)

Powers of the Commission

Section 305 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Matching funds

The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of matching funds provided by public and private sources for projects approved by the Commission.

(c)

Commission personnel matters

Section 306 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in the first sentence, by striking Each member and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (4), each member

;

(B)

in the second sentence, by striking The Federal and inserting:

(2)

Rate of pay

The Federal

;

(C)

in the third sentence, by striking All members and inserting the following:

(3)

Federal employees

All members

; and

(D)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Exception

Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government may elect to waive compensation under paragraph (1).

; and

(2)

in subsection (c)(1)—

(A)

by striking regulations, and inserting regulations—;

(B)

by striking appoint and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following:

(A)

appoint such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission; and

(B)

terminate the personnel appointed under subparagraph (A).

(d)

Economic development committee

The Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating the second section 310 (relating to the Economic Development Committee) as section 311; and

(2)

in section 311 (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by striking shall each place it appears and inserting may.

Special functions of the Denali Commission

Section 307 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Training program

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Labor is authorized to make direct lump sum payments to the Commission to be used to carry out a training program on careers associated with infrastructure development and long-term stability in rural Alaska.

(2)

Priorities

The training program authorized under paragraph (1) shall focus on the following priorities:

(A)

Training for construction, operations, and maintenance of Commission projects.

(B)

Management training relating to the operation of Commission projects.

(C)

Initiatives for Alaskan youths to encourage careers that support Commission projects.

(D)

Training for construction, operations, and maintenance for public infrastructure projects.

(3)

Availability

Amounts made available to the Commission under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

(g)

Teacher housing

(1)

In general

In carrying out the functions of the Commission under this Act, the Commission shall, as appropriate, provide assistance to address the housing needs of teachers in rural Alaska.

(2)

Authorized activities

In providing assistance under paragraph (1), the Commission may assist in housing development activities, including, but not limited to—

(A)

the acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of housing; and

(B)

multisite rehabilitation.

Authorization of appropriations

Section 310(a) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) is amended by striking for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2008 and inserting for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2014..

Effective date

(a)

In general

The amendments made by sections 2 and 3 take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

(b)

Authorization of appropriations

The amendment made by section 4 takes effect on October 1, 2008.