H.R. 2898 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2898 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 13, 2017Mr. O'Halleran (for himself and Mr. Westerman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to modify the appointment and composition of resource advisory committees. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the RAC Reform Act of 2017. 2. Composition and appointment of resource advisory committees (a) In general Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking The Secretary concerned and inserting The applicable department official; and (B) in paragraph (3) by striking the Secretary concerned and inserting the applicable department official; (2) in subsection (b)(6), by striking the Secretary concerned and inserting the applicable department official; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking by the Secretary and inserting by the applicable department official; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking The Secretary concerned, and inserting Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the applicable department official; (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking The Secretary concerned and inserting Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the applicable department official; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Exception For purposes of applying the 4-year term limit under subparagraphs (A) and (B) to a member of a resource advisory committee, the applicable department official shall not count as a year of the member’s term any year of service the majority of which was served during a fiscal year for which the budget of the resource advisory committee was less than $1,000,000. ; (C) in paragraph (2), by striking The Secretary concerned and inserting The applicable department official; (D) in paragraph (4), by striking The Secretary concerned and inserting The applicable department official; and (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Applicable department official defined In this section, the term applicable department official means— (A) with respect to Federal land described in section 3(7)(A), the applicable Regional Forester; and (B) with respect to Federal land described in section 3(7)(B), the applicable Bureau of Land Management State Director. ; (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 15 members and inserting 9 members; (B) in paragraph (2), by striking 5 persons each place it appears and inserting 3 persons; and (C) by striking the Secretary concerned both places it appears and inserting the applicable department official; and (5) in subsection (f)— (A) by striking the Secretary concerned and inserting the applicable department official; and (B) by striking the Secretary and inserting the applicable department official. (b) Conforming amendment Section 201(3)(A) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121(3)(A)) is amended by inserting or applicable department official (as defined in section 205(c)(6)) after Secretary concerned.