Section Text
(a) Establishment and membership
The Foundation shall have a governing Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as the "Board"), which shall consist of not more than 30 Directors, each of whom shall be a United States citizen. At the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary may increase the number of Directors to not more than twenty. At all times, a majority of members of the Board shall be educated or have actual experience in natural or cultural resource management, law, or research. To the extent practicable, members of the Board shall represent diverse points of view relating to natural and cultural resource issues. The Chief of the Forest Service shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board.
(b) Appointment and terms
Within one year from November 16, 1990, the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") shall appoint the Directors of the Board. Directors shall be appointed for terms of six years; except that the Secretary, in making the initial appointments to the Board, shall appoint one-third each of the Directors to terms of two, four, and six years respectively. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled within sixty days of such vacancy in the manner in which the original appointment was made. No individual may serve more than twelve consecutive years as a Director.
(c) Chairman
The Chairman shall be elected by the Board from its members. A chairman shall serve for a two-year term, and may be re-elected to the post during his tenure as a Director.
(d) Quorum
A majority of the current voting membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(e) Meetings
The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman at least once a year. If a Director misses three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, that individual may be removed from the Board by majority vote of the Board of Directors and that vacancy filled in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(f) Reimbursement of expenses
Voting members of the Board shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for the actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties for the Foundation. Such reimbursement may not exceed such amount as would be authorized under section 5703 of title 5 for the payment of expenses and allowances for individuals employed intermittently in the Federal Government service.
(g) General powers
The Board may complete the organization of the Foundation by appointing employees, adopting a constitution and bylaws consistent with the purposes of the Foundation and the provisions of this subchapter, and undertaking other such acts as may be necessary to function and to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.
(h) Officers and employees
Officers and employees may not be appointed until the Foundation has sufficient funds to pay for their services. Officers and employees of the Foundation shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (g), was in the original "this subtitle" and was translated as reading "this title", meaning title IV of Pub. L. 101–593, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2969, known as the National Forest Foundation Act, which does not contain subtitles, and which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 583j of this title and Tables.AMENDMENTS 2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–88 substituted "not more than 30 Directors" for "fifteen Directors" in first sentence. 2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–63 inserted "At the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary may increase the number of Directors to not more than twenty." after first sentence.
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 583j-1 (2018)