Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2052

 PUBLIC LAW 108–168—DEC. 6, 2003

117 STAT. 2033

‘‘(4) REFUNDS.—The Board may refund any fee paid by mistake or any amount paid in excess of that required. ‘‘(d) REPORT ON ACADEMY OPERATIONS.—The National Transportation Safety Board shall transmit an annual report to the Congress on the activities and operations of the National Transportation Safety Board Academy.’’. SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.

(a) RELINQUISHMENT OF INVESTIGATIVE PRIORITY.—Section 1136 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(j) RELINQUISHMENT OF INVESTIGATIVE PRIORITY.— ‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—This section (other than subsection (g)) shall not apply to an aircraft accident if the Board has relinquished investigative priority under section 1131(a)(2)(B) and the Federal agency to which the Board relinquished investigative priority is willing and able to provide assistance to the victims and families of the passengers involved in the accident. ‘‘(2) BOARD ASSISTANCE.—If this section does not apply to an aircraft accident because the Board has relinquished investigative priority with respect to the accident, the Board shall assist, to the maximum extent possible, the agency to which the Board has relinquished investigative priority in assisting families with respect to the accident.’’. (b) REVISION OF MOU.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall revise their 1977 agreement on the investigation of accidents to take into account the amendments made by this section and shall submit a copy of the revised agreement to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

Deadline. 49 USC 1131 note.

SEC. 4. RELIEF FROM CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INVESTIGATIONS SERVICES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—From the date of enactment of this Act through September 30, 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board may enter into agreements or contracts under the authority of section 1113(b)(1)(B) of title 49, United States Code, for investigations conducted under section 1131 of that title without regard to any other provision of law requiring competition if necessary to expedite the investigation. (b) REPORT ON USAGE.—On February 1, 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs that— (1) describes each contract for $25,000 or more executed by the Board to which the authority provided by subsection (a) was applied; and (2) sets forth the rationale for dispensing with competition requirements with respect to such contract.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

49 USC 1113 note. Effective date. Termination date.

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