Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2904

 PUBLIC LAW 109–417—DEC. 19, 2006

120 STAT. 2873

‘‘(B) at the request of the Secretary, review and consider any information and findings received from the working groups established under subsection (b); and ‘‘(C) at the request of the Secretary, provide recommendations and findings for expanded, intensified, and coordinated biodefense research and development activities. ‘‘(6) MEETINGS.— ‘‘(A) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, the Secretary shall hold the first meeting of the Board. ‘‘(B) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet at the call of the Secretary, but in no case less than twice annually. ‘‘(7) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Board shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. ‘‘(8) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the Board. ‘‘(9) POWERS.— ‘‘(A) HEARINGS.—The Board may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Board considers advisable to carry out this subsection. ‘‘(B) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Board may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. ‘‘(10) PERSONNEL.— ‘‘(A) EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.—A member of the Board that is an employee of the Federal Government may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of the member’s service on the Board. ‘‘(B) OTHER MEMBERS.—A member of the Board that is not an employee of the Federal Government may be compensated at a rate not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the actual performance of duties as a member of the Board. ‘‘(C) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Board shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. ‘‘(D) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Board with the approval for the contributing agency without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. ‘‘(b) OTHER WORKING GROUPS.—The Secretary may establish a working group of experts, or may use an existing working group or advisory committee, to— ‘‘(1) identify innovative research with the potential to be developed as a qualified countermeasure or a qualified pandemic or epidemic product;

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

09:16 Jul 13, 2007

Jkt 059194

PO 00003

Frm 00352

Fmt 6580

Sfmt 6581

E:\PUBLAW\PUBL003.109

Deadline.

APPS06

PsN: PUBL003

�