Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/1454

 123STA T . 1 4 34 PUBLIC LA W 111 – 11 —M A R .3 0, 200 9shal l befort he re m a ind er of the u ne xp ired term of the v a c anc y, and an individual so appointed may subse q uently be appointed for 2 full 3- year terms if the remainder of the unexpired term is less than 1 year .(C) C HAIRPE R SON . —T he A dministrator shall desi g nate a chairperson from among the members of the S ystem advisory committee. ( D ) APPOIN TM ENT.— M embers of the System advisory committee shall be appointed as special G overnment employees for purposes of section 2 0 2(a) of title 1 8, U nited States Code. ( 4 )A D MINISTRATI V E PROVISIONS.— (A) R EPORTIN G .—The System advisory committee shall report to the Administrator and the I nteragency O cean Observing Committee, as appropriate. ( B ) ADMINISTRATIVE S U PPORT.—The Administrator shall provide administrative support to the System advisory committee. (C) MEETINGS.—The System advisory committee shall meet at least once each year, and at other times at the call of the Administrator, the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee, or the chairperson. (D) COMPENSATION AND E X PENSES.—Members of the System advisory committee shall not be compensated for service on that Committee, but may be allo w ed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. ( E ) EXPIRATION.—Section 14 of the F ederal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the System advisory committee. (e) CIVI LL IA B ILIT Y .—For purposes of determining liability arising from the dissemination and use of observation data gathered pursuant to this section, any non-Federal asset or regional informa- tion coordination entity incorporated into the System by contract, lease, grant, or cooperative agreement under subsection (c)(3)(D) that is participating in the System shall be considered to be part of the N ational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Any employee of such a non-Federal asset or regional information coordination entity, while operating within the scope of his or her employment in carrying out the purposes of this subtitle, with respect to tort liability, is deemed to be an employee of the Federal Government. (f) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to invalidate existing certifications, contracts, or agreements between regional information coordination entities and other ele- ments of the System. SEC.12305 . INT E RAG ENC YF INANCING AN D AGREE M ENTS. (a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out interagency activities under this subtitle, the Secretary of Commerce may execute cooperative agreements, or any other agreements, with, and receive and expend funds made available by, any State or subdivision thereof, any Federal agency, or any public or private organi z ation, or individual. (b) RE C IPROCITY.—Member Departments and agencies of the Council shall have the authority to create, support, and maintain j oint centers, and to enter into and perform such contracts, leases, 3 3 USC 3 604.