National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act
This bill revises the charter of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America). Such revisions include (1) making it a purpose of the organization to be an integral component of agricultural, food, and natural resources education, and (2) removing the Secretary of Education as the chair of the National FFA Board of Directors.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5595 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5595
To amend title 36, United States Code, to update the Federal charter
for Future Farmers of America.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 24, 2018
Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Young
of Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 36, United States Code, to update the Federal charter
for Future Farmers of America.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National FFA
Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes of the corporation.
Sec. 3. Membership.
Sec. 4. Governing body.
Sec. 5. National student officers and delegates.
Sec. 6. Powers.
Sec. 7. Restrictions.
Sec. 8. Headquarters and principal office.
Sec. 9. Service of process.
Sec. 10. Distribution of assets in dissolution or final liquidation.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATION.
Section 70902 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read
as follows:
``Sec. 70902. Purposes
``The purposes of the corporation are--
``(1) to be an integral component of instruction in
agricultural, food, and natural resources education in the
United States, including in public schools, by--
``(A) working with secondary schools to deliver
comprehensive agricultural, food, and natural resources
education programs;
``(B) providing hands-on classroom and laboratory
instruction, work-based experiential learning, and
leadership development;
``(C) preparing students for successful entry into
careers related to agriculture, food, and natural
resources; and
``(D) connecting students to jobs and educational
opportunities related to agriculture, food, and natural
resources;
``(2) to provide educational materials, conferences,
events, and technical assistance to State and local
agricultural, food, and natural resources education agencies;
``(3) to seek and promote inclusion and diversity in its
membership, leadership, and staff to reflect the belief of the
corporation in the value of all human beings;
``(4) to create, foster, and assist subordinate
associations and chapters;
``(5) to build character and thereby develop competent and
assertive leadership;
``(6) to increase awareness of the global and technological
importance of agriculture, food, and natural resources and its
contribution to well-being;
``(7) to promote careers related to agriculture, food, and
natural resources;
``(8) to make available to subordinate associations,
chapters, and members all official supplies, equipment,
programs, and services of the corporation;
``(9) to cooperate with others, including State boards for
career and technical education, in accomplishing these
purposes; and
``(10) to engage in other activities, consistent with these
purposes, determined by the governing body to be for the best
interests of the corporation.''.
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.
Section 70903 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``are as provided in the
bylaws'' and inserting ``are as provided in the constitution or
bylaws of the corporation''; and
(2) in subsection (b), to read as follows:
``(b) Voting.--The voting rights of members are as provided in the
constitution or bylaws of the corporation.''.
SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY.
(a) Board of Directors.--Section 70904(a) of title 36, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) The board consists of--
``(A) individuals who--
``(i) represent education or agriculture; and
``(ii) are not employed by the corporation; and
``(B)(i) the Secretary of Education; or
``(ii) a designee of the Secretary who has experience with
agricultural, food, and natural resources education, career and
technical education, or the corporation.
``(3) The chair of the board is as provided in the constitution or
bylaws of the corporation.
``(4) The board shall designate among the individuals of the board
a national advisor.
``(5) The board shall designate among the individuals of the board
described in paragraph (2)(A) an executive secretary and treasurer.
``(6) The number of directors, the term of office for the
directors, and the method of selecting the directors (except ex officio
directors) are as provided in the constitution or bylaws of the
corporation.''.
(b) Governing Committee.--Section 70904(b) of title 36, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Governing Committee.--
``(1) Members.--The board shall designate at least three
members of the board of directors as a governing committee. The
terms and method of selecting such committee members are as
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the corporation,
except that the board shall designate to such committee--
``(A) the chair of the board;
``(B) the executive secretary; and
``(C) the treasurer.
``(2) Powers.--When the board is not in session, the
governing committee shall have the powers of the board subject
to the board's discretion and may authorize the seal of the
corporation to be affixed to all papers that require it.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL STUDENT OFFICERS AND DELEGATES.
Section 70905 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking, ``officers'' and inserting
``student officers and delegates'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``The national
officers'' and all that follows through the period at the end
and inserting ``There shall be at least 6 national student
officers of the corporation, including a student president,
four student vice presidents (each representing regions as
provided in the constitution or bylaws of the corporation), and
a student secretary.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``national officers'' and inserting
``national student officers''; and
(B) by striking ``, except that--'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and inserting a
period at the end; and
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``Each qualified
delegate has one vote at the annual national convention'' and
inserting ``The voting rights of delegates are as provided in
the constitution or bylaws of the corporation''.
SEC. 6. POWERS.
Section 70906 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8)--
(A) by striking ``corporate funds'' and inserting
``the funds of the corporation''; and
(B) by striking ``students and young farmers'' and
inserting ``subordinate associations and chapters and
members'';
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking ``publish a magazine and
other publications'' and inserting ``produce publications,
including electronic publications''; and
(3) in paragraph (10), by striking ``procure for and
distribute'' and inserting ``make available''.
SEC. 7. RESTRICTIONS.
Section 70908(d) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
striking the second sentence.
SEC. 8. AVAILABILITY OF PERSONNEL, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES OF
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
The third sentence of section 70909 of title 36, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``vocational'' and inserting ``career and
technical''.
SEC. 9. HEADQUARTERS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE.
Section 70910 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking `` shall be in the District of Columbia.
However, the'' and inserting ``are as provided in the
constitution or bylaws of the corporation. The''; and
(2) by striking ``are not confined to the District of
Columbia but''.
SEC. 10. SERVICE OF PROCESS.
Section 70912(a) of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading, be striking ``District of Columbia''
and inserting ``Designated Agent'';
(2) by striking ``in the District of Columbia''; and
(3) by striking the second sentence.
SEC. 11. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS IN DISSOLUTION OR FINAL LIQUIDATION.
Section 70914 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``vocational agriculture'' and inserting ``career and
technical education''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3563)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
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