USC Chapter 37

USC Chapter 37
in effect

15 U.S.C. § 1351 Declaration of purpose

Congress finds that wider diffusion and more effective application of science and technology in business, commerce, and industry are essential to the growth of the economy, to higher levels of employment, and to the competitive position of United States products in world markets. The Congress also finds that the benefits of federally financed research, as well as other research, must be placed more effectively in the hands of American business, commerce, and industrial establishments. The Congress further finds that the several States through cooperation with universities, communities, and industries can contribute significantly to these purposes by providing technical services designed to encourage a more effective application of science and technology to both new and established business, commerce, and industrial establishments. The Congress, therefore, declares that the purpose of this chapter is to provide a national program of incentives and support for the several States individually and in cooperation with each other in their establishing and maintaining State and interstate technical service programs designed to achieve these ends.

15 U.S.C. § 1352 Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter— (a) “Technical services” means activities or programs designed to enable businesses, commerce, and industrial establishments to acquire and use scientific and engineering information more effectively through such means as—(1) preparing and disseminating technical reports, abstracts, computer tapes, microfilm, reviews, and similar scientific or engineering information, including the establishment of State or interstate technical information centers for this purpose; (2) providing a reference service to identify sources of engineering and other scientific expertise; and (3) sponsoring industrial workshops, seminars, training programs, extension courses, demonstrations, and field visits designed to encourage the more effective application of scientific and engineering information. (b) “Designated agency” means the institution or agency which has been designated as administrator of the program for any State or States under section 1353 or 1357 of this title. (c) “Qualified institution” means (1) an institution of higher learning with a program leading to a degree in science, engineering, or business administration which is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association to be listed by the Secretary of Education, or such an institution which is listed separately after evaluation by the Secretary of Education pursuant to this subsection; or (2) a State agency or a private, nonprofit institution which meets criteria of competence established by the Secretary of Commerce and published in the Federal Register. For the purpose of this subsection the Secretary of Education shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies or associations which he determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of science, engineering, or business education or training offered. When the Secretary of Education determines that there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit such programs he shall publish a list of institutions he finds qualified after prior evaluation by an advisory committee, composed of persons he determines to be specially qualified to evaluate the training provided under such programs. (d) “Participating institution” means each qualified institution in a State, which participates in the administration or execution of the State technical services program as provided by this chapter. (e) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce. (f) “State” means one of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam or the Virgin Islands. (g) “Governor”, in the case of the District of Columbia, means the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia.

15 U.S.C. § 1353 Selection of designated agency

The Governor of any State which wishes to receive Federal payments under this chapter in support of its existing or planned technical services program shall designate, under appropriate State laws and regulations, an institution or agency to administer and coordinate that program and to prepare and submit a plan and programs to the Secretary of Commerce for approval under this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 1354 Five-year plan; annual technical services program

The designated agency shall prepare and submit to the Secretary in accordance with such regulations as he may publish— (a) A five-year plan which may be revised annually and which shall: (1) outline the technological and economic conditions of the State, taking into account its region, business, commerce, and its industrial potential and identify the major regional and industrial problems; (2) identify the general approaches and methods to be used in the solution of these problems and outline the means for measuring the impact of such assistance on the State or regional economy; and (3) explain the methods to be used in administering and coordinating the technical services program. (b) An annual technical services program which shall (1) identify specific methods, which may include contracts, for accomplishing particular goals and outline the likely impact of these methods in terms of the five-year plan; (2) contain a detailed budget, together with procedures for adequate fiscal control, fund accounting, and auditing, to assure proper disbursement for funds paid to the State under this chapter; and (3) indicate the specific responsibilities assigned to each participating institution in the State.

15 U.S.C. § 1355 Conditions precedent to acceptance of plans and programs for review and approval by Secretary

The Secretary shall not accept the five-year plan of a State for review and approval under this chapter unless the Governor of the State or his designee determines and certifies that the plan is consistent with State policies and objectives; and the Secretary shall not accept an annual technical services program for review and approval under this chapter unless the designated agency has, as certified thereto by the Governor or his designee— (a) invited all qualified institutions in the State to submit proposals for providing technical services under the chapter; (b) coordinated its programs with other States and with other publicly supported activities within the State, as appropriate; (c) established adequate rules to insure that no officer or employee of the State, the designated agency, or any participating institution, shall receive compensation for technical services he performs, for which funds are provided under this chapter, from sources other than his employer, and shall not otherwise maintain any private interest in conflict with his public responsibility; (d) determined that matching funds will be available from State or other non-Federal sources; (e) determined that such technical services program does not provide a service which on the date of such certification is economically and readily available in such State from private technical services, professional consultants, or private institutions; (f) planned no services specially related to a particular firm or company, public work, or other capital project except insofar as the services are of general concern to the industry and commerce of the community, State, or region; (g) provided for making public all reports prepared in the course of furnishing technical services supported under this chapter or for making them available at cost to any person on request.

15 U.S.C. § 1356 Review and approval of plans and programs by Secretary

The Secretary shall review the five-year plan and each annual program submitted by a designated agency under section 1354 or 1357 of this title, and shall approve only those which (1) bear the certification required by the Governor or his designee under section 1355 of this title; (2) comply with regulations and meet criteria that the Secretary shall promulgate and publish in the Federal Register; and (3) otherwise accomplish the purpose of this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 1357 Interstate cooperation in administration and coordination of plans and programs

Two or more States may cooperate in administering and coordinating their plans and programs supported under this chapter, in which event all or part of the sums authorized and payable under section 1360 of this title to all of the cooperating States may be paid to the designated agency, participating institutions, or persons authorized to receive them under the terms of the agreement between the cooperating States. When the cooperative agreement designates an interstate agency to act on behalf of all of the cooperating States, it shall submit to the Secretary for review and approval under section 1356 of this title an interstate five-year plan and an annual interstate technical services program which, as nearly as practicable, shall meet the requirements of sections 1354 and 1355 of this title.

15 U.S.C. § 1358 Consent of Congress for interstate compacts; reservation of right to alter, amend, or repeal

(a) The consent of the Congress is given to any two or more States to enter into agreement or compacts, not in conflict with any law of the United States, for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance and in designating agencies, under section 1357 of this title, for accomplishing the purposes of this chapter. (b) The right to alter, amend, or repeal this section, or consent granted by this section, is expressly reserved.

15 U.S.C. § 1359 Advisory councils for technical services; appointment; functions; compensation and expenses

Each designated agency shall appoint an advisory council for technical services, the members of which shall represent broad community interests and shall be qualified to evaluate programs submitted under section 1354 of this title. The advisory council shall review each annual program, evaluate its relation to the purposes of this chapter, and report its findings to the designated agency and the Governor or his designee. Each report of each advisory council shall be available to the Secretary on request. Members of any such advisory council shall not be compensated for serving as such, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred by them in connection with attending meetings of any advisory council of which they are members.

15 U.S.C. § 1360 Appropriations and payments

(a) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this chapter, $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1966; $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1967; $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1968; $6,600,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1969; $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970; $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971. (b) Authorization of annual payments; maximum amountsFrom these amounts, the Secretary is authorized to make an annual payment to each designated agency, participating institution, or person authorized to receive payments in support of each approved technical services program. Maximum amounts which may be paid to the States under this subsection shall be fixed in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall promulgate and publish in the Federal Register from time to time, considering (1) population according to the last decennial census; (2) business, commercial, industrial and economic development and productive efficiency; and (3) technical resources. (c) Payments for programs of special merit or additional programsThe Secretary may reserve an amount equal to not more than 20 per centum of the total amount appropriated for each year under this section and is authorized to make payments from such amount to any designated agency or participating institution for technical services programs which he determines have special merit or to any qualified institution for additional programs which he determines are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, under criteria and regulations that he shall promulgate and publish in the Federal Register. (d) Expenses of administrationAn amount equal to not more than 5 per centum of the total amount appropriated each year under this section shall be available to the Secretary for the direct expenses of administering this chapter. (e) Limitations on payments(1) No amount paid for any technical services program under subsection (b) or (c) shall exceed the amount of non-Federal funds expended to carry out such program: Provided, That the Secretary may pay an amount not to exceed $25,000 a year for each of the first three fiscal years to each designated agency, other than a designated agency under section 1357 of this title, to assist in the preparation of the five-year plan and the initial annual technical services programs, without regard to any of the preceding requirements of this section. (2) No funds appropriated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be paid to any designated agency, participating institution, or person on account of any such agency or institution, to carry out any technical services activity or program in any State if such activity or program duplicates any activity or program readily available in such State from Federal or State agencies, including publicly supported institutions of higher learning in such State.

15 U.S.C. § 1361 Reference services to assist designated agencies to obtain information outside State

The Secretary is authorized and directed to aid designated agencies in carrying out their technical services programs by providing reference services which a designated agency may use to obtain scientific, technical, and engineering information from sources outside the State or States which it serves, for the purposes of this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 1362 Rules and regulations

The Secretary is authorized to establish such policies, standards, criteria, and procedures and to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 1363 Prohibition against control over educational institutions; functions or responsibilities of other departments not affected

(a) Control of educational institutionsNothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing a department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over, or impose any requirements or conditions with respect to the personnel, curriculum, methods of instruction, or administration of any educational institution. (b) Functions of other agenciesNothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to affect the functions or responsibilities under law of any other department or agency of the United States.

15 U.S.C. § 1364 Annual report by designated agencies to Secretary; reports by Secretary to President and Congress

(a) Agency reportsEach designated agency shall make an annual report to the Secretary on or before the first day of September of each year on the work accomplished under the technical services program and the status of current services, together with a detailed statement of the amounts received under any of the provisions of this chapter during the preceding fiscal year, and of their disbursement. (b) Reports of Secretary of CommerceThe Secretary shall make a complete report with respect to the administration of this chapter to the President and the Congress not later than January 31 following the end of each fiscal year for which amounts are appropriated pursuant to this chapter.

15 U.S.C. § 1365 Public committee; appointment; functions; report

Within three years from September 14, 1965, the Secretary shall appoint a public committee, none of the members of which shall have been directly concerned with the preparation of plans, administration of programs or participation in programs under this chapter. The Committee shall evaluate the significance and impact of the program under this chapter and make recommendations concerning the program. A report shall be transmitted to the Secretary within sixty days after the end of such three-year period.

15 U.S.C. § 1366 Termination of payments for noncompliance with law or diversion of funds

Whenever the Secretary, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to any designated agency or participating institution receiving funds under this chapter finds that— (a) the agency or institution is not complying substantially with provisions of this chapter, with the regulations promulgated by the Secretary, or with the approved annual technical services program; or (b) any funds paid to the agency or institution under the provisions of this chapter have been lost, misapplied, or otherwise diverted from the purposes for which they were paid or furnished— the Secretary shall notify such agency or institution that no further payments will be made under the provisions of this chapter until he is satisfied that there is substantial compliance or the diversion has been corrected or, if compliance or correction is impossible, until such agency or institution repays or arranges for the repayment of Federal funds which have been diverted or improperly expended.

15 U.S.C. § 1367 Repayments

Upon notice by the Secretary to any designated agency or participating institution that no further payments will be made pending substantial compliance, correction, or repayment under section 1366 of this title, any funds which may have been paid to such agency or institution under this chapter and which are not expended by the agency or institution on the date of such notice, shall be repaid to the Secretary and be deposited to the account of the appropriations from which they originally were paid.

15 U.S.C. § 1368 Records

(a) Grant recipientsEach recipient of a grant under this chapter shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and the disposition of such grant, the total cost of the related approved program, the amount and nature of the cost of the program supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit. (b) Access to records of recipientsThe Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient that are pertinent to amounts received under this chapter.

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