§ 12651b. Authorities and duties of the Board of Directors
(a)
Meetings
The Board shall meet not less often than 3 times each year. The Board shall hold additional meetings at the call of the Chairperson of the Board, or if 6 members of the Board request such meetings in writing.
(d)
Expenses
While away from their homes or regular places of business on the business of the Board, members of such Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter
I of chapter
57 of title
5 for persons employed intermittently in the Government service.
(f)
Status of members
(2)
Other claims
A member of the Board shall have no personal liability under Federal law with respect to any claim arising out of or resulting from any act or omission by such person, within the scope of the service of the member on the Board, in connection with any transaction involving the provision of financial assistance by the Corporation. This paragraph shall not be construed to limit personal liability for criminal acts or omissions, willful or malicious misconduct, acts or omissions for private gain, or any other act or omission outside the scope of the service of such member on the Board.
(3)
Effect on other law
This subsection shall not be construed—
(A)
to affect any other immunities and protections that may be available to such member under applicable law with respect to such transactions;
(g)
Duties
The Board shall have responsibility for setting overall policy for the Corporation and shall—
(1)
review and approve the strategic plan described in section
12651d
(b)(1) of this title, and annual updates of the plan, and review the budget proposal in advance of submission to the Office of Management and Budget;
(2)
review and approve the proposal described in section
12651d
(b)(2)(A) of this title, with respect to the grants, allotments, contracts, financial assistance, payment, and positions referred to in such section;
(3)
review and approve the proposal described in section
12651d
(b)(3)(A) of this title, regarding the regulations, standards, policies, procedures, programs, and initiatives referred to in such section;
(5)
(A)
review, and advise the Chief Executive Officer regarding, the actions of the Chief Executive Officer with respect to the personnel of the Corporation, and with respect to such standards, policies, procedures, programs, and initiatives as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the national service laws;
(B)
inform the Chief Executive Officer of any aspects of the actions of the Chief Executive Officer that are not in compliance with the annual strategic plan referred to in paragraph (1), the proposals referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3), or the plan referred to in paragraph (4), or are not consistent with the objectives of the national service laws; and
(6)
receive any report as provided under subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section
8E [1] of the Inspector General Act of 1978;
(7)
make recommendations relating to a program of research for the Corporation with respect to national and community service programs, including service-learning programs;
(8)
advise the President and the authorizing committees concerning developments in national and community service that merit the attention of the President and the authorizing committees;
(9)
ensure effective dissemination of information regarding the programs and initiatives of the Corporation;
(10)
notwithstanding any other provision of law—
(A)
make grants to or contracts with Federal and other public departments or agencies, and private nonprofit organizations, for the assignment or referral of volunteers under the provisions of title I of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.] (except as provided in section 108 of such Act [42 U.S.C. 4958]), which may provide that the agency or organization shall pay all or a part of the costs of the program; and
(B)
enter into agreements with other Federal agencies or private nonprofit organizations for the support of programs under the national service laws, which—
(11)
prepare and make recommendations to the authorizing committees and the President for changes in the national service laws resulting from the studies and demonstrations the Chief Executive Officer is required to carry out under section
12651d
(b)(11) of this title, which recommendations shall be submitted to the authorizing committees and President not later than January 1, 2012.
(h)
Administration
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Board.
(i)
Limitation on participation
All employees and officers of the Corporation shall recuse themselves from decisions that would constitute conflicts of interest.
(j)
Coordination with other Federal activities
As part of the agenda of meetings of the Board under subsection (a) of this section, the Board shall review projects and programs conducted or funded by the Corporation under the national service laws to improve the coordination between such projects and programs, and the activities of other Federal agencies that deal with the individuals and communities participating in or benefiting from such projects and programs. The ex officio members of the Board specified in section
12651a
(a)(3) of this title shall jointly plan, implement, and fund activities in connection with projects and programs conducted under the national service laws to ensure that Federal efforts attempt to address the total needs of participants in such programs and projects, their communities, and the persons and communities the participants serve.
[1] See References in Text note below.