§476 Technology Assessment Advisory Council

Summary

Creates a Technology Assessment Advisory Council made up of twelve people. Ten are public members picked by the Board who are experts in science, engineering, social science, technology management, or notable for public or educational work. The other two are the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Research Service. The Council must review and advise the Board when asked about the Office’s work, proposed new activities under section 472(d), and the findings of any assessments, and it must do other tasks the Board gives. The Council picks a Chair and Vice Chair from the ten public members by a majority vote; the Vice Chair leads if the Chair is absent. Public members serve four-year terms, may be appointed no more than twice, fill unexpired terms if appointed mid-term, and serve on a staggered schedule set by the Board. Non-public members get no pay but are reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses. Public members are paid per day for days worked at a rate no higher than the daily equivalent of the top General Schedule rate in section 5332(a), and they also get travel and expense reimbursement.