Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1962b–2 Organization of commissions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 19B— - WATER RESOURCES PLANNING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - RIVER BASIN COMMISSIONS › § 1962b–2

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each river basin commission must organize itself within 90 days after the President announces it, if money is available. A commission ends if the Council decides or if a majority of its States agree. When a commission ends, its property, assets, and records go to the proper U.S. and State agencies. Studies, data, and other planning materials that help any participant must remain available to all participants. State members must elect a vice chairman who leads the State members and speaks for the States in federal-state matters. Vacancies do not stop the commission’s work and must be filled the same way as the original appointments. The chairman and vice chairman may name temporary alternates. The commission should try to reach agreement. If it cannot, each member may record their view, the chairman’s and vice chairman’s positions are entered, and the chairman, after talking with the vice chairman, decides meeting times, deadlines, subcommittees, and other procedural matters unless the commission has a bylaw.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1962b–2

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each river basin commission shall organize for the performance of its functions within ninety days after the President shall have declared the establishment of such commission, subject to the availability of funds for carrying on its work. A commission shall terminate upon decision of the Council or agreement of a majority of the States composing the commission. Upon such termination, all property, assets, and records of the commission shall thereafter be turned over to such agencies of the United States and the participating States as shall be appropriate in the circumstances: Provided, That studies, data, and other materials useful in water and related land resources planning to any of the participants shall be kept freely available to all such participants.

(b)State members of each commission shall elect a vice chairman, who shall serve also as chairman and coordinating officer of the State members of the commission and who shall represent the State governments in Federal-State relations on the commission.

(c)Vacancies in a commission shall not affect its powers but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointments were made: Provided, That the chairman and vice chairman may designate alternates to act for them during temporary absences.

(d)In the work of the commission every reasonable endeavor shall be made to arrive at a consensus of all members on all issues; but failing this, full opportunity shall be afforded each member for the presentation and report of individual views: Provided, That at any time the commission fails to act by reason of absence of consensus, the position of the chairman, acting in behalf of the Federal members, and the vice chairman, acting upon instructions of the State members, shall be set forth in the record: Provided further, That the chairman, in consultation with the vice chairman, shall have the final authority, in the absence of an applicable by-law adopted by the commission or in the absence of a consensus, to fix the times and places for meetings, to set deadlines for the submission of annual and other reports, to establish subcommittees, and to decide such other procedural questions as may be necessary for the commission to perform its functions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1962b–2

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73