§2996c Board of Directors

Summary

Creates a Board of Directors with 11 voting members. The President appoints them with Senate approval, and no more than six may belong to the same political party. A majority must be lawyers admitted to the highest court of a State, and none can be a full‑time U.S. employee. For appointments made after December 28, 1977, but not later than July 31, 1978, the Board’s membership must include eligible clients and generally represent the organized bar, attorneys who help eligible clients, and the public. Each member serves a three‑year term, except five first appointees (picked by the President) serve two years. Members keep serving until their successor is appointed and qualified. Initial terms start at the Board’s first meeting; other terms start when the previous term ends. Someone appointed to fill a vacancy serves only the rest of that term. No one may be reappointed for more than two consecutive terms after their initial term. Board members are not federal officers or employees. The President chooses the first chairman from the voting members for three years; after that the Board elects a chairman each year. Seven votes can remove a member for wrongdoing, repeated failure, inability to do duties, or offenses involving moral turpitude, and for no other reason. Within six months after the Board’s first meeting, the Board must ask each Governor to appoint a nine‑member State advisory council. Most council members must be lawyers chosen after State bar recommendations, and council seats are subject to yearly reappointment. If a Governor does not appoint a council within 90 days, the Board may do so. The council must report apparent violations to the Corporation and send a copy to any affected recipient; the Corporation must give that recipient a reasonable time, but at least 30 days, to answer. All Board, executive committee, and advisory council meetings must be open and follow section 552b of title 5. The Board must meet at least four times each year.