29 U.S.C. § 656 — Administration

(a) National committee. (1) The Secretary must establish a 12-member National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The Health and Human Services Secretary designates 4 members. The committee includes representatives of management, labor, occupational safety and health professions, and the public. The Secretary designates one public member as chair. Members are chosen for experience and competence. (2) The committee advises and consults with the Secretaries and recommends action about administering this chapter. It must meet at least twice each calendar year. Meetings are public, and a transcript must be kept and made available for public inspection. (3) Members are paid under 5 U.S.C. 3109. (4) The Secretary supplies an executive secretary and needed secretarial, clerical, and other services. (b) Other advisory committees. The Secretary may appoint a committee to help set standards under section 655. It may have no more than 15 members and must include one or more Health and Human Services designees, equal numbers qualified to represent the involved employers and workers, and one or more State health or safety agency representatives. It may also include qualified experts, professional safety or health organizations, and recognized standards organizations, but those additional appointees may not outnumber the Federal and State agency representatives. Private-life members are paid like consultants or experts under 5 U.S.C. 3109. The Secretary must reimburse a State that employs a State-agency representative for the State’s actual membership costs. Meetings are public and accurate records must be kept and made public. Except for employer and employee representatives, members may not have an economic interest in a proposed rule. (c) Agency resources and experts. The Secretary may, with a Federal agency’s consent, use its services, facilities, and personnel with or without reimbursement. With a State or political subdivision’s consent, the Secretary may accept and use its agency’s services, facilities, and personnel with reimbursement. The Secretary may employ experts, consultants, or organizations under 5 U.S.C. 3109; renew those contracts annually; pay individuals no more than the GS-18 rate under 5 U.S.C. 5332, including travel time; and pay travel expenses, including per diem, under 5 U.S.C. 5703 for intermittent Government workers away from home or their regular business. (d) Maritime committee. A continuing Maritime Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Committee is established to advise the Secretary on maritime standards and chapter administration involving maritime industry. Its membership must be consistent with subsection (b). A qualified member may continue until a successor is appointed. The Secretary may issue or change regulations needed to implement this subsection.