29 U.S.C. § 765 — Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Advisory Council

(a) Subject to available appropriations, the Secretary must establish in the Department of Health and Human Services a Disability^*, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Advisory Council, called the “Council” in this section. The Secretary appoints at least 12 members.

(b) The Council must advise the Director about research priorities and about developing and revising the five-year plan required by section 762(h) of this title.

(c) The members must generally represent disability, independent-living, and rehabilitation professionals; researchers in those fields; directors of independent living centers and community rehabilitation programs; and businesses experienced with the vocational-rehabilitation and independent-living systems under this chapter and with hiring people with disabilities. The members must also generally represent the small-business community, assistive-technology stakeholders, covered school^* professionals, people with disabilities, and those people’s representatives. At least half the members must be people with disabilities or their representatives.

(d)(1) Each member serves for a term of up to three years, as the Secretary decides. A person appointed to fill a vacancy before the predecessor’s term ends serves only the rest of that term. The first members may receive shorter terms, as the Secretary specifies, so terms end at staggered times.

(2) No member may serve more than two consecutive full terms. A member may continue serving after the term ends until a successor takes office.

(e) A vacancy is filled in the same way as the original appointment for that position. A vacancy does not prevent the remaining members from carrying out the Council’s duties.

(f)(1) A member who is not a Federal officer or full-time employee receives $150 for each day, including travel time, spent performing Council duties. Federal officers and full-time employees serve without extra pay beyond their pay as United States officers or employees.

(2) For each day spent on Council duties away from home or the member’s regular business place, a member may receive travel expenses, including a daily allowance instead of subsistence, as section 5703 of title 5 authorizes for intermittent Government employees.

(g) At the Council’s request, the Secretary may assign Department of Health and Human Services personnel to the Council, with or without reimbursement, to help it perform its duties. The assignment must not interrupt or otherwise change the employee’s civil-service status or privileges.

(h) At the Council’s request, the Secretary must provide the technical assistance the Council decides is needed for its duties.

(i) Section 1013 of title 5 does not apply to the Council.