Science Prize Competitions Act

Summary: Science Prize Competitions Act  Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 regarding prize competitions, allowing an agency to waive liability insurance requirements for participants. Allows an agency to enter into a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement with a private sector for-profit as well as a nonprofit entity (as under current law) to administer a prize competition.  Permits the use of funds from private sector for-profit entities to support a prize competition.   Prohibits an agency from giving special consideration to any private sector for-profit entity in return for a donation.  Limits the use of federal funds to those made available by appropriations Acts.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Science Prize Competitions Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

    Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by inserting ``competition'' after ``section, a 
                prize'';
                    (B) by inserting ``types'' after ``following''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prizes'' and 
                inserting ``prize competitions'';
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``in the Federal Register'' and 
                inserting ``on a publicly accessible Government 
                website, such as www.challenge.gov,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' and 
                inserting ``cash prize purse'';
            (3) in subsection (g), by striking ``prize'' and inserting 
        ``cash prize purse'';
            (4) in subsection (h), by inserting ``prize'' before 
        ``competition'' both places it appears;
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition'' both places it appears;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4); and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) Waiver.--An agency may waive the requirement under 
        paragraph (2). The annual report under subsection (p) shall 
        include a list of such waivers granted during the preceding 
        fiscal year, along with a detailed explanation of the reasons 
        for granting the waivers.'';
            (6) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``prize'' before 
                ``competitions'' both places it appears;
            (7) in subsection (l), by striking all after ``may enter 
        into'' and inserting ``a grant, contract, cooperative 
        agreement, or other agreement with a private sector for-profit 
        or nonprofit entity to administer the prize competition, 
        subject to the provisions of this section.'';
            (8) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--Support for a prize competition under 
        this section, including financial support for the design and 
        administration of a prize competition or funds for a cash prize 
        purse, may consist of Federal appropriated funds and funds 
        provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit entities. 
        The head of an agency may accept funds from other Federal 
        agencies, private sector for-profit entities, and nonprofit 
        entities, to be available to the extent provided by 
        appropriations Acts, to support such prize competitions. The 
        head of an agency may not give any special consideration to any 
        private sector for-profit or nonprofit entity in return for a 
        donation.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize awards'' 
                and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``No prize'' and inserting 
                        ``No prize competition''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the prize'' and 
                        inserting ``the cash prize purse'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``a prize'' 
                and inserting ``a cash prize purse'';
                    (E) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by inserting 
                ``competition'' after ``prize'';
                    (F) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``a prize'' 
                and inserting ``a cash prize purse''; and
                    (G) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``cash 
                prizes'' and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
            (9) in subsection (n), by inserting ``for both for-profit 
        and nonprofit entities,'' after ``contract vehicle'';
            (10) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing a 
        prize'' and insert ``a prize competition or providing a cash 
        prize purse''; and
            (11) in subsection (p)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``cash 
                prizes'' both places it occurs and inserting ``cash 
                prize purses''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(G) Plan.--A description of crosscutting topical 
                areas and agency-specific mission needs that may be the 
                strongest opportunities for 


              

                prize competitions during the upcoming 2 fiscal 
                years.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.