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[112th Congress Public Law 167]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

[[Page 1295]]

                    SENATE BATTERY RECHARGING STATION

[[Page 126 STAT. 1296]]

Public Law 112-167
112th Congress

                                 An Act

 
     To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish battery 
recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under 
      the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net cost to the Federal 
            Government. <<NOTE: Aug. 10, 2012 -  [S. 739]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 2 USC 2170.>>  BATTERY RECHARGING STATIONS FOR 
                              PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES IN PARKING 
                              AREAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE 
                              SENATE AT NO NET COST TO THE FEDERAL 
                              GOVERNMENT.

    (a) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``covered employee'' means--
            (1) an employee whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of 
        the Senate; or
            (2) any other individual who is authorized to park in any 
        parking area under the jurisdiction of the Senate on Capitol 
        Grounds.

    (b) Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), funds 
        appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the heading 
        ``Capitol Power Plant'' under the heading ``ARCHITECT OF THE 
        CAPITOL'' in any fiscal year are available to construct, 
        operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis battery recharging 
        stations in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate 
        on Capitol Grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used by 
        Senators or covered employees.
            (2) Vendors authorized.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Architect of the Capitol may use 1 or more vendors on a 
        commission basis.
            (3) Approval of construction.--The Architect of the Capitol 
        may construct or direct the construction of battery recharging 
        stations described under paragraph (1) after--
                    (A) submission of written notice detailing the 
                numbers and locations of the battery recharging stations 
                to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
                Senate; and
                    (B) approval by that Committee.

    (c) Fees and Charges.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect of 
        the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity 
        provided to Senators and covered employees sufficient to cover 
        the costs to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this 
        section, including costs to any vendors or other costs 
        associated with maintaining the battery recharging stations.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1297]]

            (2) Approval of fees or charges.--The Architect of the 
        Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under paragraph 
        (1) after--
                    (A) submission of written notice detailing the 
                amount of the fee or charge to be established or 
                adjusted to the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
                the Senate; and
                    (B) approval by that Committee.

    (d) Deposit and Availability of Fees, Charges, and Commissions.--Any 
fees, charges, or commissions collected by the Architect of the Capitol 
under this section shall be--
            (1) deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the 
        appropriations account described under subsection (b); and
            (2) available for obligation without further appropriation 
        during--
                    (A) the fiscal year collected; and
                    (B) the fiscal year following the fiscal year 
                collected.

    (e) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the end of 
        each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a 
        report on the financial administration and cost recovery of 
        activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year 
        to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
            (2) Avoiding subsidy.--
                    (A) Determination.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years 
                thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a 
                report to the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
                the Senate determining whether Senators and covered 
                employees using battery charging stations as authorized 
                by this Act are receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers.
                    (B) <<NOTE: Plan.>>  Modification of rates and 
                fees.--If a determination is made under subparagraph (A) 
                that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the 
                Capitol shall submit a plan to the Committee on Rules 
                and Administration of the Senate on how to update the 
                program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If the 
                committee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the 
                Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to 
                increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the 
                cost of the program consistent with an appropriate 
                schedule for amortization, to be charged to those using 
                the charging stations.

[[Page 126 STAT. 1298]]

    (f) Effective Date.--This Act shall apply with respect to fiscal 
year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.

    Approved August 10, 2012.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 739:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012):
            May 24, considered and passed Senate.
            Aug. 2, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>
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